It wasn't until now, when I reread all the chapters coz I seem to be missing a lot of stuff, that I realize how awful my format is! And my grammar/spelling! Gawd, I shall, henceforth, triple-check my updates before posting them!
And that A/N on chapter 7, "…busy, what with guys and studies, you see…" It was supposed to be something like "… busy, what with guys grades and studies, you see…" Eeeeeehhhh! I shall change it as soon as I can! I'm not a slut, if that's what you're thinking.
Yeah…I know FFdotNet changed its formatting some time ago, but I never really checked…eep. Anyway! I also started this chapter pretty early, before my report card day, where my folks would see all my failing grades and punish me like hell…-kicks social science book-
Another mistake! Check out the last chappie (8)'s a/n. It nearly ruined dear Malik's part in this fic…ehhhh…and of course, I got mixed up…on the last chappie, note that I keep using "Marik" instead of Malik…err…I interchanged the yami/hikari names…GOMEN!
xHx
Chapter Nine-Used
The crowned prince of Domino sat impatiently, waiting for his father to finish ranting and raving. Was there no end to his complaints? It was not like it was real anyway. He was just doing it for appearances.
At the corner of his eyes, he could see his little brother nearly falling asleep as well.
What had he to do with King Gozaburo? That man only had one son, and that son was long dead. Nevertheless, he stopped to listen to what the old man was saying now.
"…take care of your possessions, Seto! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME! D'you know how this could affect your future position! When our neighboring countries hear about this! Imagine, the ancient legacy of the signet ring, made way before you can imagine, boy, and YOU, you LOST it—no, worse—you let it be robbed! What kind of a future king would…"
Okay, still useless stuff. Seto returned to his thoughts. King? He was no future king. This would not work. Someone would eventually find out…
He also knew that that was one of the main reasons for Gozaburo's hurry to get him into wedlock. Because to be king, you needed a wife. And when you were king, no one could question your word. And anyone who would dare to be suspicious about your parentage would rot in prison.
And finally, the long sermon ended. He was relieved. He didn't want to spend the rest of his day like this. Quickly, the servants left, one by one, and at last, King Gozaburo's physician advised to the King before he left,
"Do not stress yourself to much, milord, it could further affect your health." The patient nodded and waved him away, then collapsed to the bed. "Damn you, Seto." He whispered. "Damn you, damn you!"
They were alone, the pretense was over.
Seto sighed. This was madness.
Just as that thought formed into his head, the door burst open. And into the light came a young woman, her eyes glinting in golden orbs as they fastened upon him.
Hilary grinned. Target found.
H
"Hey."
Serenity lifted her head. Mai was standing in front of her with a smile. "Y'alright?"
Serenity blinked, then moved to the side of the bench, the same bench Bakura and Joey sat on a while ago, making space for Mai. "Yeah, I am." She said slowly.
"What're you doing here, on such a fine afternoon, then?" Mai took the seat, then her gaze shifted to the beauty of the hills surrounding the manor.
The auburn-haired teen shook her head. "I dunno…I feel like…there's nothing to do." She confessed with a sigh, lowering her eyes to the grass below.
"You wanna take to the streets and go pickpocketing?"
"Huh?" Serenity's eyes locked into dark amethysts of Mai's. "What? No! Of course not!...not that I don't want to steal or anything…I'm just not in the mood…"
She felt lonely…it wasn't right to feel that way, she knew, and yet…what was joyous about living in a house of thieves? Everyone was always away, no one to talk to…she missed Isis…or even Tea…
All her friends are gone, and even Joey was gone, always somewhere else. She didn't like it here…
But what was Mai doing here?
Mai laughed, then her gaze softened. "It's alright. You know…"
"Hm?"
"…how 'bout we visit Malik's sister—whatshername—eh? How'd you like that?" Mai offered instead, jumping up on leather boots with her hands on her hips.
Serenity smiled weakly. "Isis? You haven't met her yet, right…?"
"Nah, but you could introduce me. From what I heard from your brother, she's quite nice."
"Oh, I think you'll like her." Serenity paused, then made a quick decision. "Let's go." She stood up and followed Mai to the gate, with the feeling that maybe…Mai would turn out to be a new friend…
"…and Mai?"
The blonde turned around. "Yeah?"
Serenity hesitated. "Thanks."
"Whatever for?" Mai replied with a wink.
H
Mai helped Serenity along the palace grounds and despite the number of guards quadrupled since Serenity left; it seems they got by pretty easily. Mai certainly was a professional.
They ran along the front yard, with quick, quiet steps until they reached the shading by the side, and they crept more slowly towards the back, where the stables were located.
Mai was right. It was a nice day. The sun was not visible in the sky, and neither were there any clouds. There were large gusts of wind that smoothened Serenity's pounding heart. Who knew trespassing across royal grounds would be so…so…
So fun?
Last time, she had only felt scared, guilty even, but now…it was just…different. Was it Mai? Maybe.
She grinned as she followed Mai to the back, and her pale green eyes immediately locked into a thin figure amongst the empty hills, riding swiftly across a white horse's back.
"ISIS!" Serenity called out to her, as loud as she could, waving her hands up in the air. The figure stopped abruptly, and turned to the two of them. The horse then rounded and sped towards them.
The raven-haired Egyptian reached them and dismounted. Serenity hugged her as soon as she got down.
"Oh! I missed you…"
"It hasn't been a week yet, 'Ren." Isis said with a laugh.
"But still!" Serenity beamed, then turned to Mai. "By the way, I want you to meet a friend of mine…"
Mai smiled. "Mai Valentine, also under Bakura. Nice to meet you." She reached out her hand.
Isis took it. "I'm Isis Ishtar. Bakura? Ahh…then I suppose you have met my brother?"
"Just a while ago, in fact. Very…artistic, I should say."
Isis lowered her eyes. "…In the thieving business, I presume?"
Mai shrugged. "Well…yes."
"I knew it…ever since he last visited Egypt and got that Millennium Rod…"
Serenity was surprised. "I noticed, too, that he seemed different…"
Isis shrugged. "I do not know…only the future holds answers for us…"
"I'm sure his future would be bright. He does have talent afterall." Serenity assured. "Now," She patted the horse's back. "What a lovely creature."
"Yes, he is from the royal stables. Nice piece of horseflesh, just recently brought by Prince Seto for his brother. I hear this little prize came all the way from the south, a present from a renowned horse breeder." Isis said.
Serenity let her fingers slide down the animal's fur. "Must be fun, riding him…"
"Ah, that is why I applied for this job."
Serenity smiled for a moment, then sighed, darting her eyes distractedly over the white horse. "…So, how s'it going around the palace?"
Isis caught on her meaning. "The King's spitting mad about your recent activity, but Prince Seto seems to have calmed down ever since."
She groaned.
"Great. More bounties on my head, I suppose?" Serenity drawled. Well, in thief terms, the more bounties, the better, right?
"What else do you expect? It is merely the consequences." Isis caught the reins of the horse, and slowly guide it back to the stables, with Serenity and Mai following after her. "But you really shouldn't be walking around like this. There is a bounty, and for much too."
"You're not after me, are you?" Serenity bit back sarcastically, annoyed at the confirmation of this.
Isis laughed. "Of course not."
"Glad to hear it." Serenity replied, then stopped short. Her eyes darted downwards, and she could still see the signet ring on her finger.
Mai followed her gaze, then froze. The ring! How could they have forgotten to get it! "Oh, Bakura asked me to come pick up the ring, by the way." She lied.
Serenity hesitated, then slipped the signet ring from her finger, handing it to Mai's outstretched hand. "…I wonder…if we really did prove to the palace we are better by stealing the ring…"
Mai jammed the ring into her pocket without bothering to look at it.
And more suspicions.
She was starting to get the drift of it. Mai sighed inwardly. She really didn't like lying to people, and more so leaving them clueless.
"…That's because that's not the only purpose for stealing the ring." She said quietly.
"Oh, you mean the Test right? To make me a "real"Serenity fought the urge to roll her eyes on this. A thief is a thief, once you steal something. thief?"
Isis remained quiet, sensing something important was about to be said.
"No, another, the third, and most important purpose…it was meant to be a—"
"A distraction." Serenity murmured along with Mai.
Mai gasped. She was surprised the little girl caught on so quickly. "H-How, when, did you know?" The blonde asked bewilderedly. A feeling of dread came over her then. If she knew…
Serenity was quiet for a moment, then said, "…I knew it when Bakura didn't ask for the ring, I knew it when Joey mentioned that Hilary girl inside the palace… I knew it just now in the fact that I am here, where I can be seen in broad daylight, because I knew that if this was anything else but a distraction, I would be locked up in my room, hiding from the world. And I knew it's alright not to hide, that something else was going on…something that would further take away attention from the fact that I even stole the ring…
She lowered her head, sighing. She knew it…had doubts ever since she was given the assignment…
"And finally, I knew so when you invited me here. I played along because I thought…if you didn't want me to know about it, then perhaps it's better I don't…" Serenity lifted her eyes to meet Mai's amethyst's ones… "I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean that accusingly."
Mai blinked, then straightened. "And I don't take it so. I just didn't expect—"
"Someone like me to figure it all out?" Serenity continued. "I don't blame you. I look too innocent by half."
And all this…all the trouble I went through…was it worth it? All that…for some decoy…I risked my head, everything…Seto…Tea…the ring, where would Mai even place it…, Serenity bit back her tears. Being a thief…isn't a happy job at all.
"Yeah…" Mai Valentine muttered under her breath. "All you've said is correct. In fact, by now I think Hilary is executing her mission."
"…what is her mission?" Isis asked.
Mai faltered for a moment…then sighed. "Assassination. With Prince Seto as target."
"…assassination?" Serenity paled. "…but…"
Mai nodded, sparing her from having to explain further. "I know. Now let's go before we miss everything." She winked, and grabbed Serenity's wrist, dragging her across the courtyard.
Isis stood on the same spot. No, this…didn't concern her. She closed her eyes and turned her back, returning to tending horses.
"Wait! Who exactly is Hilary anyway? And why the murder plot? Mai?" Serenity asked as they ran.
"Hilary?" The other laughed, her rich voice carried by the wind. "Hilary is Bakura's adopted little sister."
xHx
A/N: Finished chapter! –bow, bow- So, how was it? Plain? Boring? Yes, I know. I write long stuff about something really small and simple…I can't seem to shorten my words…I'd have to improve on that…and was Hilary's siblinghood too obvious? I should hope not…
Yes! I did do a double-spell-check, so everything seems to be fine.
I also tried to make everyone more into their personalities …did I succeed?
Please leave your comments, via review!
-Yume Ginkage-