REWRITE! PART 2

HOT DAMN! THAT TOOK LONGER THAN I THOUGHT! PHEW! Hardest part with this chap was actually all next chapter-I had this one scene to edit and fix and it was hell trying to find the right words! which really stunk cause i had like 90% of this chapter done but for that part. Holy smoke!

Hardest part was just finding time to sit down and do it! But its DONE! (Angel choir) I'm so proud and happy with these rewrites!

And as a special treat because everyone has been so patient with me over the last six months and this new chap took two months to post...I POSTED TWO CHAPTERS! WOOHOO!

DEDICATIONS: FOR VAL! Whose advice helped me rewrite these chapters even better using all the scenes and events I wanted but in a way that really climaxed the story! YOU ROCK GIRL!

Now picking up right where we left off...as always read, review, comment, crituque, ask questions and go nuts!

Chapter ILV: Purpose

Yugi descended the steps down to the gallery. The silence was a welcome relief from the vociferous ruckus above deck.

"Bells of Hades!" He jumped at the stentorian shrill, and nearly stumbled down the last step.

There was a gasp of surprise and Rhebekka shot up, dropping the black-rimmed cabbage shed been holding. The head dropped to the floor with a loud thud and joined several others, discarded for their blackening leaves.

"Thank the stars," Rhebekka uttered a breath of relief and pressed a hand to her chest, the galley deserted but for the two of them. "I swear, the next daft idiot that came to me for something trivial..." her fingers clenched like a cat unsheathing its claws. "There's two of us now, it shouldn't be this much of a hassle."

Yugi smiled despite himself, pleased that pregnancy had not weakened her temper.

"What's all this now?" He asked with a gesture to the cabbage-leaf littered floor.

A smile slit her juvenescent face and she pointed a proud hand to her chest. "I am determined to be active!" Rhebekka boasted proudly. "An idle mother makes the babe fat and lazy, you know? It's the mother who determines how the babe comes into the world. Men know nothing of it. Once he's planted the seed his duty's done in that part."

Yugi couldn't help but giggle.

"If that's the case, then what is his duty?" Yugi asked.

Rhebekka smirked, teasingly "To please the mother, of course!"

They both laughed, heartily. It amazed him how good it felt. Like a stone ball resting on his chest that had suddenly been removed and it was alright to breathe and sing again.

"Now what's brought you down here? Is it supper already!?" She'd meant nothing by the question and he knew it, but it dragged him out of the stupor nonetheless and the reality that followed was a devastating crash.

She frowned when she saw Yugi's guilty expression. "What's this now?" She asked suddenly serious. In her eyes was a maternal sternness, he'd seen many times before and had no hope of fighting.

He told her everything. He hadn't meant to, but once he began, Yugi found he couldn't stop. All his fears, his doubts, all his earlier insecurities, and worst of all, the all-consuming dread that he'd disappointed Timaeus, came flooding back until he could stand it no longer. When he was done, he all but collapsed from the release of anxiety. Rhebekka helped him to a stool, saying nothing but listened to everything.

"Not the ideal first day, I imagine?" she said, pouring two mugs of ale.

Yugi's first sip was a large gulp, hoping to settle his nerves.

It didn't.

"What am I going to do, Rhebekka? How can I be Timaeus' Magistrate if I can't even control these men?"

"You can start by ceasing this useless blubbering," she said bluntly. She ignored his bewildered gasp, and took a long swig from her own mug and wiped her mouth clean with her wrist. "What, you're surprised? You think I could command these men when I first started this ship? Me? A mere slip of a girl who most saw as a younger sister and at worst, a daughter? It was months before I convinced them I was stronger than most and I only had the Trierarch's support. You have a lot more than I ever did."

Yugi's lashes swept across his cheeks then rose, revealing perplexed eyes. "Like what?"

"More patience, for starters." Yugi almost choked at the response. "I mean it, Yugi. Do not go doubting yourself now! Show weakness and they will never think more of you, but show them that you are above them and they will respect you." A smile slit her face.

"And show them strength and you will have their loyalty forever." She paused, deliberate and purposeful. "And you are strong, Yugi."

Her words lingered reassuringly through the silence like victorious soldiers after an impossible battle. "Thank you, Rhebekka." Yugi smiled.

She grinned. "Think nothing of it." She grabbed his wrists and spun him like an excited little girl with a new playmate. "Now come, supper's not going to cook itself!"

She moved like a sprite, darting from cabinet to cabinet and spinning to the center stove. Her feet barely touched the ground as she danced around the galley's circular structure, her face growing less bright and etched in harder and harder frowns as she did so. She checked the last cabinet, then turned to Yugi. "Where are our rations?" she demanded, cool and business-like.

"We have enough food for a ten-day," Yugi answered. "And water, if we ration it well. I've checked the food stores, and we should be fine, but should another storm happen..." He didn't want to finish the sentence.

"Then we are lost," Rhebekka finished for him and uttered an oath under her breath. "Bells of Hades!" she snapped, and spun to the large basket she'd be nice sorting through and kicked it. The weak weaves toppled under her strength. "Keeps for weeks', my ass!"

Yugi cocked his head curiously.

"Didn't even last a month!"

Yugi's eyes widened when she kicked the basket again spilling heads of black-leafed cabbages rolling to the ground.

"Rhebekka, stop!" Yugi scooped a rolling head under his arm and grabbed her wrist, halting her temper. "Did you check the centers?"

Feet frozen in mid-kick and her back arched with a tantrum, Rhebekka blinked. "Center? Why would I? They're all rotten. Can't you see?" She pointed to the black leaves.

Hope caused Yugi's eyes to brighten. He released her and started peeling. "No, Rhebekka, look!" He peeled away layer after layer of black leaves, but when he was finished, only a handful of leaves had decayed and the inner layers and heart were a rich, healthy green.

Rhebekka gaped wide eyed like a caught fish.

"It's a delicate vegetable in Kemet but it lasts long if prepared correctly," he explained. "My ancestor called it shaw't." Another thought occurred to him and he began to feel excited. "Rhebekka, when the rations were done, were the cabbages included in the count?"

Rhebekka shook her head, saying nothing, eyes still fixated on the plump cabbage still ripe in his hands.

Yugi's face beamed. "I have an idea." He turned and fished the huge clay pot from the stores and set it over the cooking fire, filled it with a bucket of water, then ran for the steps. He stopped to order, "Peel all the cabbages and fit as many as you can until the pot's filled! Make sure you count the heads!"

Rhebekka blinked then smiled, recognizing the twinkle of an idea in his gemstone eyes. "What are you thinking, my friend?"

"I'm thinking," Yugi smirked, "we're going to make boiled cabbage and garlic for dinner." He poked his head through the canvas and pointed to the first two men who crossed his path. "You there!" he called. They stopped and blinked at him. "Go to the stores, gather all the cabbages you can find, and bring them to the galley. All of them," he emphasized. "Whether they look rotten or not. I want them all in the galley now!"

They stared at him.

"Did I stutter, men? Go!"

With that, they were off and Yugi returned. Rhebekka presented him with three proud cabbages and only a small pile of black leaves. She tossed Yugi another cabbage and they sorted through the rest. When they were done, only a handful of leaves were spoiled and a dozen or so cabbages remained. The men Yugi summoned struggled with two more large baskets, and the two Quartermasters set upon them with purpose. When all the heads were clean, Rhebekka chucked the dead leaves overboard and Yugi set to work chopping cabbages, dicing garlic cloves, and filling the pot with boiling leaves.

"How many is that?" Rhebekka asked, depositing armfuls of heads into the stores.

"Five," Yugi answered with a smirk. "Maybe six if we use the smaller ones. How many are left?" he asked, still smirking.

Rhebekka beamed. "Not including the ones you used, thirty—maybe more."

"So then," Yugi calculated playfully. "If we have thirty cabbages, and five, maybe six, are needed to serve a crew of thirty men a rich meal twice—maybe once a day if need be—then…"

"We have enough food for nearly three days alone!" She all but burst with excitement. The flush of motherhood reddening her cheeks made her happiness sparkle even more. "I'll tell the Trierarch!" She burst up the stairs and Yugi set to work filling bowls and setting aside plates. The sun was already fading when he finished, and the thunder of heavy boots echoed overhead.

The men piled into the mess, reluctance plastered on their faces when they grabbed their plates and eyed the green mash. Yugi frowned, watching them poke, prattle, examine, judge, but not eat. Brows arched in his direction, demanding an explanation. One outspoken soldier even had to nerve to ask what it was.

Damn, he hissed through his teeth. The plan was useless if the men were stupid enough to refuse it. Yugi raised his head and smiled. "It is cabbage," he answered with a delightful smile. "Cabbage spiced with garlic, a delicacy from my native home. I thought I'd prepare it for you fine gentlemen as a gesture of goodwill, but if you do not want it…" He swooped from behind the counter, grabbing plates as he went and ignoring the growls and glares and demands. "I'm sure the Trierarch, Quartermaster, and I will enjoy it. Fool I am for thinking commoners could appreciate such a delicate vegetable." He smirked and saw their disgruntled and ungrateful stares harden to envy and avarice, wanting, coveting, and demanding what was too good for them.

"Yugi!" He spun and nearly dropped the plates. Timaeus charged down the steps in hurried haste, the Trierarch once more. His words were heavy and his swagger commanding, but his eyes were bright and only Yugi noticed the smile in his step. Timaeus grabbed the table with a crashing hand and just like that, an idea formed in Yugi's hand, and he grabbed a plate and a spoon.

"Rhebekka tells me you've solved our ration prob—" he started in a low whisper and was promptly cut off when Yugi stuffed a spoonful of boiled cabbage into his mouth. His eyes bulged in shock and his nose scrunched at the taste, but Yugi squeezed his hand painfully tight and flashed a warning smile. "We must be a united front," he hissed just low enough for the Trierarch to hear. "Trust me."

Timaeus swallowed nervously, recognizing a familiar taste. "Is that garlic?" he asked.

"Yes!" Yugi beamed brightly and clapped with glee. Timaeus recognized the mask. "I made it just for you," he boasted proudly. "Remember? I told you what a delicacy it was, and you asked me to make some?" There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and Timaeus understood.

"I did," he agreed with a nod and a grin.

Then Yugi pouted. "Well, I thought to share it with the rest of our crew as a gesture of goodwill, but they decided they don't want it," he scoffed and started pouring it back in the pot, smirking as the men grimaced.

Timaeus understood at once and scanned the entire room, fixating each man with a hard, disapproving glare. Then he turned to his lover and smiled. "Now, love, I'm sure they did not mean to be so disrespectful," he cooed. "Perhaps you should forgive them."

Yugi pretended to ponder the thought then said simply, "I suppose…" and began serving once again.

The men ate without question, leaving the Trierarch and his two Quartermasters alone at the table: their eyes fixated on food and their thoughts devoted to eating.

Yugi sighed in relief and let go of Timaeus' hand. He bowed his head, frowning. "I'm sor—"

Timaeus silenced the apology with a kiss. Yugi's eyes does open in shock and he froze unsure how to respond. Then Timaeus was smiling at him: eyes beaming with prepossessing pride. "That," he paused like he was out of breathe. "was brilliant, love."

Yugi blinked, surprised. He wasn't upset with him? Even though he essentially just used him? Evidently he approved.

Yugi blinked once then smiled. "Men always want what they can't have." His eyes twinkled with merry mischief.

Timaeus' eyes flashed with wild fire, his smile curling. "Indeed they do." Without caring who was looking or who might see, Timaeus kisses him again. This time, Yugi kissed him back and when he pulled away he was giggling. Timaeus smiled. He would've kissed Yugi a third time had an impish giggle bit interrupted them.

Across from them, Rhebekka smirked, hands folded in her chin. She snorted suddenly then laughed so boisterously, she slapped her leg in reaction. "Aye to that! Curious, Yugi, how did you know about the cabbage?"

"My mother always made it, but she called it shw't back home." Yugi shrugged, simply. "It's a delicate vegetable so we had to eat it first."

"Aye, but how did you know it's healthy, is what I asked ye?"

Yugi smirked. "I know because until I was a man grown, she threatened that if I did not eat all of it, she would send me to bed without dessert."

Timaeus chuckled. "Your mother knew you well, I see."

Yugi rolled his eyes, but he hadn't stopped smiling.

X X X

Halfway through the meal, Yugi excused himself to see to Otogi. He slept peacefully, an empty mug of cannabis tea on the table. Smiling, Yugi set the plate on the side table and redressed his wounds with fresh linens and honey. The wounds were still closing but the joints were healing quickly. He smiled and made a note to return him to duty within half a tenday.

A soft knock at the door interrupted him. He blinked curiously. "Enter." He permitted, but not without confusion. He recognized the figure in the doorway at once: the red-haired soldier from that morning. He wore a sheepish expression and when he spoke, it was with none of the scratchiness it had that morning. "My Lord, uh, Quartermaster," he stumbled then corrected himself. "I wanted to thank you for that tonic this morning. It… helped."

Mute in disbelief, Yugi blinked. He hadn't meant anything by the gesture, and yet the simple offer of relief had been important enough to earn a private apology from one of the Dragon Knight's finest soldiers. The sheer humbleness of it cause all Yugi's breathe to vanish. "You are most welcome," he managed to breathe out courteously.

The soldier flashed a gracious smile and dismissed himself with a bow. Yugi nearly collapsed in the stool, suddenly grateful Otogi was asleep and could not see the flush on his face. When it settled, he found himself smiling, then laughing, spinning, beaming with the pride of a child who accomplished its first independent task. He almost didn't hear the next knock. Or the one after that. One by one, each of the men he'd assisted requested entrance, presented the empty bottles, and promptly thanked him for his kindness—some even asked if he had any more tonics. Yugi offered them without question, but not without strict application warnings. Only a few men kept the bottles, but none left without swearing an oath not to abuse it, and he chuckled as he watched them go.

He was about to head back downstairs when someone else entered unannounced. Yugi spun and his eyes darkened. Malik stood in the doorway, his face a stoic mask and his eyes betrayed no emotion, not a flicker of thought.

"State your business." Yugi steeled himself, professional and cold, and with no patience for the man's discontent.

Malik was silent, his eyes fluttered closed. He inhaled a small breathe. "I had a question for you," Malik said softly. His voice was raspy and rough like he was having trouble breathing. Yugi ached a skeptic brow. He'd expected snarling or snapping from Malik or at best restrained politeness, but Malik did not sound angry. At best he sounded scared, or even confused.

There was a long pause as though Malik was not quite sure how to voice the question. "Why did you…earlier… you…when the Trierarch asked, why did you…" He stuttered, the action and timid expression unnatural on the man's normally arrogant face.

Long lashes swept Yugi's cheek in a quick, confused blink.

"Why did you tell the Trierarch that you—why did you protect me?" He said it like it was a strange, unfamiliar shape on his tongue, but he said it.

He expected Yugi to understand then, instead Yugi blinked again. "What do you mean?"

Malik made a groaning sound. He wanted the conversation over before he lost his nerve and they said something awful. "Earlier, when you—"

"No, not that," Yugi cut him off. Malik shot up in surprise. "I meant what do you mean by why? It was the truth. I struck you first, regardless of the reasons why I did. There was no need for you to be punished for my actions." Yugi gave a nonchalant shrug before returning to his work.

Malik's jaw dropped in surprise, stunned mystification bulged his eyes and his face was a mask of shock. His mouth gapped and twisted trying to form words but no sounds came out. Then he stopped and looked at the floor.

Yugi hopped over, concerned. "Are you alright?"

Malik shuddered suddenly and a low rumbling sound escaped his lips. Yugi couldn't tell if he was laughing or sobbing.

"Mal—" Cut off when Malik stood up, Yugi took a step back. The man's emotionless eyes and stoic face returned. "There is something else," he said, quietly, his eyes closed and he inhaled a small breathe—then dropped to his knees in apology.

Yugi's jaw dropped, all shields melted to a stunned, muted disbelief.

"Lord Ujalah, consort of the Trierarch and First of His Royal Majesty King Dartz's Order of Dragon Knights, and Magistrate of Locri, Timaeus, I-" There was a pause. "I wish to express my gratitude for your kindness in regards to the healing of my person, and your mercy concerning the events of this evening."

Yugi stared him in stunned silence, saying nothing.

"And..." Malik paused in the final declaration, like he was forbidden to say the next words. "I wish to apologize for my words and sins against you and beg your forgiveness."

Shocked to silence, Yugi could only listen. Stunned mystification caused him to drop to his chair. "You do not..." Yugi started to say, but Malik halted him—though there was no malice in his voice.

"Let me finish. When the Trierarch first announced your presence to us, I thought you no more than the spiteful child you appeared to be—a tool for peace and nothing more—and I confess it left me bitter. I must also confess that I thought our Trierarch deserved better than the shackles of a loveless marriage born from politics. It never once occurred to me that you were but a stranger who suddenly had this new role thrust ignorantly upon you. Even during your moments of strength, I opted such kindness to arrogance, and I did not think that you and he might have had…" Again, he looked away, embarrassed, "… feelings for each other. When it was apparent that he did, I feared the Trierarch's obsession with you would distract him. And I feared you would take advantage of that obsession for your own personal gain. But then today…" For a moment he could not speak. "You were a better man than I had seen in a long time. I am ashamed of my actions now and I hope that in time, I may be forgiven."

Yugi sat still for a moment, saying nothing, only listening. Words evaded his thoughts like a flock of birds abandoning a tree. His mind processed the wile of the apology as well as its sincerity—the level of respect and courage it took to come here and offer it, to admit to such weakness and confess it to him.

Yugi smiled then laughed—a kind, sweet laugh that made Malik look at him as though he'd gone mad.

"There is nothing to forgive," Yugi said. The man stared at him blankly and moved to speak, but Yugi shook his head.

"No, my friend, you've confessed and now it is my turn. I know your first impression of me did not foster any hopes for our union, mine and the Trierarch's. You are right; I was bitter and I was spiteful and the reasoning is even more childish than my actions, and it was wrong of me to thrust my anger on my husband and my fellow men." Then he smiled. "But I want to change that. The Trierarch and I have forgiven each other, and it's time I was there for my crew. You are just as much mine as you are Timaeus', and I will not let a single man stumble," he declared.

Malik was silent for a moment, taking in the words. Then he smiled and rose, but bowed slightly. "We were such fools." The confession was but a whisper of wind, but when he rose to see Yugi again, he added, "Fools to doubt the Trierarch's judgment."

The discussion was halted by the opening of the door.

Timaeus entered unannounced as he always did, bright-faced and smiling when he saw his husband. "I thought I'd find you here." There was a sly wink to his words that stilled when he saw Malik on the floor.

He frowned once then asked Yugi evenly, "Am I interrupting something?"

Malik stood and bowed. "Forgive me, Trierarch. I was just leaving." He did not hesitate to dismiss himself, leaving the two monarchs alone. Yugi turned to look at Timaeus, who now cast his emerald gaze on him: his ghostly eye a blank reflection betraying no emotion in its harder twin.

"Come." Timaeus offered his hand. "We've business to discuss."

Again SO proud of this chapter! little Yugi has come such a long way hasn't he :) He's even won over MALIK!

Now the question is what does Timaeus have planned for our favorite little prince ;)

NEXT TIME: Timaeus makes good on his promise.

As always read, review, critique, comment, ask questions and go nuts!