Author's Rant: Thanks so much to every single one of you for still supporting this story after all this time. Also, I'm planning on making some modifications to this story to tidy up some of the mess with the Swahili and English translations. In all honesty, I realized that it looks very tacky to write the English right after the Swahili, therefore, I made a glossary towards the bottom in the order the Swahili appears. Sorry if this complicates things, but I feel better knowing it looks less cluttered. Also, some the native's English is heavily accented so it looks distorted on purpose. OK, enough talk. Enjoy!

Small Hardships

Today wasn't going to be like the previous several. Not if Jordan had anything to say about it. He arrived at the South Kaiba Corporation Building with a determined stride as he walked through the revolving glass doors. This was the third company he'd breached after the last two he'd been two said Seto hadn't arrived at either.

Seto was no longer answering his phone calls. He never responds back to his voice mails now, and to go so far as to cancel their wedding preparation dates three straight times was all Jordan could bare.

No one dared to stop his pace, a brisk, straight back stroll that radiate a massive surge of anger. He was Seto's opposite as far as dealing with his fiancee's employees, but with the emotion turmoil brewing inside him, he was tempted to fire the first person who even breathed in his direction.

Enough was enough. For four months he's had to deal with Seto's distance attitude, perturbing discussions that always left much to be desired for another promised time that never came. Jordan assumed time was all his lover needed. Perhaps even a few weeks or so, but Yugi's death disturbed Seto beyond comprehension.

Jordan pivoted around the corner toward the private elevator section, specifically for only a handful of people. He slipped the passcode card from the breast pocket of his dress shirt and flattened it to the scan bar. It reflected his name, company position and identification as expected before the metal elevator doors parted ways.

Jordan stepped inside, stabbed the button for the top floor and braced his back against the back wall. Yugi, who would have guessed this young man could affect Seto so much. Jordan entered into this relationship believing there wasn't a force on this planet that could rattle Seto, but this? Losing Yugi brought about the plague of misery.

Their friendship was a deeply rooted plant not even Jordan had been able to fully see from the outside. He missed Yugi as well. The young man was the pride of them all, being a kind, special romantic at heart and the most caring person to have ever lived.

But that's just the problem in itself. Past tense. Yugi had lived. He was gone now. Jordan accepted it, so did Mokuba, Jordan and though it took some time, do did Vivian. Everyone knew it was difficult to continue life whilst filling the void Yugi left behind.

Jordan wiped a hand over his face. It was Seto who refused to allow that void to dissipate from his life because he would only allow one man to permeate it. Didn't he see that the only solution was now a thing of the past? Why couldn't he return back to being the reasonable man Jordan fell in love with?

Their relationship bitterly suffered due to Seto's neglect. At this rate, Jordan feared the final strings supporting their strained connection would shiver. That's why he came here in hopes of talking some sense into this stubborn man and force him into pressing on and living in the present instead of the past.

Jordan sighed as the tendrils of anger waded from the waiting. The illuminated numbers blinked at a snail's pace. With only several floors separating him from his final destination, Jordan turned around to face the large mirror wall and accessed his appearance.

"Terrific," he groaned sourly. This would definitely gather Seto's attention the way he wanted.

His hair looked a knot ruin, bound at the nape of his neck in a less than impressive ponytail. The tailored indigo dress shirt and khaki pressed slacks looked anything, but like a serious man on a mission. Jordan tried to salvage what little he could of his attire, dusting at the wrinkles, straightening his collar and running his fingers through his hair to get rid of the tangles. It wasn't much, but it'd do. He'd come here as a man on a love mission anyway, not an interview.

The elevator binged to signal his arrival. There was no other way to get here besides the stairwell. Only two entrances. Jordan stepped from the elevator, gazing down the long hall leading to Seto's office. The mahogany desk stationed to the left of the door had a new face. Jordan mentally shook his head. He supposed he should expect that from his fiancée. Firing people always did manage to relieve some stress.

The secretary didn't bother to announce his arrival. She was well trained to recognize that anyone who had access to this elevator was important enough to disturb Seto's peace whenever they wished. Jordan nodded to her before stepping in front of the door.

He paused, hand poised in midair, an inch from knocking. An indescribable sense of dread suddenly fluctuated in his chest, the likes of none he's ever felt before. He gulped. What was wrong with him? Surely he could handle going inside and talking couldn't he?

Jordan straightened his back, lifted his chin, and knocked twice. He gripped the door handle and pushed inside just as Seto gave the faint permission for the person to enter. Dark eyes met the casual slide of icy blue before he was immediately dismissed.

"Afternoon, Seto," Jordan shifts his stance to lay his hand on the light panel to his right. The office electrical system filters the darkened room with a stream of dim beams from the ceiling. The tiny buzzing disrupts the otherwise relative silence and when Jordan has just enough light to take in the pristine office, he folds his arms and gazes around.

This was the one office he despised most. It was a giant white space with white furnishing, no paintings, pictures, or anything that held a distinct color. Seto sat behind the large white oblong desk, with three flat screen computers surrounding his body, but through the small gaps Jordan could make out Seto's solid black business suit and blue tie.

He looked dashing in it. Jordan commented on that, but received no reply. The distance between the front door and desk seemed even longer than Jordan imagined. He raised an eyebrow when the desk phone rung. Seto answered, never missing a second in his fingers filing over each key. His deep voice, carried on the conversation, blatantly ignoring Jordan's presence all together.

"Seto," Jordan tried patiently. "We need to talk."

Seto said nothing. Not to him, but spoke to the person on the phone. Jordan couldn't believe the audacity. Was Seto really onto playing this game? Because Jordan certainly was not.

"Seto Kaiba, I know you heard me come through this door."

Nothing. Again.

Jordan's arms fell to his sides, hands winding into tight fists. He scowls, acting before thinking. His feet are moving across the room, eyes sharp and purpose clear. Jordan rounds the desk, yanking Seto from his desk. His finger jams the receiver key into the cradle. But he's not done there.

Against Seto's protesting grunts, Jordan pushes the rolling chair as far back as the back wall and braces his hands on the arm rests, leaning in so close he could taste the air escaping Seto's lips. The slanted blue gaze meeting his flare.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Now that I have your attention at last, we can talk."

Seto rattled the chair, but to no avail. Jordan planted his weight firmly into keep the chair from moving.

"You will listen to me, Seto," Jordan growled. "I've had enough of this, you hear! When are you going to wake up from this lukewarm fantasy?"

Seto clicked his lips. "What are you on about, Jordan?"

"Don't treat my arrival here like it's a burden!" Jordan shook the chair, angrily. "You're killing me, Seto. I-I can't keep going through this. It's been four months! When will you realize that you'll eventually have to exist beyond that day? I've checked, you've checked, Joey and Vivian have as well, and none of us have found a solitary piece of evidence to say otherwise!"

Seto's chuckle was the ugliest sound Jordan ever heard. "Oh, so now I'm supposed to be living in some made up fantasy? Nothing I believe can be true. It's not at all possible that by some cosmic probability that Yugi did survive the plane crash?"

"Seto, they combed the crash site with the best of their investigators!"

"You expect that barbaric country's authority to be up to par with those facts? They can barely flourish beyond weaving baskets and throwing spears." Seto's strength finally surfaced so suddenly, Jordan was forced backwards, stumbling to keep his balance. "Yugi is alive. You think I'd go to such drastic measures for just anyone? That brat owes me!"

Jordan gawked, astounded. "This is about being paid back? Yugi owes you money? Is that what you're trying to convince me? You're neglecting our relationship, your brother and friends over something so minuscule—?"

"No, you idiot! With all the money at my exposure do you really believe—"

"Then what is it? Help me understand why I feel like I'm losing a battle to a dead man?"

Seto's chest rose and fell unevenly, pupils washed clean of the blue, now full of only black. "That son of bitch made the mistake of having me invest half my life into believing I should live past my company, that my life was much more than just living day to day as a business mogul. I learned to live again when I neared the brink of assuming there was no reason to!"

"What is that supposed to even mean?" Jordan said back just as strong. "You're saying that one person was all it took for you to see that there's more to the world then expanding your company?"

Seto straightened. "That's right. It's the whole reason you and I are even engaged. I never would've considered falling for anyone, not even someone as charming as you. I never told anyone this, but back then I forced myself to push through each day never feeling, never letting a speck of emotion show for a single person. So long as I had my company and Mokuba, the world could burn under the soles of my feet."

Jordan couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I met that fool on the day I thought there was no decent human being left alive." Seto's voice softened as reminiscing glare entered his eyes. "Then I met that foolish dreamer and. . . and my life changed. If Yugi taught me anything it's that something as trivial and disgusting as friendship can make a man feel alive." Seto's hands clenched, nails digging painfully into his palm. "That's why I refuse to allow that bastard to die. He changed me into who I am today when I was perfectly fine with the person I used to be. And if he believes he can just leave here without continuing the life sentence of dealing with his handy work, he's even more a dreamer then me!"

Jordan could only stare, fingers uncurling limply by his side. The sheer magnitude of Seto's submission bounced all over the room and inside Jordan's mind. He never knew any of this, not one thing. How could he have been aware of who Seto was before they met? He'd never paid any attention to the newspapers or the televised media always portraying Seto Kaiba as being anything but a fairly ruthless man whose ideals centered on achieving success. What kind of person was he before? Something worst?

"I realize I haven't been fair to you or Mokuba. Those two others can go rot in a ditch for all I care, but the fact remains that I cannot let Yugi go. Unless I see his tombstone, and even then I'll dig up the coffin to see if his body is actually inside, I refuse to believe he's dead. . . that's why I'm postponing our engagement. I can't focus on this, my business and having to satisfy you. This wasn't an expected interruption and I won't apologize for it."

Postponing our wedding was the only part Jordan heard before his ears flooded. Seto was talking but it resounded faintly like a voice trying to push from the bottom of the sea. He staggered, swaying before pressing his palm to his forehead. Postponing their engagement? And for what? A silly hope that . . . that . . . that Yugi was still alive?

Jordan's hand visibly shook as it drooped in front of his chest. "For how long?"

"Until my lukewarm fantasy becomes a reality."

As if sand were perched on the bed on his tongue, Jordan's mouth dried, words lost in his throat. He finally looked away, dark eyes fading, losing the last resilience he'd had to try and win over his lover's heart from this foolish task.

"So be it," he said softly. Jordan smiled sadly, eyes crinkled as he stared across the way to Seto's face. "Until this fantasy comes to be, I'll wait."

Seto narrowed his eyes. "You're willing to wait. Just like that," he said a bit doubtful.

"That's what I said."

"Most men wouldn't go through the trouble." Seto narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure you'll find someone else soon."

"Not likely. I fought tooth and nail to get you. I'll be damned if I allow this to take you away from me." Jordan congratulated himself on not revealing all the hurt confiscating his heart and turned on his heel to leave. A small part of him wished for Seto to say how long, even give a small estimate of how long he should expect to wait, but the bigger part of him knew what kind of man he fell in love with.

Jordan walked out the door without a backwards glance. He strengthened the weakness within him and started down the hall with a new found decision in his mind. Yes, he'd agreed to Seto's terms, but not entirely. He was willing to wait, but if he could somehow find a way to prove to Seto that Yugi Muto was indeed dead, then they could move on with their lives.

As Jordan pressed the button to the bottom floor, he settled into a whirlwind of strategizing, fact-finding and calling old friends for age old favors. He'll do a little of his own investigating. Then, and only then will he be able to gain back what was loss.

Sinking into the ways of the Thika Village people was not at all going as Neo had visualized. Every single day from sun up to sun down he was on a different end of the ranch helping with whatever work was available or going near the few people who accepted him. And those people were very few and far in between.

For four long, grueling months, he's dealt with the discrimination and subtle verbal abuse of the other villagers. His language skills were improving drastically. He only needed Heba to help him address a few sentences every now and again, but Neo held firm in learning on his own.

If it weren't for Yami's support and helping one another connect in a way they could communicate, Neo would have lost any hope of finding his place here. Today, he escape to a shady perch on the side of a water stalls where the cattle drunk water, and sat down by the drinking pins. It was unbearably hot today, the sun scorching angrily on the ground.

Neo felt over his arms and legs, noticing the feverish warmth. The straw hat on his head held off some of the sun's most fierce rays, but only to a degree. Beggars can't be choosers he supposed. After all, if it weren't for the hat at all, he would've fallen victim to heat stroke.

When slight wind rushes a bunch of dust in the air, Neo's forced to stand up and nearly tumbles over the water pins. He quickly steady's the stalls before it's noticed, but unfortunately he wasn't so lucky.

"Unafanya nini, wajinga mvulana?"

Neo spun around, already bowing at the waist to the outraged villager. "Mimi nina pole sana." It's a phrase he's grown accustomed to saying rather quickly. It quailed some of the tempers thrown his way, but not this time.

There were two men coming, both heavily built, carrying large metal rakes and shovels. They were wearing tattered floral tunics, baggy pants and torn sandals on their feet. These two must be from the edge of the village. Neo learned of the anarchy set up here, where the poorest and more outcast villagers were cast to live on the edge of the ranch, versus those who held a higher privilege and lived closer within.

The bigger of the two stopped in front Neo, snatching the front of his shirt. "Wewe si walidhani kuwa karibu hapa. Wanaume Ndani kukaa ndani!"

He spoke far too quickly for Neo to interpret in his head. Some he picked up on after a second of thinking. "Mimi kazi kwa Heba. Tafadhali kuondoka."

The second man stepped forward and grabbed Neo's arm. With one around twist, he yanked Neo from his partner's grasp and laid him down on the ground, arm bent high on his back. "Mimi wala kutoa damn ambao kazi kwa ajili ya . Wewe karibu knocked juu maji yangu ng'ombe!"

"Ahh! Mimi nina pole sana!" Neo repeated through strained teeth, flushing from the pain shooting up his arm and shoulder. He couldn't understand why they were so angry. It was an accident. He'd done nothing wrong. The water wasn't knocked over. Another rough push creaked the bone in his arm. Neo grunted, inhaling the rough orange dirt and coughed. "Mimi nina pole sana!" he said as many times, louder and louder, as he could, but it only angered them more. Neo didn't think his arm could bend any further before it'd crack.

With one more warning yank and shove, the one holding him down stood up and pushed Neo to the side with his foot. You kukaa kutoka duniani hapa, ndani ya mtu!"

Inside man. That's the second time they called him that. Neo said nothing, silently staying flat on the ground, though he wanted so much to cradle his aching arm. When the footsteps to his attackers no longer quivered the ground, he finally climbed as high as his knees and reached over to squeeze his upper arm.

Damn, it really hurt. He hoarsely coughed out some of the grit inhaled from his fall and steadily climbed up to his feet. The entire front of his white t-shirt and baggy cargos were soiled in the orange mud near the cattle pin. Terrific. Now he'd have to go see if he had any extra clothes to cover this up before anyone noticed.

Plus, he needed to return to the work with Heba. They only knew he was supposed to have a small break. He'd been gone far too long. He rolled his shoulder while walking, trying to coax some feeling there and sooth away the pain.

He'd be fine. Neo knew he could endure this. In the four months he's lived here, it wasn't the first silent attack on him and he highly doubted it'd be the last. It was no mystery to him as to why they were wary and angry with him. None of these people accepted outsiders in their village and here one is welcomed inside and given the privilege of interacting with the main family.

It's an honor he never took for granted, but in the eyes of the villagers he was very undeserving. Neo swallowed harshly at these thoughts and lifted his head. It's a small burden to pay, but not one he felt any regrets for. He kept his chin up and his chest out each day, shoveling through the bitter glares and sharp tongues meant to break him down.

Ms. Desta, Yami, Heba and on some occasions a few others never turned their backs on him. So long as he had even one friend, the hidden torture was worth it. That's why he never said a word about them. There's no need to make himself even more of an issue on their hands.

Neo found what he was looking for; one of the local water pumps. This one was rarely used because it laid so far from the village. With a relieved smile, Neo hastened over while patting at his chest to knock off more of the dirt and mud. There's a wooden bucket dangling from the handle. He can use that to wash away a good bit of the dirt and during work, let the sun take over from there.

Neo lifted the bucket, placed it under the spout and began to pump the handle. One, two, three strong and hard times he lifted and dropped the handle, caressing the well water inside. After the tenth pump, a rush of water slushed out of the pipe, and spilled over the bucket. It was more than enough.

Neo kneeled down, grasped the bucket and tossed the water all over his body. The cool, refreshing sting of cold nearly knocked the air out of his lungs. He coughed, shivering, but otherwise feeling a whole lot cleaner then he was before.

It's all he'll waste and no more. Neo sets the bucket aside and begins to wipe on his arms and scrubs his shirt with his fingernails when some giggles from behind scare him to his feet. He spins around on his heel with his heart in his throat, assuming the worst.

Instead of another possible assault, he finds two small village children. Neo's bright eyes shine upon recognizing the pale skinned boy he met before and kindly smiles to the other dark tanned child hiding behind him with long blond hair. If he remembered right, this pale boy was Bakura, Akefia and Anzu's child. The other one he'd only seen scarcely around the village.

He had no idea they were friends. Neo cleared his throat when all they did was continue to stare. He looked around the area, but saw no nearby adults. Tilting his head, he wondered what it was they wanted.

His answer came via Bakura's sudden point behind Neo. "Nipe mpira."

Neo thought a moment. Bakura said ball, right? Neo glanced around at his feet and near a couple of the huts. He hadn't heard a ball come by, but that could have been muted by the water's splashing—oh, he found it. A round red ball sat a good ways off. Without a moment to think about it, Neo walked over to retrieve it.

Bakura kept his scowl. "Nipe mpira," he repeated impatiently.

Neo chuckled before rolling it over. Bakura quickly plucked it up off the ground. He glanced over his shoulder at the cowering child behind him and tisked his lips. Then he turned back to Neo, eyes narrowed and then bowed.

"Asante," he said.

Neo held back a chuckle and returned the gesture. "Wewe ni welcome."

The small tanned child behind Bakura shook his shoulder and started whispering rapidly in his ear. Bakura frowned and cocked his head to the side at Neo. The young man straightened up under the analyzing glare and wished he could kick his own butt for feeling like he was being scrutinized by a child.

"Kucheza?" Bakura said before propping the ball under his foot and kicking it forward.

Neo caught it under his foot. Was Bakura asking him to play with them? How cute. Neo looked up at the children and saw them both at the ready. Who was he to deny them some fun?

"Alright," Neo tipped the ball on top of his foot, popped it in the air and returned it back with a swift, but gentle kick.

Bakura chased after it, wearing the biggest grin in the world. When he managed to nab it, he turned around to proudly hold it up.

Neo clapped. "Good job," at Bakura's confused blink, Neo mentally popped himself in the head forgetting to speak in their language. He simply gestured with his foot for Bakura to kick it back.

The child obliged him, only to have his kick back stopped midway by the dark toned child. He pushed his blond hair from his face and smirked, but his held a little more of a devious spark to it. Where that came from, Neo had no idea, because that sure as heck didn't look like the same shy child from a few minutes ago.

Pulling his foot far back, the child slammed the end of his foot with the ball, sending it harling in the air. Neo gawked and so did Bakura he got so mad he smacked his friend's head with a mighty fist and started screaming.

Neo bent his knees and jumped as high as he could. The ball grazed the inside of his palms as he caged it inside his fingers. Landing on his feet, Neo held the ball up, and outright laughed at the shocked expression on the little child's face. Bakura on the other hand cheered and sprinted over to take the ball back. He tossed a cocky grin over his shoulder at his friend. The dark child kicked at the ground, disappointed.

He didn't see Neo come up until his hand started to pet his head.

"Vema," Neo said and winked.

The little boy's cheeks inflamed a bright red, shading his skin tone a deep burgundy. He leaned into Neo's palm and before long he was giggling from the attention.

"Jina langu ni Neo," Neo introduced himself.

The little boy giggled again. "Mimi ni, Marik."

Ah, so his name is Marik. Such a cute child, Neo thought. He rose up to his full height with his hands on his hips. Bakura came to stand next to Marik and together, they both stared up at Neo. And as one they mouth smiled really big and said, "Kucheza!"

Neo laughed. Of course he would. He nodded for them to widen the distance and took a squat, ready to continue their frolic.

"You're not supposed to be near these children."

Neo's body locked up like a stab of a blade pushed through his spine. He swallowed, straightening and turned his head over his shoulder. His timing is impeccable as always. Yet another rule Neo failed to remember.

"As per our agreement to let you live here, we said you're not to go near our crops or the children."

Atem stood some feet away, arms crossed over his chest and a deep loathing reflecting in his gaze. Even though he was a stone's throw away, Neo could feel the authoritative aura pulsating from his presence. Neo turned around fully, lips thinned. He wasn't surprised anymore, at least not now, to see Atem lurking from the shadows. There hasn't been a day since he started working that Neo wouldn't see Atem's concentrated glare centered on him, waiting for him to make the slightest mistake.

Neo said nothing to Atem, but he did turn to the children with an apologetic smile. It was fun while it lasted anyway. He started in Atem's direction, fists balled at his side and eyes looking past the village chief's son. He walked on, two feet, one foot, then by Atem like he wasn't even there.

The only reason he stopped was because the older man's deep accented English had a way of rumbling in Neo's stomach like thunder.

"I saw what you did earlier, knocking over that water stall."

Of course he saw. He sees all of Neo's flaws and faults. "It was an accident."

"Even if it was, you should fix it. Water's scarce out and every drop is precious. If you go about wasting it so carelessly, there's less for us to use and less men here to guard the village because they'll have to leave and replenish the water you loss."

Neo stubbornly turned away to look at the ground. "It was an accident," he repeated. "Tell me where I can go get the water. I'll refill it so no one else has to."

"Don't bother."

Neo held back a growl. All that and he still has to act like a complete ass. He'd bet anything that if Atem saw that then he saw the assault from the men.

"You didn't fight them back," Atem voiced carefully. "You should learn to hold your own out here. Don't expect my family to always be around to protect you like a child."

Neo sighed loosely and turned a tired glare at Atem. "What's the point? If I were to fight back, that'd be your opportunity to kick me off the ranch. If I don't fight back, you will consider me just an added thorn to your family. I can't win."

"Shut your mouth," Atem snarled. "I do what I must to keep my family's hard work from being ruined."

"Then focus on the entire ranch and its people instead of bothering to spy on me. I'm not here to hurt anyone." Neo calmly countered. He had to step lightly with this man's temper. The village didn't cower away from Atem's rage for nothing. "I don't even remember where I came from or my real name. I just want to start over and create new memories . . . what's so wrong with that?"

Atem cut his eyes at him, saying nothing.

"I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries with the children. It won't happen again."

Neo had no more words for him and started walking away. He heard Atem's footsteps crunch the dirt to dust, listened for when he'd reach out and finally lay hands on Neo. It never came, Atem paused, and turned away to start barking angrily at the children to return back to the village center.

He wouldn't show it, but Neo felt the air unfasten in his chest as he clutched where his heart was. Damn, he'd really thought Atem was going to hurt him. It was risky, talking back to him like that, but there was only so much disrespect Neo could tolerate.

Nonetheless, he would deal with it and press onward. He promised himself he'd make use of his life here and he would.

Evening loomed like a giant sweep of oil over the savannah, diming the natural lighting of the Zambia Ranch, until only speckles of starlight glittered above. As the time nears for the Great Harvest, more and more nightly gatherings occur toward the center of the village, in a large circle near a bountiful fire.

Everyone is merry, there's no discrimination between anyone, and all are allowed to be joyous. The fire roars and licks at the night sky, and sometimes the cry of some beast manages to echo over the whoops and laughter of the people. Many warmed themselves by the fire, a few danced about it and drunk with hearty pride. Children squealed, chasing one another around wearing colorfully painted masks and animal skins.

Neo curled his arms around his knees, eyes crinkled in warm delight as he watched a few feet from the main bon fire. He would join, maybe attempt to relish in the people's cheer, but he just wasn't ready to participate. His head was too dizzy and his chest still felt tight from his earlier encounter with Atem.

He's wrapped up in quiet thinking, Neo is startled when he feels long fingers touching the side of his hair and jerks away. "What the?"

"It's me," Yami said. "Relax."

"Oh, you scared me. Sorry." Neo smiled up at Yami's warm expression.

"You fine." His English has improved so much since they first met. It was hard to make out some of the words from his heavy accent, but Neo was still proud of him all the same. "I'm think I want to put shanga in hair, make you look more like us."

"Shawn-ga?" Neo pronounces. "You want to braid my hair?"

"Bra-aids?" Yami had difficulty enunciating. "Well, I, um, take hair and," Yami thought over which word was the correct one to use while gesturing with his hands, "weave like basket."

"Braids, yes." Neo shakes his head, reaching up to rake his fingers through his hair. It'd gotten longer, especially his banes. "No thank you. Not on me. It'll look weird."

"Weird? How weird? No, you look fine." Yami holds up a string of colorful oblong wooden beads threaded through a dried vine. "I put on ends and tie. Look really nice."

Guess there's no point in arguing. Now that Neo had a chance to look closer, he noticed Yami had three long vines of beads. He'd had plans of braiding Neo's hair no matter what. Neo sighed and nodded.

"Fine." Funny thing is, Ms. Desta had asked him before and so had a couple of the other village girls if they could put shanga in his hair. Ms. Desta teased him sometimes when he ate, pretending to tug at his hair and he'd pull away laughing. Maybe it's a kind of hobby the village women and some men took up.

Yami pulled Neo to his feet and guided him closer to the festivities. They found a chair and some seat pillows on the ground abandoned. Yami pulled one of the chairs over and kicked a pillow in front of it.

"Sit," he said, smiling.

Neo flopped down on the pillow cushion. Yami sat down, positioned Neo between his legs and started on the right side of his hair, using his dexterous fingers to carefully separate long strands and pull through the shanga. An hour of small conversation passes like this, Neo squirming at times when Yami tugged too hard and Yami playfully poking him in the back of the neck to keep still.

"See, look nice," said Yami, finishing with the right side.

"Probably," Neo would be the judge of that once he got a good look at them. "Ouch."

"Sorry," Yami chuckled. "Big baby. You move much."

"I don't think I've ever done this before."

"You do it now. Always remember. That's all that matters." Yami finalized the project on one side and patted Neo on his shoulder to shift around so he could get to work on the other. "You quiet. Something wrong?"

Neo shrugged his shoulders. "Just thinking to myself."

"About what? You can tell me."

Neo was sure he could tell anything to Yami. Besides Ms. Desta and Heba, Yami was the kindest and friendliest person ever. He trusted him more than life. So, Neo felt some of the weight leave his shoulders when he finally spoke.

He clasped his face in his hands and said, "I'm wondering when I'll find my place in the village. It's difficult trying to blend in and act normal because all I seem to do is mess up. Many of them don't like me and Atem sure as hell can't stand my guts."

"Hmm? Atem is problem?"

"He's," Neo tried to find the right word so as not to insult his friend's fiancée, "complicated to get to know. Everything I do is a sin to that man."

"You see him?"

"Yeah, a lot."

"He speak at all?"

Neo frowned, wondering why the interrogation. "Yeah, earlier. It was the first time we even spoke to each since I came here."

Suddenly there was some small muffled laughter. Neo turned around, surprised as sin when he found Yami covering his mouth to keep a laugh at bay. What on earth?

"Interesting, that means Atem sees you now."

"Oh yeah, he sees me as a problem," Neo scoffed.

"No, no, Atem sees you like man. He does not speak to outsiders ever. Did you do something to impress him?"

"I—no, I haven't done anything." Not anything from what Neo can remember. Atem didn't look impressed in the least. He looked outright pissed off when this afternoon. There wasn't a single thing Neo could have done to impress that dark skinned devil.

Yami purposely yanked a piece of hair to get Neo back to listening. "You see soon." He smirked, ignoring the yelp of pain. "Atem, I proud of now. I thought he never get used to you."

"How long have you two been engaged," Neo asked, swaying the discussion away from himself. "Will you marry soon?"

"We marry after Great Harvest. Too much work to do until then. He and I will build bigger house and live there. You will marry someone too, yes?"

"What?" Neo gawked, face red as a sliced mango. "Gah, no, no, no, no way of course not! I don't like anyone here!"

"No?" Yami innocently blinked. "What about Heba?"

"Of course I like Heba, just—just not like that!"

Yami laughed. "Ah, but your face is all red Neo. Are you sure?"

"I—no, of course, I don't. Ugh, shut up Yami! It's not funny!"

A robust and bright laughter captured of their attention by the bone fire. Neo stared over, face still as red as the flames. He spotted Heba, the happiest of them all, locked in a spinning dance with Timeaus. They spun and sung in a wild drunken stupor like the careful spirits they were. Heba stopped a moment of spinning and immediately lock eyes with Neo.

His slanted eyes narrowed, and his lips upturned on the ends. Something was said to Timeaus to end their performance before Heba weaved through the crowd and made his way over to the pair. He wore a giant smile and walked with the stride of a strong man. He was wearing a red vest and black cargo shorts with brown shoes.

"Ah, Yami's doing your hair!" Heba slurred a bit from drinking. He hiccupped and winked. "It looks good on you."

Yami outright laughed. Neo didn't find a damn thing funny. "I didn't want these in my hair. Yami did!"

"But it looks so pretty. I should convince Timeaus to have some put in his head. A bit of color to wake up his dull self." Heba laughed some more and bent at the waist to pluck one of Neo's blond banes. He smoothed it between his thumb and index finger, admiring the soft texture.

Neo's face cursed under his breath because his face was right back red again, thinks to their teasing him.

"Yami, you hear what Atem did earlier?" said Heba.

"Atem? What did he do?"

Heba cocked his head, impressed with Yami's English skills. His expression loss some of its cheery form. "Father say he caught two outside men abusing one of our own. Jugo and Tiba from the West end. He say they placed their hands where they don't belong and will now lose them."

"Serves them good. They know not to put hands on people," Yami growled.

Neo stiffened. Jugo and Tiba? Who were they? "Who was the villager they abused?"

Heba shook his head. "I dunno, but that kind of behavior is not welcome here. Atem did good to order them to Kifo Kuzuia. Tomorrow, they'll lose their hands and be banished from the village."

It was so stupid to think that these two could possibly be the same men. Neo caught his breath before he started hyperventilating. If tomorrow, Atem did banish these two, what come of their families? What would happen to their children? God, Neo would never be able to forgive himself.

He kept it cool, steading his breathing. No, there's no way these are the same two men. Atem can't stand his guts. As if he'd really want to do something as a mark of justice for him. Neo lightly shook his head, accidently freeing his hair from Yami's fingers.

"Neo? Is something wrong?"

Neo sniffled and sighed. "It's nothing. You can keep going. Sorry."

Yami pushed aside the hair covering Neo's face to catch his eyes. "You can tell me anything. You know that."

"I know." This time, Neo wasn't too sure he really wanted to share what he was thinking. He wouldn't be able to handle knowing if it were true.

But he knew it wasn't the case. It just couldn't be. Atem wouldn't go to such lengths for him.

Neo would see come tomorrow.

Glossary:

Unafanya nini, wajinga mvulana? ~What are you doing, foolish boy?

Mimi nina pole sana. ~ I'm very sorry!

Wewe si walidhani kuwa karibu hapa. Wanaume Ndani kukaa ndani! ~ You're not supposed to be around here. Inside men stay inside!

Mimi kazi kwa Heba. Tafadhali kuondoka. ~I work for Heba. Please leave.

Mimi wala kutoa damn ambao kazi kwa ajili ya. Wewe karibu knocked juu maji yangu ng'ombe! ~ I don't give a damn who you work for. You almost knocked over my cattle water!

You kukaa kutoka duniani hapa, ndani ya mtu. ~You stay from around here, inside man.

Nipe mpira. ~Give me ball.

Asante. ~Thank you.

Wewe ni welcome. ~You're welcome.

Vema. ~Well done.

Kucheza.~ Play

Shanga. ~ Beads

Kifo Kuzuia. ~ Death Block.