Author's Notes:
This chapter has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but today is my update day. So…uh…yeah.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Simple Discussions
Injury is no reason to not follow one's obligations. Or at least that is what Ryou believed as he forced himself to attend the dinner that night with Bakura. Anzu had once again followed through on her obligation as an advisor and had devised an outfit for him while Joey took the job of planning a meeting while the Prince was away. Although the Prince didn't know about it, the meeting was not a secret one. It just seemed like the perfect time to plan an intervention so that they could save their Prince and more importantly, their kingdom.
~.~
Bakura once again inspects the meal set out for the Prince and him. Another dinner meeting. If history was to be trusted, then their meeting would end just like all of the previous ones—in disaster.
"Bakura?"
"That's King Bakura to you." The man snaps, glaring at Iona as she intrudes.
Ignoring the sass, Iona looks around the table, fingering the delicate china set up for the meeting. "This is...nice..." The girl drawls out as she picks up a mango.
"I would hope so. We are attempting peace."
"Is that all you're trying to attempt?" Iona interrogates, staring the Demon King down, daring him to tell her the truth. She clenches his arm, hoping to intimidate the King further.
"Of course not." Bakura responds, forcefully removing her arm from his.
"Bakura—"
"King Bakura."
"King Bakura, perhaps you are not thinking this through—"
"Are you saying that I am incapable of making my own decisions?"
"No, not at all" Iona hastily appeases. "I'm just saying, a mighty demon like you shouldn't have to lower yourself so much as to deliberate with a petty angel. If anything, he should be commanded like a slave." Frustrated, Iona slams her hand on the table, squashing the mango she had just been holding.
"Iona, the Prince should be here any moment now. I expect you to remain scarce throughout the whole dinner. Am I understood?" The King asks sternly. Iona's mouth drops agape in mortification.
"Am I understood?" Bakura presses once again, taking her hand and sinking his claws into her delicate flesh.
"Yes!" The girl screams out as blood dribbles from the punctures in her arm. Smirking with satisfaction, Bakura removes his claws, licking the blood that steadfastly clings to his talons.
"Have a good night, Iona." And with a dismissive wave, the woman's gone.
"Time to return to me, my Prince."
~.~
"You look nice, Ryou." Anzu comments, walking around the Prince. Ryou is clad in a lavender shirt tucked into a pair of gray pants. His crown rests upon his crown. "Just one last thing." Anzu continues, moving behind the Prince. She runs her fingers through his white hair, combing it back into a ponytail.
"Thank you." Ryou breathes a sigh of relief at not having to pick his outfit himself. Anzu nods respectfully before turning to leave the tent.
Ryou continues to look himself over, walking around the room. It had been so long since he had last spoken to his lover. But he can't focus on that right now; he has a nation to take care of.
"Prince." Ryou turns to his addresser. "It is time to go." Ryou nods, following the servant to the carriage set up for him. Sliding into the empty sedan Ryou lets out a soft sigh. He hates being the Prince, but then again, few people truly enjoy it. He had never truly taken the time to consider everything. Now, all alone, he has more than enough.
Taking a deep breath, Ryou slowly exhales as he tries to get his thoughts into order. "I should—I should put up a shield." Ryou takes another breath, allowing his magic to flow through his body as he puts up a weak shield around his carriage.
Looking around the empty carriage, a small sigh escapes the Prince's lips. He's alone, with no one to talk to. This is the life he's going to be forced to live, one without family or anyone to love him. His friends will be busy, working under his command to ensure the nation runs smoothly, and Bakura. Bakura is the Demon King; there is no way that they could be anything more than business partners. And that's exactly what tonight's going to be, a business meeting. Running his fingers through his bangs, Ryou stares intensely at the ground. "I hate this."
"My Prince, we have arrived." The servant announces, opening the door for his Prince.
"Thank you," Ryou gives a gracious smile to the bowing man. The servant bows once more as the Prince exits the carriage.
"Ryou, nice to see you." Bakura greets , his iconic smirk wide across his (devilishly handsome) face.
"Please, Your Majesty, let us keep this formal. We are meeting for business." Ryou responds curtly. Bakura looks taken aback momentarily by the harsh response but nods in response before briskly turning around and entering the dining tent.
"You are okay if I put a small spell on the tent, yes? There have been a few attempts at my life as of late." Ryou questions, glancing around the tent.
Bakura watches the Prince closely, the way he hunches his shoulders together and keeps close to himself. Though he can see Ryou desperately trying to conceal his injury, it's still obvious from the angel's slight limp and the way the boy seems to avoid contact with other people. The war has been getting to him. As it should.
"Why should I allow you to?" The Demon King sneers.
"I suggest putting one of your own up too. If our enemies know of this meeting, they might try to strike." Ryou responds calmly. He doesn't have the best poker face though, and the slight shudder that runs through his spine alerts the other to his fear.
"You realize that I am the enemy." Bakura points out.
"No, you are the distraction. As am I. Our job is merely to distract each other." Ryou points out matter-of-factly.
"Fine. Put up your shield." The King grumbles, defeated.
Bakura watches as a small, transparent white ball forms in Ryou's hands. It slowly expands, first encasing Ryou, then the table, until it reaches Bakura where it abruptly stops. The Angel Prince glances worriedly at the King before closing his eyes in deep concentration. The orb forces its way through Bakura until it reaches the tips of the tent.
"Are you going to put one up?" Ryou asks, sliding into a seat.
"No."
"Okay then, so let us start."
"You're very business oriented tonight." Bakura notes.
"The war, you realize that we were set up, right?" Bakura rolls his eyes at this statement.
"Yes, someone from both our families is killed by an unknown assassin. They were likely radicals from both sides." Bakura admits.
"By saying that, you acknowledge the stupidity of continuing the war." Ryou states.
"Perhaps," the Demon King concedes.
"Look, sources show that these assassins aren't as anonymous as we first thought." Ryou continues.
"And who do you presume did this?" Bakura asks cutting the boy off.
"I'm surprised you've heard nothing of this." Ryou stares, moving to fill his glass with the water provided.
"Then tell me."
"No. Not yet at least."
"Why not?" Bakura exclaims in outrage, standing from his seat and moving to the angel.
If Ryou was surprised by the sudden presence behind him, he didn't show it.
"Because, I'd like to speak with your advisors about the problem at hand." Ryou responds before taking a sip of the water. He calmly turns to face the Demon King staring him dead in the eye.
"That's stupid; just tell me what's happening."
Ryou gives up easily, "fine, the assassins that killed our families are neither angel nor demon. They were half'n'halfs." Ryou explains, moving past the Demon to take a seat.
Bakura stands frozen for a moment, pondering what Ryou had just told him.
"Did you expect that?" Ryou questions.
"What do you think?" Bakura snaps back.
"That's why I wanted to speak with your advisors first."
At that moment, the tent flap is flung open and a servant enters holding a tray. Ryou watches the man closely as he places a dish at each end of the table. He then pulls out a bucket of ice with a bottle lodged in the middle. The servant bows before returning to the edge of the tent, staring at the flap and the white film that encases it. Tentatively, the man steps through the shield, forcing his way through before exiting the tent.
"Shame, he didn't bow." Bakura observes, looking down thoughtfully at the plate before him.
Removing the cover and picking up his fork, the King starts tearing at his salad. Ryou, on the other hand, works delicately, picking single pieces of lettuce up with his fork. The two remain silent except for the clanking of their forks on the porcelain and the ripping sounds of lettuce being torn apart.
Bakura finishes his meal long before Ryou does. Placing the fork down, the King watches as the Angel Prince continues to methodically whittle away at his meal.
"How've you been feeling?" The King eventually asks.
"It's hard to hide the fact that I'm growing fangs." Ryou retorts.
~.~
"Do you think he really wants to become one?" Yugi questions.
"No." Malik answers quickly, running his tongue over his lips.
"Then why does he have fangs and why does he keep going back to that demon? They're mating for Kami's sake!" Joey stomps his foot in frustration. "Look, Ry is a good friend of mine. But if he wants to be a demon, then by all means let him be a demon. But he won't be the King of our realm!"
"Joey, calm down." Anzu murmurs, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Look, it's our job to make sure Ryou turns into a good King, and we're failing." Joey whines.
"How badly are we failing though? I mean the meeting tonight is to talk about the Half'n'halfs and try to put an end to this useless war. Surely that is something a wise king would do." Anzu assuages as she massages Joey's back.
"Bad enough that he is willingly mating with a demon and turning into one!"
"Joey, I hate to be the bearer of obvious news, but we're all mating with demons." Malik inserts, slightly annoyed.
At that moment, a servant walks into the tent and everyone falls silent. The words being spoken were not one for servant ears. Servants are insatiable gossips, and if this conversation gets out, everyone in the Angel Camp would know by the end of the day.
The servant bows deeply before asking, "My lieges, what shall you be dining on this fine night?"
"Steak." Malik states without a second thought.
"And how would you like that done sir?"
"Um...surprise me?" The Angel answers hesitantly. The servant then turns to Yugi.
"A cheeseburger please. Medium-rare." The boy responds.
"Just a salad for me." Anzu states before turning to Joey.
"Lamb chops. Medium." The servant bows before exiting the room.
Once the footsteps of the servant recede, Anzu turns to Malik. "I thought you were a vegetarian." Malik shrugs.
"I wanted to try something a little different." Responds the lavender-winged angel briskly.
Author's Notes:
Happy Holidays!
Reviews make me smile.