I decided to make this chapter whole instead of leaving it in the two parts that it was originally. So I do not own Yugioh, enjoy! [JAPANESE]
Chapter 14
It had taken Yugi a full week just to memorize where the dining hall was. Now Yami wanted him to meet him in the throne room. Yami had told him where it was, instead of showing him. This probably explained why Yugi was hopelessly lost, again.
"Just face it Yugi, we're never going to find this place," Mira complained.
"We'll find it, we'll-hey, wait!" Yugi said turning to look at her at the same time he saw someone pass behind her in the hallway.
"WAIT!" Yugi shouted louder as he rounded the corner and saw them about to turn another one. The figure paused and turned to look at them. From a distance it looked like a young girl with messy brown hair. She grinned at them and motioned with her index finger for them to follow before disappearing around the corner.
"What do we do?" Malik asked.
"We're lost, we have nothing to lose, let's follow her," Yugi said shrugging and shaking his head before running after the girl.
Rounding the corner, he saw her at the end of the hallway. She was leaning against the wall, but as soon as she saw them, she motioned with her index finger again for them to follow her. She then turned around and went down the left hallway.
Left, left, right, straight, right, left right, right, right, left, straight, straight, hallway, hallway, hallway, after hallway, they followed the girl. Whenever they thought they had lost sight of her she was always waiting one hallway ahead of them. Either the girl really did know where she was going or she was just getting them more lost. Still, they had no choice but to follow her as they were hopelessly lost themselves.
Finally, after what felt like many sun movements, the girl led them to a very large, very decorated, set of doors. Motioning with her head at the guards by the set of doors, they opened them for her without question, or fuss. Once again she motioned with her index finger for them to follow her before walking in herself. Yugi and his servants followed, a little warily, for all they knew she had just led them to the torture chambers.
"I found them!" She called out in an excited voice to whoever was in the room.
Yugi peeked his head in and discovered it to be the throne room. The girl had led them to the throne room. Walking in more formally, Yugi hastened to Yami's side, where he was immediately pulled into a hug.
"Where'd you find them Mana?" Yami asked the girl over his head.
"Down by the kitchens," She replied sounding as if she was grinning from ear to ear.
"How'd you end up way down there?" Yami asked pulling Yugi away so he could look down at him.
"You give pitiful directions. Next time just show me where the throne room is, will you?" Yugi said looking him in the eye. He then turned around to face the girl, she was laughing.
"Thank you…Mana, for finding us and bringing us here," Yugi said formally bowing to her slightly to show his gratitude. Immediately there was a break out in whispers behind him, but Yugi just rolled his eyes and ignored it. When he straightened back up, he saw that Mana was blushing and had a hand over her mouth in slight shock.
"N-no problem," Mana responded lowering her hand and looking away.
"I have never seen Mana so flustered. You should do that more often," Yami whispered into his ear from behind him.
"What, thank her for her kindness?" Yugi asked slightly confused and amused at the same time as he leaned back against him. Yami's arms automatically wrapped around him, pulling him closer.
"No, act so formal," Yami said sounding like he was smirking. Looking up at him, he found that Yami was indeed smirking at him.
"Anyway what did you want to talk about?" Yugi asked.
"A date,"
"A date?" Yugi asked unfamiliar with the word.
"Yes, you and I alone tomorrow, just spending the day in each other's company," Yami went on to explain.
"Well, what about my servants?" Yugi asked breaking free of Yami's hold to motion towards them.
"We can leave them with a guard I trust completely," Yami tried to assure the younger Prince.
"Do I know this guard?" Yugi asked his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Eh, sort of, you met him once," Yami said looking a little uneasy.
"ARE YOU INSANE!?" Yugi screeched thinking of the only guard he had ever met to be Ushio Zankokuna.
"I don't think we're thinking about the same person. I'm talking about Guard Jono Rakki. He's Priest Seth's lover, and personal Guard," Yami said trying to console his fiancé.
"Oh, well I will need to speak to him about some things before tomorrow," Yugi aid stiffly. He still didn't like this idea of leaving his servants in the care of strangers, he couldn't wait until Ryou arrived, then he wouldn't be as nervous about going on a date with Yami alone. He would have someone he trusted unconditionally at this court.
"Let me guess, don't let Mira or Malik get hurt or it will mean his head?" Yami said smiling in what couldn't be considered amusement, but was awfully close to it.
"No, that's not what I wanted to talk to him about at all," Yugi lied turning his head away.
"Uh-huh, sure it wasn't," Yami said not believing him.
"No matter, I will have lunch with this Guard Jono Rakki, to make sure he's suitable for the task," Yugi said turning to smile in a nervous way. He was highly uncomfortable leaving them with a stranger, and in an unfamiliar place. Still, it was to be expected that he would want to spend time with him eventually, alone, so it had to be done.
"Well then I shall set it up with Seth and the four of us will have lunch in the-," Yami started.
"Alone," Yugi cut across him.
"I'm sorry?" Yami asked raising an eyebrow.
"I wish to have lunch with him alone," Yugi said evenly meeting his gaze.
"What, why?" Yami asked literally at a loss for words.
"Think of it as a possibility for me to make new friends. I wonder though, how I can possibly do that with my fiancé constantly hanging around me?" Yugi asked smirking slightly knowing he was going to win this argument.
"But-I-I-I-I…" Yami stuttered turning to look at Priest Seth behind him for help.
"Anyone who can make my cousin speechless is alright in my books. I shall bring my lover to the common garden in one sun movement," Seth said trying not to smile at Yami's flapping mouth.
"The common gardens?" Yugi asked he was only aware of the private ones on Yami's floor.
"Mana can show you the way," Seth said without even asking the girl the first.
"Will you show me the way…Mana?" Yugi asked turning to the girl.
"Priest Seth said I would, so yes," Mana answered little confusedly.
"Thank you," Yugi said nodding at her and a new batch of whispers broke out from the council hovering nearby. He had been putting up with their whispering the entire week. Every movement he made was followed by a break out in whispers. Yugi huffed he'd had enough of it, being a Prince he didn't expect to be treated so informally, and it was time the council knew of his annoyance as he whipped around to face them.
"Would you just hush! I'm sick and tired of your constant whispering for every act that I do or commit. The way I act and talk is different, I understand this, and I do not need your constant reminder. It is high time you started acting like the titles that you were born with or earned, not like the gossiping slaves and servants you're portraying. Malik, and Mira, come we are leaving," Yugi spoke in a formal manner of annoyance before turning on his heel and leaving abruptly.
"Coming, Master," they said in perfect unison before hastening after him.
The hall was deafly silent. You'd be able to hear a pin drop if one had let one fall. The Pharaoh cleared his throat, before speaking to his son.
"Yami."
"Understood," Yami said nodding and hastening after the three of them.
"Shouldn't be stepping on so many toes," Mira was saying something in Japanese as Yami turned the corner and found them to have only gone three hallways down from the throne room.
"And they shouldn't be whispering behind my back with me still present in the room. I mean, have some common decency," Yugi complained while looking out a large bay window.
"You know, if you really want to get back at them, we could always…" Malik trailed off.
"No," Yugi said shaking his head.
"What?" Mira asked her jaw dropping in disbelief.
"It's too soon; next week though, next week is good," Yugi said turning to them with a mischievous grin on his face. Yugi connected eyes with Yami and winked, making Malik and Mira turn to look at him. Yami wasn't sure what the wink was for, but he was certain that by the smile he was wearing it couldn't be good.
"Another thing we needed to discuss was that Ushio Zankokuna will be put on trial in two days and all of you must be present." Yami said leaning against a wall.
"I see," Yugi said looking at the ground instead of Yami.
"My Princes, lunch will be served soon. Young Prince your escort is waiting," A young slave spoke up suddenly.
"Tell Mana she is no longer needed, I'll be Yugi's escort instead," Yami said looking at Yugi's downcast eyes.
"Of course my Prince," she said bowing and making to leave.
"Ah, wait, would you please show my servants back to my chambers? And have a lunch ordered up for them to eat there?" Yugi asked kindly looking at the girl's bowed head. She was quiet for a few moments, before realizing that Yugi was no longer speaking and was awaiting an answer.
"Oh, right, yes, of course my Prince," she said in a rush raising her head a fraction to motion his two servants. Yugi nodded in their direction to go with her, before motioning Yami to lead the way.
"You've got to stop doing that," Yami said smiling slightly.
"Doing what?" Yugi asked confused.
"You have to stop talking so nicely to everyone who was born for no other purpose than to serve others,"
"Do you really believe that?"
"It's what I was brought up to believe,"
Yugi nodded understanding that how one was raised shaped who they were as they grew up. Yugi was taught by his Mother until he was seven to be kind to everyone he crossed paths with. Through both actions and words, she taught him this. If Yami was brought up to think that the slaves and servants were put here to wait on his hand and foot, than no amount of convincing was going to change that way of thinking.
"Here we are," Yami said startling Yugi out of his thoughts.
"Thank you, Yami," Yugi said nodding at him and making to walk in.
"Are you sure you don't want me coming in?" Yami asked grabbing his arm.
"I'm sure," Yugi said.
"Fine, just have a servant send for me when you're done," Yami said releasing him.
"I will," Yugi assured and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Yugi walked into the garden and saw the Guard he had met when he had first arrived at the palace sitting at a table with food already on it. Yugi came up quietly and sat down in the other chair. The Guard, Jono, immediately jumped up and bowed to him, making Yugi groan in annoyance.
"Guard, er Jono, do you see anyone else here with us?" Yugi asked.
"No your Highness," He answered promptly.
"Then stop bowing and calling me your Highness, call me Yugi," Yugi complained motioning for him to sit.
"So I hear that I'm playing babysitter tomorrow for Malik and Mira," Jono said rubbing the back of his neck nervously and sitting down.
"That's one way of putting it," Yugi laughed.
"So will it mean my head if they get hurt?" Jono asked even more nervously than he had before.
"It all depends on how big the injury is," Yugi said honestly.
"So paper cut?"
"Yeah, no, definitely won't mean your head,"
"Whip mark?"
"Just one?"
"Just one,"
"I'll take it easy, and only cut off half of your head," Yugi said half joking. Jono started to laugh and Yugi was soon joining in. The two sounds sounding natural together for some reason. His laugh was nothing like his brother's; it was loud and full of pure joy. Yugi had a feeling that he wouldn't just laugh to laugh; he would only laugh if he found something funny.
"Shall we eat now that we've gotten the awkward part done?" Yugi asked motioning to the food.
"Yes!" Jono said like he was dying.
Yugi laughed and they started to eat the many different foods that were laid out for them. Yugi noticed that their eating habits were the same. Jou and Jono both ate with a ravenous hunger, like the food was going to vanish into thin air at any moment. He also had a habit of talking with food in his mouth, but his stories had Yugi clutching his sides with laughter.
"And so I was like what was the point of that, Yami? Know what he said?" Jono said coming to the end of another 'when Yami was little' story.
"What did he say?" Yugi asked though his laughter.
"He said 'the point was that I was that I was supposed to get my way,'" Jono said like he was five before bursting into laughter. Yugi's laughter came out harder, so much so that his sides were starting to hurt.
"Okay, you guys have been out here for two sun movements now. What's so funny?" Yami asked walking in with Seth right behind him.
"You!" Yugi choked out through his laughter banging his fist on the table.
"Okay, story time is over," Yami said grasping Yugi by his arm and pulling him out of his chair. Yugi didn't care he was still falling over himself with laughter.
"See you tomorrow, Jono!" Yugi yelled through his laughter as he we dragged away by a blushing Yami.
"Okay, Yugi!" Jono yelled back through his own laughter being dragged away by Seth.
By the time they got back to Yugi's room most of his laughter had died away. That still didn't stop Mira and Malik from giving him weird looks. Yugi flopped down on his bed the last bits of laughter leaving him.
"Okay, what stories did Jono tell you?" Yami asked his arms crossed over his chest and he still had some traces of the blush on his cheeks.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Yugi said turning to him and grinning.
"Yes, I would, now tell me," Yami said looking like he wanted to stamp his foot.
"Nah, I think I won't," Yugi said discarding his shirt on the ground and going into the bathroom to take a bath. Yugi heard him say something but didn't catch what it was due to the running of the water.
"Yami says you're being difficult, and that he will pick you up in the early morning. Oh, and he'll also drop Jono off," Malik said coming into the room.
"Okay," Yugi said climbing into the tub with his help so he didn't slip.
"So what's he like, this Jono?" Malik asked as he started to wash Yugi's hair.
"He's funny, and I think he would help us out with pranking if we asked him. Also, he's full of stories about Yami, Marik, Bakura, and Seth of when they were little. Did you know that Jono is five years older than all of them?" Yugi said grinning like a kid with an early birthday present.
"You're jesting?" Malik asked rinsing out his hair.
"Nope," Yugi said starting to laugh again.
"Oh this is going to be good," Malik said grinning.
;p;p;p;p
"Now remember, behave and do whatever Jono tells you to do," Yugi told Mira and Malik in rushed Japanese. "Now Jono, remember, Mira is allergic to nuts, and Malik is allergic to bee stings. So be very careful if you go outside. Now am I forgetting anything?" Yugi said tapping his chin and worrying like a parent would when leaving a child.
"Yugi, take Yami and go already. We'll be fine," Mira said shoving him out the door.
"But what if I forgot something?" Yugi asked worried.
"We'll be fine, Mother," Malik said shutting the door.
"He's like a Mother hen isn't he?" Yugi heard Jono ask through the door.
"No, he's much worse than a Mother hen, trust us. You should have seen him when he left us in the care of Sir Seto when he was 13. Kami, that was embarrassing," Mira responded.
"Come on, Habibi, let's go," Yami whispered taking his hand, and leading him away through the palace and outside to the horse stables.
"We need horses?" Yugi asked.
"Actually I was thinking we could share mine," Yami said having a horse attendant bring his horse out.
"I don't know," Yugi said uneasily after Yami had already climbed up onto the stallion.
"Come on, Yugi, where's which sense of adventure you seemed to have on the ship gone?" Yami asked smiling.
"Hmm, I suppose, but I get control of the reins," Yugi bargained.
"What?" Yami asked.
"Come on Yami, where's your sense of adventure?" Yugi teased.
"Get up here," Yami said lowering his hand so Yugi could grab it. Yugi grabbed his hand was swung up in front of Yami on the horse.
"The reins?" Yugi asked holding out his hand.
"Here," Yami said handing them over.
"Thank you," Yugi said giving them a small flick and kicking the horse gently in the sides, they took off without warning. Yami wrapped his arms tightly around Yugi's waist making him laugh.
Yugi steered the horse into town, ignoring Yami's directions. They would go to Yami's ideal place next, Yugi wanted to see the foundation for Yami's lifestyle first. Slowing the horse to a stop, Yugi climbed own and handed the reins to a random guard that was nearby. They would take care of the horse until they were done in town.
"Okay, I call the reins next because you don't listen," Yami said jumping off the horse to land beside Yugi.
"I wanted to see the town," Yugi said grabbing his hand and starting to walk into the crowd of people.
"Why, it's nothing special," Yami said confused and yet still letting Yugi drag him through town.
"How can you say that when it's the foundation upon which you live?" Yugi asked stopping to look at him.
"I don't understand." Yami said shaking his head.
"Yami, without this town and all the other towns in your country you wouldn't have anything to rule, to protect, to pay taxes every year. Peasants and shop keepers are the foundations of your lifestyle, and I want to see them," Yugi explained.
"Well, they're all around us so take you quick look and let's go," Yami said.
"Come on," Yugi said sighing and rolling his eyes pulling Yami further into the crowd.
Yugi stopped at one of the stalls that were selling little pieces of jewelry. Rings and earrings, but nothing fancy. Yugi picked up a pair of small dangling silver earrings with dark green beads on them. They'd go perfect with Mira's moss green eyes. Handing the earrings to the shop keeper, he told him he'd like to pay for them. The shop keeper nodded and told them how much they were. Yugi paid and walked away with the earrings in a small bag.
"This is what I meant when I said I wanted to see them," Yugi said waving the small bag in front of Yami's face.
"Okay, but I find this boring," Yami said scuffing the ground with one of his sandals and looking up at the sky.
Yugi simply sighed and pulled him to another stall. This one was selling small daggers. Yugi picked one up that he thought would be perfect for Malik. The boy was 13 after all. Yugi had first gotten his Katanas when he was 13, so he figured Malik could have a dagger. Yugi paid for it and then grabbed Yami's hand and started to lead him to the food stands. Yugi bought three pomegranates, two small tarts, and two containers of something called chocolate. The shopkeeper told him to be sure to keep it in a cool place or else it would melt. Frankly Yugi had never heard of the stuff, but the shop keeper had had him sold on the words sweet and like nothing he had never tasted before. Finally, unable to put up with a moody Yami any longer he took them back to the horse. Putting his finds in one of the saddles bags, he climbed up in front of Yami and handed him the reins back.
Yami took them with a whispered word that sounded like finally. Leading the horse away from town, they headed towards the Nile or so Yugi thought. Yami led the horse along the Nile until they were out in the open desert. There he kicked the horse into a run until they were flying across the desert.
"So where are we going?" Yugi asked to break the silence.
"It's a surprise," Yami whispered into his ear as he slowed the horse down to a stop right outside of an oasis.
The oasis was beautiful. It had a small lake of water no bigger than Yugi's bathtub in the palace. Trees and bushes, that not only provided shade but privacy as well. It was the perfect spot to hold a date.
Yugi allow Yami to help him off the horse, and then helped him unload the basket and blanket that Yami had packed in one of the saddlebags. Yugi tied up the horse so it wouldn't return home without them. Taking his hand, Yami led him into the oasis, he set the basket down and laid out the blanket and pulled Yugi down onto it.
"So what do you have planned for our date?" Yugi asked.
"Lunch, swim, and a surprise," Yami said pulling fruits and vegetables out of the basket and placing them on the blanket.
Yugi plucked a grape off the vine and held it out to Yami who smirked and took it from him using his teeth. Keeping eye contact with Yugi he swallowed it and leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on his lips. Yugi closed his eyes and allowed the kiss to be deepened. The kiss itself wasn't rough or aggressive. It was sweet and gentle, a careful kiss, as if testing he boundaries of both of them. When they pulled apart they breathed a little more heavily but not by much.
"I wonder how Malik and Mira are doing with Jono?" Yugi asked.
"I'm sure they're the best of pals by now," Yami answered before drawing him into another kiss.
;p;p;p;p
"You got a paper cut. You actually got a paper cut. He's going to kill me!" Jono freaked out watching the drop of blood fall onto the floor.
"He's not going to kill you," Malik said calmly attending to Mira's paper cut on her finger.
"But he freaks out when you guys get hurt! There were many guards to witness it, so you can't lie to me. I'm as good as dead!" Jono said still freaking out.
"Jono, look at me," Mira said grabbing his head and forcing him to look her in the eye.
"He's going to kill me," he whispered.
"We won't let him kill you," Mira said sternly.
"He's your Master though; you don't have control over what he does," Jono said confused.
"You're right, but he does take our opinion into the matter. You're forgetting Jono, we aren't treated the same way as your servants here," Malik said.
"So if you're against my imminent death he won't kill me?" Jono asked like he was trying to understand.
"Yes, he won't kill you," Mira confirmed.
"Glad I have you on my side," Jono said letting out a huff of breath that blew up his bangs.
"Speaking of sides, do you want to help out our Master Yugi with a prank?" Mira asked taking a risk.
"What kind of prank?" Jono asked curious.
"Well…" Mira said looking at Malik, who wore a grin of mischief similar to hers.
;p;p;p;p
"Okay, Yugi, I'm not looking," Yami said with his back towards the tree that Yugi was undressing behind.
Tmp, tmp, sploosh!
Yami watched the ripples that reach him disappear before turning around to face him. Somehow the light blue water made Yugi's skin even paler. The light of the water reflecting on his face and shoulders, which was all you could see of his body, the rest was underneath the water. It was almost like the water was a dress and Yugi was wearing it.
"Yami?" Yugi asked cautiously. Yami's eyes snapped up to him, looking into his weary eyes. "Eyes up here please," he said motioning to his face.
"But it's so hard when your skin looks like spilled milk," Yami said moving closer, while keeping eye contact with the boy.
"Did you know they say my family is cursed?" Yugi asked straight out like a shot of lighting. Yami stopped moving towards him.
"What?" Yami asked confused as to where this was coming from.
"Yeah, the villagers say that my family is cursed because Grandfather wouldn't give up the throne to my Father, and that's the reason why all of our Mothers have died. That's also the reason why my Father ended up dying too, because the throne was never given to him. My Grandfather never stepped down from power," Yugi continued.
"Why are you telling me this?" Yami asked still confused.
"Because we need to get to know each other. Out past and present, they make us who we are. My Mother had a big part in my past, but she passed away when I was around the age of six. Didn't you ever wonder why my siblings and I barely look anything alike?" Yugi explained and asked.
"Yes, it crossed my mind," Yami admitted.
"It's because we share one Father but our Mothers were all different. I was told by my older siblings that Father always picked a bride based on five things. Her beauty, her kindness, her charisma and charm, and last her love for the people of Japan. To him that was the perfect bride. I take after my Mother more than my Father, or so I've been told. She could see the beauty in everything too. The strength in every person, even if they couldn't see it themselves. I don't really remember her, but I do remember that she had the kind of smile that would light up the room. It always made me feel loved, no matter what," Yugi looked up at the clear blue sky.
"You're lucky you remember your Mother, Yugi. Mine died when I was just a small child. I'm told that I inherited my crimson eyes from her. My Father often says he sees my Mother looking out at him through my eyes," Yami said moving forward slightly while Yugi was looking up at the sky.
"I'm sorry," Yugi said looking back down at him.
"It's alright; being Motherless is something we have in common I suppose," Yami said still moving closer. Yugi moved back.
"Yami, we agreed on space boundaries," Yugi said warningly.
"No, you stated space boundaries, I never agreed to them," Yami responded smirking and looking him in the eyes.
"Yes, well, I think you should agree to them now," Yugi said feeling his back brush up against the edge of the small pool.
"Why, have you run out of space to move?" Yami asked bracing his hands on either side of him, cutting off his exits.
"Yami, please, don't," Yugi said turning his head away.
Yami ghosted his hand up the side of Yugi's face and let it rest on his cheek. He let it barely touch the skin, so if Yugi wanted to he could lean into it. Lean into it he did, as Yami felt more pressure against his hand. Using that same pressure he turned Yugi's head back to look at him.
"I won't do anything you don't want me to, promise," Yami said his crimson eyes looking directly into Yugi's amethyst ones.
Leaning down, Yami caught Yugi's lips in a soft embrace. The kiss wasn't aggressive, or rough, it was soft and gentle. Yami's lips moving against Yugi's, and his moving back against his. Yami was constantly pulling his head away from Yugi, and reconnecting lips with him. Each time, Yugi would welcome the new embrace that their lips shared in.
Yami let his hands tail down to Yugi's hips and let them rest there gently, testing the boundaries. If Yugi noticed the light weight on his hips he made no sound against it, allowing Yami to place his hands more firmly on their new perch. He didn't dare move lower, he knew he would be pushed away if he did.
While Yami was placing his hands on Yugi's hips, Yugi was wrapping his arms round Yami's neck. Yugi ran his hands through the soft tresses of Yami's hair fisting some in his hand, and used that leverage to pull himself closer to Yami. Their bare chests almost touching, only a hair's space apart from connecting. They could both feel the heat radiating off the other.
Yami pulled his lips away from Yugi's to place them at the base of his throat and worked his way up to his ear, kissing and sucking on the skin on the way up. Yami smirked as he heard Yugi moan when he found a particularly sensitive spot just under Yugi's ear. He made sure to give extra attention to the spot, before moving to suck on his ear lobe.
"Mmm, Yami, no more," Yugi half breathed half moaned out in Yami's ear making him shiver with delight.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Yami whispered in his ear.
"I think I'm…too sensitive…for this," Yugi gasped out as Yami sucked on that sensitive spot that he had found again. Yami chuckled against him.
"That's kind of the point, Habibi," He said back.
"You promised that you'd stop when I asked you to, Koi." Yugi said back.
"Mmm, and who am I to break a promise to you?" Yami asked taking his mouth away from Yugi to look down into his eyes.
"Who indeed?" Yugi asked back, brushing his lips against Yami's as he spoke.
"What does koi mean?" Yami asked curiosity getting the better of him.
"Learn some Japanese and you might just find out," Yugi teased.
"Come on Yugi, you've been calling me that for the better part of a month, what does it mean?"
"What do you want it to mean?"
"Hopefully, a term of endearment," Yami said brushing some of Yugi's bang out of his face and curving his hand down to cup his cheek.
"Well, you're half way there…koi," Yugi whispered kissing his palm.
"Seriously, what does that mean?"
"You're intelligent, I'm sure you'll figure it out, someday, " Yugi said reaching down and removing Yami's other hand from his hip.
"Alright keep your secrets, but Yugi, back to the subject before how did your parents really die?" Yami asked just thinking about it. They couldn't have possibly died from a curse that was ridiculous.
"My Mother got sick, pneumonia. She never recovered. Otogi's was thrown from a horse; she ended up breaking her spine and dying three days after because she stopped eating. She loved her horse, and because her spine broke she could no longer walk, could no longer ride, she felt as if she had nothing to live for anymore. Not even her Husband and child. Or, that's what I was I told. Mai's Mother became sick the same way my Mother had but she was weaker, and died in a shorter amount of time than my Mother did. Jou's Mother ran off. We let the villagers think she had died at birth, but she gave birth and ran away. Rumor was she had a true love waiting out for her in the woods, and even though my Father's men combed the woods looking for them, they were never found. Grandfather and Father were lucky that they could find a wet nurse that didn't mind feeding a Prince, or Jou would have died out of starvation. Honda's Mother fell of a balcony, and my Father with her. He tried to catch her, but failed and ended up tumbling over the balcony himself. It was a bad year in the Palace as Otogi, only the age of 23 at the time, was declared the new heir to the throne," Yugi ended his tale some tears spilling from his eyes.
"How long ago was that?" Yami asked wiping away the tears with the pads of his thumbs.
"Three years, Father has been gone for three years," Yugi said quietly shivering as a cold breeze came through the oasis.
"We should probably get you out of the water before you get sick," Yami said bracing his hands on either side of Yugi's waist.
"Okay, but I got myself in here, and I'm pretty sure I can get myself out," Yugi said removing the hands. Yugi made spinning motion with his finger for Yami to turn around.
"You don't have anything I haven't seen before, Yugi," Yami said.
"I don't care, turn around," Yugi ordered.
"So modest," Yami said as he turned around.
"You bet I am. I've heard stories about you, stories I'd rather not find out the truth of until or if we get married," Yugi said getting out quickly and dodging behind the tree he had left his clothes behind.
"What kind of stories?" Yami asked curious for the second time that day.
"That you were blessed with beauty, charm, seduction, and the power of an otherworldly gift," Yugi said.
"And did you believe such stories?" Yami asked turning around to face the tree where he could see glimpses of Yugi's body getting dressed.
"How can one not, when the person behind the stories sound so intriguing?" Yugi countered coming out from behind the tree his shirt in one hand.
"I sounded intriguing to you, Yugi?" Yami asked smirking.
"Very. You haven't gotten out yet," Yugi said.
"Why would I? I haven't got anything to hide," Yami said standing up and making Yugi blush bright red and duck his head into his shirt and hands. Yami laughed at his shy fiancé, he was so cute. Yami pulled his shendi on and secured it with his belt.
"Are you decent?" Yugi asked.
"Yes, I'm decent," Yami said coming over to him and wrapping his arms around Yugi's small form.
"I don't think this relationship is going to work," Yugi said into his chest.
"Why not, habibi?" Yami asked looking down at him.
"You're too big, that can't possibly fit inside me," Yugi said making Yami laugh.
"It'll fit, trust me," Yami said kissing his forehead.
"So we've eaten lunch and gone for a swim, now what's this surprise?" Yugi asked looking up at Yami.
"Sit down, close your eyes," Yami said pointing to the blanket.
Yugi pouted but sat down and closed his eyes. After making sure they were closed, Yami walked over to the horse and pulled a small box out of one of its bags. Grinning, Yami went back over to Yugi and sat down in front of him. Opening the box he took out the ring, and slipped it onto Yugi's finger, it fit perfectly.
Yugi opened his eyes when he felt cool metal being slipped onto his ring finger. The ring was gold, and held a small diamond in it. It wasn't extravagant, heavy, or ostentatious. It was simple and elegant in its own way, and Yugi couldn't help but to catch his breath just by staring at it.
"I know it's not very flashy, but it was my Mother's once. My Father had given it to her, and he gave it to me when she died. If you don't like it I can have a different one made for you but-." Yami started to ramble after Yugi didn't say anything for a while.
"It's perfect. Yami, it's perfect," Yugi cut him off looking up to stare at him with loving eyes. Yugi leaned in and kissed Yami gently on the lips before pulling away.
"It makes me so happy to hear you say that," Yami whispered his breath mingling with Yugi's.
"Ra is setting, we should probably get back," Yugi pointed out even though he was loath to break the moment.
"Yeah, you're right, but Yugi?" Yami said.
"Yes?"
"I get the reins." He said smirking.
"Of course, my Prince," Yugi said fingering the ring. Yami smirked at him when his back was turned. My Prince, he liked the sound of that.
;p;p;p;p
"We're home!" Yugi shouted coming into his room.
"YUGI!" Mira and Malik shouted together tackling him to the ground in a hug.
"Get off of me!" Yugi said only half joking as he laughed. They both got off of him and helped him up, but Yugi held onto Mira's hand as she tried to pull it away. Yugi looked down at the small bandage on her finger.
"What happened?" He asked quietly.
"I got a paper cut," she said. Yugi's eyes snapped up to where Jono was fidgeting by the bed.
"You should become a seer, Jono. You're awfully good at predictions," he said amusement in his eyes and voice.
"That was a fluke, a coincidence," he protested nervously.
"Chill, I'm not mad, more amused than anything else," Yugi said laughing.
"Come on Jono, we better get you back to Seth," Yami said.
"Wait, here, for your trouble," Yugi said fishing out three gold coins and handing them to Jono.
"Ah, this is-," Jono started before Yugi ushered him and Yami out of the room.
"Him not taking no for an answer," Yami said.
"Too much, actually," Jono said.
"Come on," Yami said leading him away.
"Okay, I think they're gone. Look I finally got my ring," Yugi said showing off his hand.
"Oh, it's so simple," Malik said.
"Simple, yet elegant in its own right," Mira said.
"Uh-huh, and I got these things for you guys. For you Mira, some earrings to match your eyes. And for you Malik, a dagger. I was your age, as you know when Grandpa presented me with my own weapons. May you bear this with dignity and honor. May it remind you that death, though so easily given, is not the fate that all must have. May you protect your honor, the honor of others, and the lives precious to you with this weapon. I give you this weapon hoping you will not disappoint me with its uses," Yugi said handing Malik and Mira their gifts. Malik stared at it with awe and wonder at his. "Come on, we should get to bed, but first, did Jono go for it?" Yugi asked, curious if they had accomplished the mission he had given them.
"Like leading an unwitting mouse into a trap with a spoonful of peanut butter," Malik said smirking and looking over his new dagger.
"Excellent, this will be one of our best pranks yet," Yugi said grinning while hoping that Jono never figured out that he was being used for this prank.
"Well, goodnight, Yugi," Malik and Mira said together.
"Night, see you in the morning," Yugi said back yawning slightly.
Yugi discarded his clothes and slipped into his bed. Yugi looked at his new ring again; it was perfect, perfect in every way. It made him wonder if their relationship would be that way. But that was silly, relationships took work, they didn't fit together like a puzzle so carefully crafted that there wouldn't be any mistakes in it. Berating himself for his small moment of stupidity, Yugi closed his eyes falling asleep almost instantly.
So, what do you think of the language barrier strategy that I've been using so far? Fun, no? Alrighty, thanks to everyone who have/are favorited/following this story. Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed Guest and User alike. Please review. Midnight ;p