Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and my original characters
Her Blue Eyes White Dragon
Ancient Egypt
"It's all over, Ri." Yami declared as his Dark Magician eliminated her Mystical Elf. "Admit it, it's all over for you."
"Only a fool gives up when there's an ace in the hole." Ri said with a smirk as she looked at the card she'd just drawn. There were only two other people besides her and her brother in the room and she couldn't help but wish that the high priest wasn't one of them. She hadn't been playing her best and she knew that the blame lay solely in his corner. He hadn't told her brother the whole story, which had surprised her, but then again he'd probably kept his mouth shut to protect his own neck. Ordering herself to ignore him Ri smiled at her brother's personal servant and bodyguard before playing her lovely trump card. "And now the game ends."
"Dammit no." Yami said knowing what the card was before she set it down. His sister's most powerful card was now going to be played; his cards didn't stand a chance in their weakened state.
"I call my Blue Eyes White Dragon in attack mode." Ri said holding up the gold card, its sapphire eyes shining evilly in its silver and gold casing. Laying the card down the great silver dragon appeared its presence a sure sign of what was to come. The great monster stood straight and tall in front of its mistress, its eyes glued to the Dark Magician with dark intent. "All right handsome, finish it off. White Lightning Attack."
And just like that Yami's Dark Magician and defense card were history, the Blue Eyes the only card left on the field. Game over.
"My game big brother." Ri said with a grin. With a rather scary grin of its own the great dragon turned to face its mistress, lowering its head so that she could stroke it. "Good boy Blue Eyes, you sure showed him who's boss around here didn't you. Yes you did." She said as she placed a kiss on the top of its great head.
Shaking his head at his sister Yami collected his cards and placing them into their box handed in to his servant, Aries. Stepping down he walked over to his sister and shook his head again at the way she babied the great beast. If this was what she was like with the dragon lord only knows how she'd spoil her children. "Good match, Ri." Yami said as he came to her side, keeping an eye on the dragon who was well known for his hatred of anyone other then his mistress. Normally the dragon cards were cared for by the High Priest but Ri wouldn't hear of it and Seto was probably the only one who could have managed the beast.
"Good match, Yami." Ri agreed as she threw herself at him for a big hug. He returned it knowing that he could trust Aries and Seto not to comment or tell tales. He was well aware that their closeness was well known but he tried not to let on how important she was to him least she be used against him.
"You were lucky there, if you hadn't drawn that card at that time you would have lost." Yami said with a half smile as he looked up at the dragon who gazed back at him, his blue eyes showing nothing.
"Luck had nothing to do with it. Blue Eyes, time to give you a break, return." Ri said and with a flash of light the dragon disappeared and a card appeared on the table. Picking it up Ri attached it to the chain she always wore around her neck. "What are you up to now?"
"I have a meeting with some landowners then I intend to talk to Nefeteri about her letting that cat roam around everywhere. The cat got into the kitchens today and my breakfast was late." Yami said with a dark look. "Stupid feline."
"On that we can agree." Ri agreed, looking at the silent High Priest who stood a small distance away, his back to the wall as he stared straight ahead, waiting for Yami's instructions. A statue with as much life in him Ri thought with an inner smirk. But if he was such a cold and uncaring man why did he climb the tree to rescue you a little voice in her head reminded her. He couldn't have known it was her trapped in the tree so he must have gone up thinking she was a servant and yet he'd come to the rescue. Which was the real man Ri wondered and notorious for her curiosity Ri was determined to find out. It wasn't a question of if but when and where.
"I must go, behave yourself and try not to get into any fights with the trees again." Yami said with a grin as he remembered that particular incident a week ago. The things his sister got herself into continued to amaze him.
"Don't worry, I was planning on visiting father." Ri said with a sparkle in her eye. "Not much trouble I can get into there."
"That would be arguable. Bye." He said placing a kiss before leaving the room with Aries at his heels. He paused once to speak a few words to Seto before leaving them in the room, alone.
Seto looked at Ri out of the corner of his eye as he listened to the Pharaoh's request to escort his sister to the old pharaoh. Inwardly cursing Seto nodded his agreement and watched his pharaoh and Aries leave before turning his head to look at Ri who was watching him with a curious look in her eye. Feeling as though he was being studied like an object Seto gave her a cool look, hoping that it would discourage her from staring at him. Apparently she didn't know she was being glared at because her smile simply widened and there was something in the way she stood that suggested she was more then up to something. "The Pharaoh has asked me to escort you to your father Most Favored Sister Ri."
"Has he really?" Ri said with a sparkle in her eye as she walked forward so that there was only a mere meter between them at most. "And are you going to do so?"
"Of course, your brother commanded it." Seto said letting her know that the only reason he was doing this was because the Pharaoh had ordered him to do so. Ever since the tree incident he'd done his best to ignore her and forget about the incident. Apparently she hadn't felt like doing the same Seto though as he recalled the gift she'd sent him. A few days after the incident a basket full of exotic fruits and other treats had been left in his rooms without a name but he knew she'd one it. He'd discretely had it sent back to her only to get an even larger basket the next day. Understanding her more then he was comfortable to admit he'd accepted the basket rather then send it back again but he had a feeling she needed to be reminded that he wasn't an easy mark.
"Ah, of course, you would never willingly be in my company would you High Priest Seto." Ri said with a raised eyebrow. "Curious that, most men clamor for my attention but you avoid me at every given opportunity. Why? Do I scare you?"
"There is nothing to fear from you. I simply have more important things to do." Seto said more sharply then he intended. The chemistry he'd noticed when he'd helped her from the tree was back, distracting him from his intended goal. "Shall we go?"
"You sent back my gift, why?" Ri asked, folding her arms in front of her chest as she regarded him curiously. The strange feeling in her stomach was back and seemed to be increasing at an alarming rate. What was it about the man that had suddenly caught her interest? If she were looking for an attraction he would be low on her wish list but he seemed to be the only one who could cause this strange reaction.
"I kept the second one." Seto replied, hoping that that would be the end of it.
"But you returned the first." Ri pointed out stepping closer, liking the way her nearness appeared to make his blue eyes go a darker blue. It was probably from barely restrained anger towards her but it intrigued her none the less. What it would be like to have such a man for your own Ri wondered wickedly. Unlike many of the others of her class the priest was as well built as any soldier and his face was far more appealing to her then any of theirs. Here was a man that would never be led or ordered around, he was his own man. So like her Blue Eyes Ri thought with a smile, both such magnificent beasts that were to be respected and feared. Not to mention the only man who could possibly beat her brother at a duel match a little voice added but which was ignored. Curious she was but she knew when to leave things alone as well so she slowly took a small step back, deciding to leave the fierce dragon alone, for now. "Shall we go?"
"Be careful who you tease." Seto said simply as he motioned to the door. "If you're not careful, you might get bitten."
"May I come in oh great and mighty Pharaoh in all of Egypt's past." Ri said sticking her head into her father's rooms. It was still early afternoon and the room was full of light and sunbeams danced against the walls on the room. The room was empty except for Cleo, her father's personal healer who was always by the old pharaoh's side whenever Ri's mother was not.
"Ri, is that you?" Her father called from his bed, his voice stronger then usual. The disease that was his constant companion had confined the once great warrior to his bed but had not beaten him yet.
"You bet your favorite sword it is. Your favorite, most beautiful and charming daughter is here to grace you with her presence." Ri said as she waltzed into the room with a teasing smile and mischief in her eyes. "How are you father?" She asked as she made her way to the side of his bed, getting down on her knees so that they were close to being face to face. Her father was still a handsome man despite his constant illness and her mother said that he looked just like Yami when he was younger. But to her it wouldn't have mattered if he were the most hideous creature, he was her father and she loved him more then life itself.
"Nice to know that you remain humble daughter." The old pharaoh said with a laugh as he lifted a hand to his daughter's cheek. She was the first born daughter of his third wife and one of his most prized jewels. Take away his wealth and status and he would still be a rich man as long as he had Ri's mother and his children.
"Always, father." Ri said with a wink. "I beat Yami at cards today, my Blue Eyes wiped the floor with his Dark Magician. I didn't even have to use the Hourglass of Courage."
"Courage has never been something that you have lacked my daughter." The pharaoh said with pride. Had Ri been born a boy she would have been truly great, a son men would have envied and treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Of all his children Yami, Ri and Ri's younger brother Sirius were his prizes, such children Osiris had chosen to bestow on him. All three of them were great athletes with brains, wit and the skills that made them stand out among others. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day, daughter?"
"Well I haven't decided yet." Ri said as she smiled at him lovingly as she placed her own hand over the one he'd placed on her cheek. "I just had so much fun bothering the High Priest today that my day's pretty much made already."
"And what were you doing to upset the great High Priest Seto." The old pharaoh asked, leaning back in his pillows. He knew both his daughter and the priest well and thought that they would make interesting opponents. The priest was young but strong not to mention as stubborn as an ox if he didn't miss his mark. His daughter was all those too and he had a feeling that watching those two bump heads would be highly entertaining.
"Let's just say I'm beginning to develop a fondness for playing with his head." Ri said with an evil look that would have done her dragon proud. "He's really complex, much more interesting then the people in court. He wears a mask like everyone else of course, the difference is that he's an interesting person under the mask I think."
"And you intend to seek out the man behind the mask." Her father replied shooting her a knowing look. Had it been any other man beside the priest he would have worried but there was nothing to fear in this case. The priest was a cool and rather hard character, not someone who would appeal to his daughter on more then a possible friendly level. The priests didn't marry or engage with women, the priest would ignore his daughter's beauty and charms. In fact maybe he should encourage the two to become friends, his daughter could learn much from the priest and the priest could use someone to shake him up.
"Possibly, we'll see. It's kind of hard to get to know someone when they run away from you as soon as they see you coming." Ri said with a smirk, rather hurt that it was true. Which of course was foolish since she barely knew the priest but that didn't make it hurt any less. It was just that she wasn't use to people avoiding her company Ri assured herself, that was the only reason why it bothered her at all.
I doubt very much he runs away with from you Ri, he doesn't strike me as the type to run from anything." Ri turned to see her mother walking towards her with a smile on her face. The two women were nearly identical in appearance and Ri's father was fond of saying that Ri had only to look to her mother to see how beautiful she's become with age. Their only differences were that Ri was slightly taller and that she had her father's eyes while her mother's were a dark brown.
"Hello mother." Ri said with a big smile as her mother sat down on the side of her husband's bed. "And maybe he doesn't run but he sure walks away really fast."
"And what have you done to cause the priest to walk really fast in the opposite direction of you?" Her mother inquired with a smirk. It didn't surprise her at all to hear that the two butted heads but she was surprised that either would visibly show it. Both of them were very cool under pressure and the Queen was surprised that either had been upset enough to result in the two visibly showing their discord.
"Nothing." Ri said looking innocently at her parents. "He just doesn't take thank yous very well apparently."
"And what did you need to thank him for?" The Queen asked curiously. The priest didn't spend much time in the palace court and he was much for doing things for others unless he was ordered to do so. What had he done and why had he taken her daughter's thank you so badly?
"Well he helped me with Nefeteri's cat and without his help the beast would have done a lot more damage then she did." Ri replied, skating over the involvement of the tree. "I sent him a fruit basket as a thank you and he sent it back to me. So I sent him a bigger one, he got the point. Now he's avoiding me and giving me the look." Ri said making her eyes go cold and hard as she gazed at her parents with a frown.
Laughing at his daughter expression the old pharaoh patted her on the head. "That's my girl."
Well that's it for now, more to continue at a later date. Hope you like what I've got so far and are beginning to see the foreshadowing of what is to come. Suggestions and ideas are appreciated and I'd love for you to review to let me know what you think. Thanks and have a great day.