Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.

Chapter Fifteen

Dria

"Do you have even the slightest clue as to where we're headed, Dria? We've been walking for what seems like hours."

"Don't be such a crybaby, Seto. We're going to find Mokuba. At least act like you care, please."

Seto grabbed my wrist and quickly spun me, pulling my body tight against his. "Don't ever say I don't care."

We had been walking for hours. Unfortunately, I had no idea where to start the search for Mokuba. He could have been almost anywhere in this realm. Pegasus could have accidentally sent him to some other dimension of this realm and not have known it. Seto was a bit easier to find, seeing as I had placed my mark on him. Finding Grandpa had been nothing more than pure luck. I didn't even really find him, but rather he found me.

Mokuba would be the hardest to find because he was so young. His inner goodness would shine the brightest since he was still filled with the innocence of a child. Maybe always being around Seto, who wasn't exactly Mr. Sunshine, and being raised by that tyrant of a stepfather had taught him how to hide and guard that innocence. If he could do that, he stood a better chance of evading the shadows longer, at least long enough for us to find him. But if he couldn't, I was terrified for him. I sank to the ground, completely exhausted. Small tears ran down my cheeks as the weight of my task pressed down on my shoulders. I was just one person; I couldn't do everything, no matter how badly I wanted or needed to. Seto dropped to his knees next to me.

"Hey, I'm sorry I snapped at you, Dria. All three of us are tired and cranky from wandering around in this ridiculous place. Please, don't cry. I hate it when you cry."

Seto pulled me into his chest as he spoke. He thought he had offended me with his harsh words, but I had deserved every single one of them. Grandpa placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled gently when I looked up at him. I smiled thankfully at the both of them.

"Thank you, both of you. Let's stop here for a while and rest."

Just as the words left my mouth, another little park appeared behind us. This one was much simpler than the one I had come across earlier, but there were little shadows playing here. I smiled a little bit; I owed my friend again because he was likely the one who had caused this place to appear. Picking me up, Seto cradled me against his chest and lead our small group towards the benches.

The little shadow children surrounded us as we sat down. Grandpa laughed and cheered at the little tricks they did for him and they all squealed happily under his attention. Seto, on the other hand, only watched with mild interest. He was mostly irritated at the fact we (he and I) weren't alone. I tucked my head under his chin and closed my eyes to rest.

I was walking through the palace gardens, enjoying the clear, sunny day. I had just completed my lessons with the Pharaoh for the time being. Every few days I would join him in the throne room, and there he would teach me the things I needed to know since I would become Queen in a few short years. He kept telling me that these lessons were completely unnecessary, claiming I already knew everything there was to know. That might have been true, but I knew that chances to spend time with him were slowly running out, so I pleaded with him to continue teaching me regardless, stealing every moment I could with him. Suddenly, a tiny body crashed into my legs. I stopped and looked down in surprise, only to see a small child staring back up at me.

"Tumaini! Where are you? Tumaini!"

A young girl, no older than I, came around the corner. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw her son clutching to my calves. She quickly ran up and bowed multiple times, "Please forgive him, Your Highness. He is only a child and he knows no better."

I smiled softly at both of them. Tumaini giggled and stretched out his arms, begging me to pick him up. I didn't move for a few moments. The Prince and I had been married for almost a year now, and no matter how many times we tried, a child would simply not be granted to us. We were both only 16 and we hopefully had many years to come, but I felt responsible all the time. Since I had been unable to give him the pleasure of fatherhood so far, his wants and needs came way before mine any time I could grant them.

Smiling sadly, I finally picked up the child and rested him on my hip. He moved his tiny hands from my neck to my face, tracing the outline of my jaw. He giggled in delight when I smiled a little wider at him. His mother laughed softly at the sight before her. I froze as the laughter reached my ears, my heart contracting painfully at the idea that the Prince and I might never experience this. I placed the boy in her arms, bowed slightly, and ran back to my room.

Throwing back the curtains, I collapsed heavily onto my bed. I couldn't go to the room I shared with my husband. He would immediately know something was wrong. As badly as we needed to talk about our future together should I be unable to give him an heir, I couldn't do it. I didn't want to face the possibility of losing him to another woman. He would eventually need an heir; this I knew well. But I wouldn't be able to stomach the sight of seeing him with another woman.

"My love? Are you in here?"

My sobs caught in my throat when I heard his voice. I buried myself beneath my soft, cotton blankets, covering my head with the plush, goose-feather pillows, trying to hide myself from his presence. I heard the soft rustle of the curtains as he pushed them back and I heard his footsteps as he came closer to the bed.

"Dria?"

I pulled myself into a tight ball at the mention of my name. I was too ashamed of myself to speak to him right now. Perhaps it would be better for him to find another, for surely there was one better suited. He pulled down the blankets and shifted the pillows away so he could see me.

"I saw you with Tumaini."

I froze. Here it came: he would tell me that he needed to find another to give him an heir. He wasn't Pharaoh yet, but the need for his successor was already present. If his family's bloodline was to remain in power, he needed to pass it on even before his coronation. There was no telling what could happen to him afterwards.

"I cannot wait to see you as a mother."

I burst into loud, bitter weeping. His statement only made me feel worse about the situation. I felt the bed sink as he climbed into it beside me. He wrapped his arms around the blankets covering me and tightened his grip so I could feel every muscle in his body against me.

"Do you fear that thought? Please Dria, I know you will make a lovely mother. You practically raised me, and I turned out pretty well, did I not? Father thinks I am ready to take the throne, and that is all because of you, my divine akh."

I choked a little on my tears as I tried to hold them back long enough to speak.

"There is nothing I want to give you more, my love, than the joys of fatherhood. But, as time goes on, I have come to fear that it will never come true. Perhaps this is my punishment for being so blessed by the gods in everything else. I only wish you didn't have to suffer as well."

He abruptly flipped me, gently forcing me onto my back. Before I could say anything, he pressed his lips to mine. He stroked the side of my face, wiping away the remnants of my tears, and kissed me deeper. He released my lips just before I fainted from shortness of breath, only to move down to my neck, pushing away the blanket. His arms wrapped around my waist again, pulling my body closer to his. After a few more moments, he finally released me and raised himself up once more. His loving eyes looked down at me, his gentle smile gracing me with its presence.

"Neither of us suffers, my dear. Our time just has not come yet. Please don't lose your faith. I know fortune will smile upon us someday."

Tears welled up in my eyes again. I just had to ask him. "And what will we do if it does not? What will you do when all the others have children and your own wife cannot provide you with an heir?"

He rested his forehead against mine, still smiling, "Then I will have you."

I opened my eyes as the memory faded. I was still curled against Seto's chest. I didn't even realize that I had fallen asleep. The tiny shadows were gone, and Seto and Grandpa were sleeping quietly next to me. I laid my head back down on Seto's chest and closed my eyes again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

A sudden explosion shocked the three of us into consciousness once more. I jumped off Seto's lap, my weapons already prepared once more. A shadow came flying out from the darkness. I was prepared for another attack, but it didn't seem to notice our tiny group.

"Bastardo! Kare wa watashida! Vrí̱ka ton pró̱to!"

I rubbed my temples for a moment, trying to translate what it had just said. Understanding what your opponent was saying while playing the game was one thing because both sides understood what the other was talking about since both knew the topic of choice. But trying to understand a game just by listening always gave me a headache.

"What did he just say?" I sighed at Seto's question. The first was Italian, which was easy enough.

"Bastard." I paused as I scanned through all the languages I knew. The second was Japanese, "He's mine." The final set was Greek, "I found him first."

"He found who first? Dria, what's going on?" I turned my gaze to Seto, who was now standing directly behind me, Grandpa right beside him.

"Sometimes instead of hand to hand combat, like the one we faced earlier Grandpa, shadows will instead play this game that some call Tongues. The two sides take turns commenting on a particular topic, which was chosen by both, in different languages. Sometimes, one side will speak entirely in one language, and other times, they will mix different languages together. The point is to confuse the other side to the point they no longer know what is being said. The winner gets the prize, whatever that may be."

Seto scoffed, rolling his eyes at the idea, "That is the most ridiculous game I've ever heard about, and I'm forced to live in the same city as Wheeler."

I chuckled, "You only say that because you'd probably lose immediately."

He narrowed his eyes at me. I could see a response bubbling at his lips, but whatever he wanted to say, he held back and instead retorted, "That's not the point and you know it."

A second shadow came out of the darkness, a smaller figure over his shoulder. I held back a gasp as the two came closer. It was Mokuba! I narrowed my gaze as I looked around the park. This was all too convenient. First Grandpa, now Mokuba, and the fact that finding Seto was far easier than it should have been. This had been planned, and I knew by whom. I looked towards the sky to see my friend grinning down at me from the darkness.

"Mokuba!"

Seto lunged forward, trying to grab Mokuba out of the second shadow's hold. The shadow merely sneered at him, throwing him back towards Grandpa and me. Seto landed on the ground in front of us, and I immediately went to him. The shadow let loose a loud snarl, attempting to scare away our group. I stood up and raised my hands, giving the universal sign of surrender. It stopped its snarls, but the glare remained on its face.

"What do you mortals want?"

The first one walked up to us with narrow eyes, observing every feature. Its eyes simply skimmed over Seto and Grandpa, much to my relief, but when its gaze reached me, it paused, "I know you. You're his closest friend, aren't you, Ramila?"

I refused to respond. My eyes focused straight ahead, and my body remained frozen. I heard a dark chuckle.

"No answer? Well, regardless of whether you are or not, you are still beautiful beyond compare. I don't know if I can refrain from wanting you." One of its hands slowly traced up my arm, making its way to my shoulder, then neck. It moved my hair out of the way, exposing part of my neck to his fingertips.

"Touch her, and I swear you'll regret it!" Seto, still on the ground, said menacingly.

I turned my head, making eye contact with him to reassure him of my safety. He stopped protesting, but his body was still shaking in fury. The shadow laughed loudly, twirling a piece of my hair around its finger, "She would be worth it." It leaned down and placed a single kiss on my neck, "You are simply divine, my dear."

He moved up my neck, placing one kiss at every place he paused. Even with Seto's constant death glares and huffs of anger, the shadow kept moving. Just before he touched my lips, I spoke, "May I request one thing?"

He stopped, giving me what was probably supposed to be a sexy smirk. I didn't give it a second glance because it was nothing compared to the Pharaoh. I had to resist sighing dreamily as that image arose in my mind's eye.

"But of course, princess. Forgive me for not asking."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. This shadow must be an incubus, which meant all it wanted was sex. This kind was the easiest to thwart and avoid. Since the Pharaoh was constantly on my mind, its entrancing gaze was simple to ignore. But the second shadow hadn't spoken enough for me to guess its kind. I reopened my eyes to find the playboy staring directly into my eyes. I saw the colors in its golden eyes swirl as it tried to seduce me, but I just stared back stoically.

"Please leave the boy with me. He is my little brother."

It wasn't a complete lie, but I hoped Seto wouldn't say anything. The incubus was extremely disappointed when it realized I wasn't falling under its spell. It released me and sulked back over to its friend, who was grinning like a madman now.

"You know you deserved that. If you wouldn't be such a jerk, maybe a girl would fall for you."

I smiled in agreement with the second figure. Finally, a shadow that would hopefully listen and yield to my pleas. It focused its gaze on me, "You said you wanted the boy? What are you willing to give us in exchange?"

My smile dropped. I knew we would have to give them something, but there was nothing I was willing to give up. Grandpa and Seto were out of the question, and I would never agree to stay in this place when I knew the Pharaoh was waiting for me to return.

"What if we played your game? With the boy as the prize?"

Grandpa stepped forward, boldly challenging the centuries' old shadow. It grinned widely, showing off its razor-sharp teeth.

"Are you suggesting that she challenge me? Or do you plan to challenge me?"

Grandpa shrugged, "I'll give it a shot. Why not?"

Seto quickly stood up, "Don't even think about it, you old fool! We're not risking Mokuba like that!"

As Seto and Grandpa argued, I closed my eyes to see if I could see anything of use in the short visions I could still receive. Maybe, something would help me know if allowing Grandpa to play would save Mokuba. If not, the incubus might get what he wanted after all from me because there really wasn't anything else to offer them that they would be willing to take. Though I didn't have much luck grasping a vision, I reopened my eyes and silenced the feud before it escalated.

"Let him, Seto."

Seto turned on me, grabbing my shoulders and shaking them, "No I won't! I can't lose Mokuba because some old fool thinks he can speak Spanish! My brother means everything to me and you know it!"

I sighed and gently grabbed his head, pulling it down towards me. After placing an affectionate kiss on his forehead, I wrapped my arms around his neck. His arms tightly wound themselves around my back, nearly suffocating me as I responded, "I won't let you lose him. Trust me on this." Seto didn't respond for a few moments; the tension in his shoulders finally softened, a sign of his surrender.

"So, the old man will be my opponent?"

I nodded in response to the shadow's question, and Grandpa and the shadow took their places before us as we were seated on a nearby bench. The incubus had laid his head down on my lap, clearly pleased by the turn of events, while Seto sat next to me with an arm wrapped around my shoulders.

"Yes. Do we need to go over the rules for you, Grandpa?"

"No, I'll catch on. I'm a quick study." I half-heartedly smiled. He had better catch on fast if he wanted to win. This shadow was confident in his abilities so he must have won a number of games in the past. He also gave no indication to his age, meaning there was no telling how many different languages he could use in this odd game.

"Any particular topic you would like to discuss?"

Grandpa was silent for a few moments before he said, "Juédòu guàishòu." I blinked in surprise. That was not a language I expected Grandpa to know.

"Ce qui est mieux? Magie ou piège?"

I weakly glared at the shadow. He just had to immediately switch didn't he? I took a deep breath to calm my nerves because I had to believe in Grandpa. There was so much I didn't know about him, so maybe he knew as many languages as the shadow did. It was unlikely, but maybe he knew enough to win. I hoped it would be enough, particularly because I wasn't too keen on the other offer I had been presented with in exchange for Mokuba. While my body was my property alone, I knew I could never give it to anyone other than the man I loved.

The two went back and forth for what seemed like hours, constantly arguing over some aspect of the game and discussing its finer points. Seto asked me numerous times to translate what they were saying, but it was forbidden. No outside help could be given, regardless of whether or not it was intentional. Anyone who did get outside help would automatically lose.

"Avea doar credinţa în inima carduri."

Grandpa's words made the shadow fall silent. I could see his mind trying to figure out what language had just been used, what Grandpa had said, and how he could respond to continue the conversation. After 5 minutes of silence, the shadow broke out into a smile.

"Congratulations, old man. I didn't think you could do it. You won."

Seto immediately jumped up and took Mokuba from the shadow's hands, pulling his small brother tightly to his chest. Grandpa and the shadow shook hands. I would have gone over to congratulate them both, but the incubus grabbed my hand as we rose, stopping me from approaching the competitors. A puppy-dog look covered its face, "You don't have to go, Ramila. You could stay here with me." I smiled and shook my head.

It sighed, "Oh well, I can't say that I didn't try to persuade you."

He released my hand but didn't move away immediately. Then, before I could do anything, he leapt forward, grabbing my shoulders, and placed a quick kiss on my lips. Seto shouted at him and probably would have taken off after the fleeing shadow had he not been holding Mokuba.

"It was worth it!" The shadow shouted gleefully as he vanished into the darkness again.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I wiped my lips. I slowly looked up towards the dark sky. I'll be back soon Pharaoh.