I do not own, Yugioh! [JAPANESE and ENGLISH]
Chapter 20
Yugi was walking up and down the Palace looking for the two guards that had come from Japan with him. They needed to know that he was returning to Japan, more importantly though, they needed to know that the former Emperor was dead. He looked down another couple of hallways, before sighing. If they were playing a game of hide and seek, Yugi hated to admit it, but he was losing.
"I just don't understand why we had to get up so early," Mira yawned.
"I told you already. We are looking for two important people," Yugi said patiently.
"But I don't see the Pharaoh or Prince anywhere," Malik groaned.
"Uh, someone else who I find important."
"Who?" They asked together.
"Akiha and Umeda."
"Shin?" Malik asked instantly perking up.
"Daisuke?" Mira asked at the same time.
"We'll help!"
"Uh, that's fine but just don't-"
"DAISUKE!"
"SHIN!"
"Yell," Yugi finished as they ran ahead of him yelling their names to the high heavens. They would indeed find them in no time now. He sighed again, shaking his head, as he followed them at a slower pace, smiling at their exuberance. One second they were tired and unwilling, the next excited and full of energy. Where they acquired this energy though, he hadn't a clue.
"SHI-"
"DAIS-"
Yugi's head shot up at their cut of voices. He caught a glimpse of both of one their hands disappearing into a seemingly random hallway. He took out his katanas and tore after them, slicing at the air where their captors would be.
CLANG!
Clang. There were only two people that he knew that could meet anyone of his attacks head on. He grinned, coming out of his stance, motioned for them both to come out into the light. They did so, holding both of his servants. Mira looked like she was in heaven, and Malik was trying to get out of the grip.
"Umeda, and Akiha," he said looking at them. Umeda was dark skinned, black hair that was tied into a ponytail, and vivid bright blue eyes. Akiha was his direct opposite. Akiha was paler than Yugi, with dark short red hair cut closely to his head, dark green eyes, and a sample of freckles across the bridge of his nose.
"Did you want something?" Akiha asked still holding Malik off the ground and looked amused at his attempts to get free.
"Yes, I wished to find the two of you," Yugi said looking over Mira. She still looked like she was in heaven. If Umeda never put her back down, she would die a happy woman. Yugi snorted at his own thoughts.
"Yes, we got that. You know, I think the whole Palace understood that you were looking for us," Umeda said looking down at Mira too, before shaking his head and looking away back at Yugi.
"You know, I think the only people who didn't hear these two, was Russia. They don't that Prince Yugi was looking for us. Next time these two should scream louder," Akiha joked as he put Malik back down.
"Ha ha, very funny, but we were merely trying to help out our Master in finding you more quickly."
"You succeeded," Umeda said putting Mira back down who looked very put out about it.
"Perhaps you should hold her longer," Akiha whispered grinning. Umeda blushed looking away, as Mira looked eager about the idea.
"Anyway, I wished to inform you about the death of Emperor Solomon."
"Wha-?"
"He's…dead?"
"Yes, my Grandfather is dead."
"Oh, we offer our condolences for the loss of your loved one," they said together kneeling before him.
"Stand friends, and know that your condolences mean a lot to my family. I am returning in two days' time to witness the marriage between the now Emperor Otogi and Lady Rebecca, soon to be Empress. I wished to know if you would like to join me on this journey? If you would like to join me not as shadows, but as figures that can be seen by the eye?"
"We make better shadows," Umeda said.
"Please?"
"Yes, we will come. We ordered to follow you anywhere you go. Just because the one who put those orders on us is dead, doesn't mean that our duty is any less than it was before," Akiha said.
"Thank you. I know he was like a Father to the two of you," Yugi said rushing forward to give them a hug.
"And we shall miss him as one. Thank you, for telling us, and the invitation," Umeda said brushing Yugi's bangs aside before kissing his forehead.
"Sniff, I should probably let you guys get back to whatever it was you were doing before."
"What we were doing before is inconsequential. Now, we must pack for another long journey across the great open sea."
"Come brother," Akiha said grasping his hand and the two added of into the darkness of one of the hallways.
"Brother. Soon, I too will be able to use that term again. If only for a little while," Yugi muttered.
"Sister too," Malik said.
"Yes, sister too," Yugi said holding out his hands to the two of them. They grasped them and the three disappeared down another hallway. Never knowing that a portion of their exchange with the two guards had been witnessed by eyes that didn't understand the true meaning behind what they saw. They merely rushed off to gossip and twist it, to make it seem more harmful than the innocent exchange that it was. Gossip that would reach the Crown Prince's ears in just two days' time, right before they were to leave on their great journey back across the sea.
"What are you talking about?!" Yugi yelled for what felt like the umpteenth time to him. Over the course of the past two days, he had been getting dirty looks, and he hadn't a clue as to why. It was starting to annoy him, and he was going to ask the next person why they were glaring at him, but he never expected that person to be his fiancé.
"I'm talking about the kiss you shared with him."
"Kiss? Him? These words mean nothing to me."
"Enough, Yugi! Just admit to what you did, and we can be done with this!"
"I have done nothing! I will not admit to what I have not done!"
"Listen here, you little Prince. You may be royalty, but I will not take humiliation like this!" Yami yelled grasping his arm and slamming him against the wall.
"Master!"
"Get out of here! Barricade yourselves in your room, Mira! That's an order!" Yugi told them. He really wanted them to stay, but he wouldn't put them in dangers way.
"Yes, Master. Come on, Malik, come on." Mira pulled him into her room, and Yugi heard furniture move against the door before he turned back to Yami who was grasping his arm much too tightly. Yami was going to learn the hard way that he couldn't just fight with his katanas, he knew how to use his whole body for it. Pressing his back further against the wall, he jumped up, using both of his feet to slam them into Yami's abdomen, sending the other Prince flying. Yugi landed in crouch, before approaching the groaning Prince on the ground.
"I'll ask you again, what kiss, and who's him?"
"You know what I am talking about," Yami said as he held his middle trying to get up. Yugi stepped on his back, pushing him back down.
"Don't, just don't. Simply tell me what I want to know. For the past two days, people have been giving me the stink eye, as my people would call it. I wish to know why."
"I got it! Yugi, I got it out of a slave. They were reluctant to give me the information, but I finally wheedled it out of them. Umeda! Someone must have seen what it was you told me about that occurred between the five of you. When you told them about Emperor Solomon's death. Someone saw him kiss you on the forehead. They must have twisted it to make it sound more devious, more unfaithful," Ryou said bursting into the room. Why must everyone always find them in compromising positions when they were fighting? Or rather in the general of all. It always seemed that when someone entered unannounced they were in a compromising position.
"You've got to be kidding me! What in Kami's name did they think they saw? Us making out?"
"Well, that, and other things…" Ryou said his voice trailing off.
"…." Yugi was speechless before grabbing Yami off the floor and crushing their lips together.
"Uh, I'll leave you two to settle it then," Ryou said walking out and shutting the door behind him. Yami pushed him away as soon as Ryou was out the door.
"Kissing me isn't going to solve this, Yugi."
"I'm with you! No one else! When I am engaged to someone I am loyal to that person. That is the way I was brought up. Don't let a petty rumor come between us, Yami," Yugi said in earnest trying to cup his cheek, but Yami just switched his hands to his wrists instead, preventing him from touching him in any loving way.
"Do you know what I had to do to stop my Father from killing you?"
"But it's not true. I like you. Umeda is simply a guard of mine. I was telling him about my Grandfather's death. A kiss on the forehead after hearing about a loved one dying between two people who knew the deceased one very well is common among my people. It is like saying I feel your pain, and share in it. That's all that happened, well, that and a hug, I hugged them. Both Akiha and Umeda. I wouldn't expect anyone of your people to understand the gravity of what we did, but it means the world to me that they accepted his death so easily. Much more easily then when they were told that my Mother was gone, when their Sister was gone. I am a nephew by blood, Akiha and I, Umeda simply by choice," Yugi explained bowing his head. He had hoped to hide this relation longer, but it seemed that it was inevitable for it to come to light now.
"Then why is Akiha in such a low rank as a guard?"
"Because it was his sister who was a Princess, not him. He was given the opportunity to become something more, but wished to stay with his brother by bond Umeda. I've never seen two guards that work as well together as those two do. Sometimes, it feels as if they can read each other's minds," Yugi laughed nervously dropping his arms, and making Yami drop them too. Yugi turned and walked out onto the balcony.
"What has this to do with anything that I heard floating along the grapevine this morning from my Father?"
"You don't understand yet?"
"Understand what?"
"I would never betray you in that way, Yami. I may stray from your side at times, but I would never kiss another in an intimate way so long as we are together." They had been moving closer and closer together until they were almost touching. There was doubt in Yami's eyes; Yugi could see that as Yugi's eyes dropped to Yami's lips, and then to his own feet. Yami reached out with one hand to the back of his head, tilting it back up, before gently placing his lips over Yugi's. That was all it was though, one pair of lips over another, they didn't even move against one another. There was no need for it, as Yami pulled away sighing, and placing his forehead against Yugi's, before kissing it. He pulled him in closer, wrapping his arms around him.
"I believe you," Yami whispered into his hair.
He heard Yugi sniff, and tried to pull away, but Yugi wouldn't let him. He had wrapped his own arms around him tightly, and Yami just stood there as he felt his shirt grow wet by his fiancés tears.
"You would never hurt me in such a way, would you?" Yugi asked looking up at Yami through watery eyes. Yami could see that his answer meant a lot to him. It could bring them closer together, or drive them further apart. But below that, he could see a deeper meaning to the question, he couldn't decipher it though.
"Never, you mean too much to me."
"You can speak my language now? Oh, that makes me so happy, that you would learn something that would be very inconsequential in our relationship. Seeing as it will take place here in Egypt, and not Japan," Yugi said in a giddy voice hugging him tighter.
"Uh, yes, it makes me happy to see you happy."
"You know only a few words, huh? And those words even are few and far between. You pronounced 'yes' wrong. It's said like this hai. Like hi, how are you?"
"Uh, you too."
"Oh Yami, you amuse me," Yugi said shaking his head.
"Why?"
"Hi."
"Hi."
"That is how you pronounce yes, in Japanese. Hai."
"Hi."
"No, Hai."
"Hai."
"Good, very good. We shall work on your Japanese on the journey to my home. We're not going to stop practicing until you can say: Congratulations on your engagement, we are very happy for you, and look forwards to celebrating your wedding."
"Uh, what was that last part? I didn't understand it."
"I know, but you will," Yugi said smiling as he went to knock twice on Mira's door. He heard something large move, before they both rushed out patting him down. Once they seemed to be satisfied that he was uninjured they turned to glare at Yami, Malik charging for him. He didn't make it more than two steps, before Yugi grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and easily pulling him to the ground.
"But he hurt you," Malik argued.
"Actually, I think I might have hurt him more than he me," Yugi said giving him a half smile.
"Pah, it'll take more than a tap against my stomach to harm me, Yugi," Yami said straightening up.
"A tap was it?" Yugi asked letting go of Malik to move towards him.
"Yes, a tap. I merely pushed myself across the room, so as not to bruise your pride."
"I see. Malik, Mira, go see if Ryou needs any help packing."
"Of course, Master," Mira said smiling.
"What? I don't understand. Ryou said he was done packing a day ago," Malik said confused as to why he would need help when he was already done.
"Come on, Malik," Mira said rolling her eyes and dragging him out of the room.
"But I don't get it, Mira," Malik said before the doors were closed again.
"Come here, Yami. Now that my Servants are gone, you don't have to act so big and brave. You can be vulnerable in front of me. I won't use it against you," Yugi said sitting down on the bed.
"Pfft, it didn't even hurt, Little Prince," Yami scoffed walking towards him.
"Ce'mere," he patted the spot next to him. Yami sighed before going to sit on it. Yugi acted quickly, pushing him down on the bed, and sitting on his legs. He pushed his shirt up to reveal a tender looking, but smaller than he expected, bruise upon his stomach.
"Oh, this looks as if it hurts. Should I kiss it to make it better?" Yugi asked his eyes darkening with want as he looked up at Yami. Yami smirked, his eyes darkening as well, before nodding. Yugi leaned down, letting his warm breath ghost over the bruise before kissing it gently. He continued to kiss it until, he was sure he had kissed every part of the bruise.
"There, all better," Yugi said pulling away and looking back up at Yami to see his eyes darker than before and a mischievous look in them.
"What?" he asked suddenly wary of the one below him. He was answered with movement as their positions were switched.
"I need compensation for my injury that you caused," Yami whispered in his ear as he settled on his hips.
"But I made it all better."
"Not quite."
Yami kissed his lips slowly, and Yugi received it. Yami slowly drew him up, as Yugi rose with him, not wanting to break contact until Yami had him sitting in his lap, his legs wrapped around his waist. They just sat there, kissing, until Yugi pulled away, needing air. Yami simply moved his lips to his neck. Yugi braced his hands against his shoulders, leaning his head back, giving him more room to work. Yami chuckled, nipping at his flesh, kissing it sucking it, until a bruise started to appear on his pale skin.
"There, now we're even," Yami whispered looking at the deep bruise on Yugi's neck. There was no way he'd be able to hide this. It was directly on the side of his neck, in plain sight for the entire world to see who he belonged to.
"You put a love bite on me, didn't you?" Yugi asked.
"What do you think?" Yami asked nuzzling the spot on his neck.
"Oh," Yugi groaned dropping his head onto Yami's shoulder.
"Ha ha, I can put another one on the other side if it'll make you feel better," He kissed his cheek.
"Chikan," Yugi muttered.
"What was that?"
"You should really learn Japanese."
"I pretty sure it takes more words to say that, than just the one you used."
"Well, I don't think he listened very well, because that's exactly where he was headed Pharaoh," Bakura's voice sounded from the hallway.
"Oh, crap!" Yami exclaimed pushing Yugi off his lap and nose diving under his bed.
"What are you doing?" he asked looking at him as the door opened. Yugi looked up to see the Pharaoh, Marik, and Bakura in his doorway.
"Where is my son?" Pharaoh asked. Yugi pointed under the bed.
"You're going to give me up just like that? Some fiancé you are," Yami grumbled as he crawled out from under the bed.
"I told you I would take care of this."
"Yeah, but I wanted to hear it from him myself. It was a lie Father. Whatever that gossiper saw, it wasn't what we were told. He was simply telling them about the death of the Emperor, and they offering their condolences to him," Yami explained quickly.
"I'm not sure what you heard but it was merely a kiss on the forehead. To my people a kiss on the forehead, when death is involved, means that I feel your pain and share in it," Yugi explained patiently.
"Then you wouldn't mind telling me who gave you that love bite?"
"Your son, just moments ago in fact," Yugi smiled.
The Pharaoh rolled his eyes before grabbing Yami by his ear and dragging him out. He grimaced before walking across the hallway to Ryou's room. Walking in, he saw Malik pinned beneath Jenny, who was reading a book while sitting on his butt. Mira was grinning as she watched them, before looking up at him as he entered. Ryan and Ryou were nowhere to be found.
"Yugi!"
"What did he do now, Jenny?"
"He told me I was an utsukushii otome and he thought we should get kekkon shita. I may not know what those four words mean, but they sounded insulting."
"Mira."
"What? If she wants believe she's been insulted why should I stop her?"
"Jenny, he called you a beautiful maiden and he thought the two of you should get married."
"He did?"
"Yes. Utsukushii otome means beautiful maiden. And kekkon shita means married."
"And chikan? What does that mean?" Yami asked.
"Nice try," Yugi said without looking at him.
"You called him a chikan?" Ryou asked coming out of the bathroom.
"He was acting like one," Yugi said defensively.
"He really needs to improve his Japanese."
"Well, if my utsukushii otome would help me, maybe I would know it better," Yami said like he hadn't just insulted Yugi.
"A Josei am I?" Yugi asked facing him his eyes widening at the bruise that marred his left cheek.
"A what?"
"Oh, Koi, what happened to your face?"
"My Father's punishment for disobeying him. Don't worry about it, Habibi."
"But it looks like it really hurts."
"Don't worry about it, Yugi. It's just a bruise, it'll heal."
"Poor thing."
"Are you going to baby me all the way to Japan?"
"I just might."
"Ugh, Bakura, Marik, come on."
"I don't know what his problem is. Anyone else would love to be babied by you," Ryou said from behind him.
"Right, well the boat leaves at sunset, we better start heading out to it."
"We're going to have to ride hard to make it in time." Ryou said looking out his balcony door.
"Yeah, but it's okay. We'll make it."
;p;p;p;p
"We made it," Yugi said as he boarded the boat pushing his Servants on before him.
"Barely," Ryou commented doing the same.
"Well, if the horses hadn't of decided that they wanted to walk halfway here we would have been here sooner," Yami grumbled.
"They were tired," Jono defended.
"Don't defend them!" Bakura shouted.
"He has a point," Umeda said as he and Akiha boarded behind them. Everyone turned to see them vanishing into the lower part of the ship.
"We aren't going to see them for the rest of the trip, are we?" Marik asked.
"Probably not, no," Yugi said shaking his head.
"Alright, so because there are less people traveling this time, everyone has their own rooms. Except the Princes," Captain Namu said coming up to them.
"I am not sharing a room with him," Yami said pointing at Ryou.
"That's okay, you don't have to. I will," Yugi said pecking him on the cheek and starting to walk away.
"No, you'll be sharing a room with me. The last thing we need is more nasty rumors floating around," Yami said hooking him around the waist and pulling him back.
"Ah, I meant it that way in any case. Prince Ryou your servants will have a room next to yours, and Prince Yugi, yours will be in the same room as they were in last time," Captain Namu said looking nervous.
"Great, this means I will have to learn more about my fiancé just so I can fall asleep," Yugi grumbled.
"I assume the rest of us will be in the same rooms as we were in before as well," Marik asked.
"Yes."
"Okay, let's go get settled. And Captain, when will dinner be served?"
"For the servants now, for the rest of you in an hour."
"Why are the servants served first?" Bakura asked.
"Because they've had a tiring day. And you wouldn't want them to stand all through our dinner and possibly faint, would you?" Yugi asked a little too innocently throwing a dangerous tone in there as well. Bakura rolled his eyes before volunteering to show Ryou where his quarters were. Ryou accepted and they both went down below.
"Shall we?" Yami asked offering his arm.
"Such a gentleman," Yugi said taking it.
"Always."
"We probably won't be seeing much of Ryou once we set sail, either."
"Why is that?"
"He gets terribly sick at sea. I remember when he went on a boat to travel from the main island to one of the small ones. Sick the entire way, and it was only a two day journey."
"Ryou has been to Japan?"
"Why of course, and I to his home town as well."
"England? Really?"
"Oh yes, it's a wonderful place to visit in the winter. The entire ground is covered in snow. It's something I will miss, but will just have to learn to live with," Yugi said flopping down on the bed.
"Okay, so what shall we do for an hour?" Yami asked approaching him slowly.
"Uh, get to know one another better?" Yugi said scooting away.
"Hmm, that's an interesting idea, but I had another one," he climbed on the bed
"Yeah, I can already see what you're thinking, and I wish not to take a part in it," Yugi said bolting off the bed.
"Why so shy suddenly?"
"I'm not shy!"
"Oh? Prove it. Come here," he patted the spot next to him.
"No, I think I'll just go make sure that Malik and Mira are getting enough to eat," Yugi said edging for the door.
"Uh uh uh," Yami said trying to get to the door before Yugi could. He failed, by an inch. Yugi was out the door with Yami chasing after him. Yugi dodged into a room and shut the door behind him. He heard a loud thunk hit it behind him.
"Yes, can we help you with something Prince?" there were a group of about 13 servants, or perhaps they were slaves, around a pot and they were all eating from it. He frowned and walked closer. Inside was what looked like some type of soup, but it was so watery, that it could hardly be called soup at all, just water with flavor really. His frown deepened as he looked around for something else for them to eat. There was nothing, just the soup.
"You don't even have bread?" Yugi asked sorrow filling his voice.
"No, Prince. We are slaves, we're given the bare minimum of substance. Do not fret about it, we are used to the gruel. Most of us have lived on it our entire lives," one said kindly smiling at his belt line.
"But, you need more than flavored water."
"Don't worry," another said.
"Too bad, I'm already worried."
"Please don't make a fuss," one begged.
"I won't make too much of a fuss, but I do intend to see that you get a little more substance."
"No, please!"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"We'll be whipped, if we are found to be eating more than our share," one cried out in desperation. He froze with his hand on the door, before shaking his head and opening the door.
"And here I thought you'd go out the other way," Yami said from his position of leaning against the wall.
"Why are you so cruel to the legs upon which you stand?" Yugi asked tears filling his eyes.
"What? Yugi, why are you crying?"
"How do you expect them to work well on flavored water?" Yami looked past Yugi to a group of slaves shaking in fear around a pot of gruel.
"They are used to it," Yami said unsympathetically. Yugi shook his head before shoving him away and walking down the hallway crying.
"Yugi, what did you expect? They are slaves," Yami argued walking after him.
"They are people! They are humans just like you and I! They deserve at least a small helping of respect for that. They deserve more than flavored water! When I am the Royal Wife of your country I shall be making changes. The slaves will be served soup with potatoes and parsley in it, basil too if we can spare it. And they shall have bread. Even if it's just a single slice, at the very least they will have more substance than what they are receiving now," Yugi spun around angrily.
"They are just slaves! They do not matter."
"So was Malik! So was Mira! So were many of the servants that work for my family! That doesn't make them any less important!" Yugi yelled before stomping off.
Yami sighed, before looking back towards where the slaves were held. He saw them scrambling away from the door and back into their room. Why? Why did he have to have the fiancé that cared for something as unimportant as slaves? If Yami didn't do something about their foods, he knew Yugi would. Yelling in aggravation, he went in search of the galley.
When he found it, he found a bunch of slaves who he knew hadn't eaten yet, informing him that the dinner would be served up on the deck. He just shook his head and went to talk to the cook. He had a quiet conversation with the cook, who pulled away looking offended.
"Says who?" he asked.
"My fiancé. He has become very upset by it, and I fear he will pull away from me even more if this continues."
"And when we get back to Egypt? What then?"
"I shall talk to my Father about it. The change would have come about eventually. Why not just make it happen now? Perhaps he will see me as hero?"
"Or perhaps he will see it as it really is? You attempting to pacify his anger?"
"Yes, he could see it as that way too. Just add some potatoes and give the ones that already have eaten a slice of bread."
"Very well."
"Oh, make sure it's warm bread, that should make him very happy."
"We shall see. You three, add nine potatoes to the gruel."
"Why?"
"Because your Prince demands it."
"Okay, is he eating the gruel?"
"No, you are. And take these loaves of bread to the ones that have eaten and give it to them."
"Did we do something good? We are only awarded with bread when we do something good."
"Yes, well, my fiancé doesn't believe you are being fed a substantial meal. So we are trying to make it more so," Yami interceded.
"You are trying to appease him?" a young slave asked before an older one could slap a hand over their mouth.
"Just do as you're told, please?"
A few looked uneasy about this new and sudden change in their diet, before getting to work. He heard one of them say something about a good influence. Yami shook his head before heading up the stairs to the deck. Everyone was already sitting at the table. Only Yugi was missing, but his Servants were there, and they looked worried. When they saw him though, they brightened up for a second before noticing that Yugi was not with him. Their faces grew worried again and they turned to talk to one another in hushed voices. Yami frowned as well, he had expected Yugi to go to his Servants; apparently he had been wrong. Malik and Mira ran off below deck, and Yami made to follow them before he was stopped by a paler than usual Ryou.
"Where is my friend? Last anyone saw him he was with you."
"I don't know. We had a fight, and he stormed off," Yami said pushing him aside and taking off back below the deck.
He searched every room, Malik and Mira stopping him from searching rooms they'd already torn apart. Yami was going frantic with worry. What if he had jumped ship? But no, he wouldn't have done that, he wanted to go home more than any of them. He had been way too excited about the prospect of seeing his family again. By the time Yami checked their room, he was tugging on his hair, as if he was attempting to pull it out. There was Yugi though, eyes red and puffy, fast asleep. Yami sighed in relief, leaning back against the door before closing it. He walked across the room, and climbed into the bed behind him, pulling him close.
"I'm sorry Yugi, I don't think like you. We were raised very differently. To me they are just slaves, hardly worth noticing. If they starve, and die, I've been told not to even blink an eye. They don't matter, there is always more where they came from. We can always buy more to replace those we lose. Your heart is too kind, sometimes I wonder if you're really royalty at all. You treat someone below you like they're an equal, or at least you try to. You're not a snob, not like me," he whispered kissing him on the cheek.
"You're not a snob," Yugi said quietly making Yami jump. "You were just raised not to care. My Mother made sure I wasn't."
"Did I wake you?"
"I was never asleep."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry too. It was wrong of me to yell at you. I know we were raised differently, but I ignored the fact in my tirade. Can you forgive me?" Yugi asked looking up at him over his shoulder.
"Always," he said kissing him on the lips.
"Master! Why didn't you tell us you found the Master!?" Malik exclaimed.
"We were worried Master. You never came up for supper, and then when Yami didn't show up with you, we feared the worst of your safety," Mira cried flinging herself onto the bed. Yugi chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.
"I am fine. I merely ignored the call for dinner."
"Well, don't next time. You had us worried sick!"
"I'm sorry," he rubbed her back until she stopped.
"Are you going to eat now?"
"No, I'm not hungry. Please tell everyone we are all right?"
"We? Oh, no, you may not be hungry, but I am. Come on you two, we shall leave your Master in peace."
"But, he needs our constant attention," Malik argued.
"No, he doesn't."
"Yes, he really does," Mira argued as Yami tried to pull her away.
"Go with him. I need to be left to my thoughts for a little bit," Yugi said kissing her forehead.
"Yes, Master."
"You too, Malik."
"But!"
"No buts, go."
They left him alone. Yami continued to pull them down the hallway, and up onto the deck where everyone looked annoyed. Annoyed and hungry.
"Yugi will not be joining us, he claims he isn't hungry. You know, you didn't have to wait, you could have started."
"On no, the cook insisted," Bakura growled at him.
"Let the meal be served," Yami ordered.
"Where is the young Prince?"
"He claims he isn't hungry."
"Pah! A feast gone to waste!" the cook cried in annoyance but brought it out anyways. Yami made up a plate and motioned for Mira and Malik to come closer.
"Take this to the one who isn't hungry. If he still doesn't eat it, tell me and I shall come down and force it down his throat. He will eat tonight," Yami whispered.
They grinned back at him before taking the plate and walking off with it carefully. They returned a few minutes later, looking downcast. He also noticed Malik looking at Mira's hand closely. Yami sighed, pilling more foods onto his plate before getting up and making his way down below deck. As he passed them he looked more closely at Mira's hand, to see a small line of blood on it. He called to a random slave to take care of it.
He entered the room to see the plate of food untouched on the table next to the bed, and Yugi nowhere in sight. Though the sniffles he heard said he wasn't too far away. Placing his food down on the other table in the room, he went around the dressing screen to find Yugi crying there. His head shot up and he flung himself into Yami's chest.
"I'm a horrible Master. I don't deserve the right of any Servants. I hurt her, Yami, I really hurt her."
"Uh, Yugi, it was only a small cut. Not any bigger than your little pinky."
"I'm horrible! She'll never forgive me for it, I just know it!"
"Oh come on, I'm sure that's not true. Why don't you tell me how it happened?"
"I swiped at her insistent hand that I eat and my nail caught her hand. Then the blood started to flow, and…and…I don't deserve them! "
"Quite the contrary, I think they're very lucky to have a Master that cries over the little things. Not many would, you see. They'd just tell them to bandage it up and get back to their duties. They're very lucky to have someone who will cry over a small amount of blood."
"Yeah?"
"Yes," Yami nodded hearing a scuffle at the doorway. He poked his head out from behind the dressing screen to see Malik and Mira there. He motioned for them to come in, and they did so, tentatively.
"Yes, Prince?"
"Yugi has something he wants to tell you, Mira," Yami said smirking down at Yugi who had buried his head into his chest again.
"Yeah?" Mira asked. Yugi mumbled something into his chest.
"You're forgiven. It wasn't that big anyway. Just a teeny tiny cut, see?" Mira said holding out her hand.
"You can understand him?" Yami asked as Yugi lifted his head from Yami's chest to look at the small mark on Mira's hand.
"Yes, he's our Master. We are able to understand him no matter what."
"Teach me oh wise one of how to understand muffled talk," Malik and Mira laughed at him, before Jenny and Ryan, Yami thought their names were, came and collected them for bed. Apparently the four of them were sharing one room.
"Alright, now you need to eat," Yami said grabbing his own plate of food and sitting down on the bed.
"I'm not hungry," Yugi said turning away from him.
"Yugi, starving yourself isn't going to help the slaves."
"Sure it will! Then they can share my portion of the food between themselves," he looked excited by this idea.
"No, now come here and eat."
"No, I'm on a hunger…um, a hunger no eating thing."
"Very eloquent your words just now."
"I don't have the right word for it."
"How about starving yourself?"
"No, that sounds too drastic."
"Eat then."
"No."
"Eat, or I will make you," Yami said sternly.
"Oh yeah? How are you going to do that?" Yugi goaded. Before he could even blink, Yami had dragged him onto the bed and straddled his waist.
"Simply, I will sleep on top of you until you eat. If this doesn't work, I have other ideas that will make you eat. Trust me, those are less pleasant, for both us."
"What are you going to feed me like a bird?"
"Like a bird?"
"Yes, a Mother bird will chew up their babies food before regurgitating into their mouths."
"Eww, I think I just lost my appetite too."
"Well, since neither one of us is eating, what would you like to do instead?" Yugi asked flicking one of Yami's bangs out of his face.
"Oh, I have a few things in mind."
"Show me?" Yugi asked batting his eyes at him. Yami chuckled before leaning down and kissing him.
;p;p;p;p
"The fact that all three are missing can only mean one thing," Bakura grumbled.
"Trouble," Yami shuddered.
"Mm-hmm," Marik nodded as they continued their search for Yugi and his Servants.
"Now why do you always think we're causing trouble?" Yugi asked from behind him. All three jumped.
"Maybe because in the past three weeks alone there have been about 18 pranks committed to the ship?" Yami said tapping his foot and looking over at Bakura who was still had his arm in a sling.
"Well, we didn't do all of them alone. We did have help you know."
"And we said we were sorry. How many times do we have to apologize for breaking his arm by accident?" Mira whined.
"Well, maybe if you hadn't left those ropes lying all over the place, this wouldn't have happened," Marik said back.
"Well, we did tell you to avoid the deck. It's not our fault you couldn't listen. Oh, and you should probably avoid the galley for a while too," Yugi shrugged.
"Why?" Yami asked.
"Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. So I won't, bye! Oh, and if the cook asks, you didn't see us," Yugi said before running off.
"Ugh, come on!"
"But he said we should avoid it!" Bakura argued.
"Yeah, the last couple of times we didn't avoid something on his suggestion, Bakura got injured, I got thrown overboard, and you were stuck in bed for two days. Do we really want to risk it?" Marik added.
"Yes, now let's go," Yami said leading the way. The other two sighed before following him.
"I knew they wouldn't be able to resist," Yugi said grinning from around the corner.
"You know, they're going to be blamed for our masterpiece," Malik said frowning.
"Yes, well, this is one masterpiece I don't want to be blamed for. Shall we go see, Ryou?"
"Perfect alibi huh?" Mira asked leading the way.
They and just entered Ryou's room, when they heard a scream of fury echo throughout the ship. They snickered, earning exasperated looks from Ryou, Jenny, and Ryan. You could see that they were dying to ask, but weren't too sure if they wanted to know the answer to their question.
"We rearranged the kitchen," Yugi supplied.
"How?" Ryou groaned from the bed.
"Well, I didn't think it was very sanitary for them to be putting all the meat on the floor, so I hung it from the ceiling. And all the bags that were hanging from the ceiling, I scattered around the floor. I think the cook will be very satisfied that his area of work is more sanitary now."
"Oh, here you are Prince Yugi. We've made good time and will be landing in Japan tonight." A slave said from the doorway.
"That's wonderful, thank you."
"You're welcome, Prince," they bowed and left.
"You hear that, Ryou? You'll be getting off this wretched ship tonight."
"Oh, thank the Lord."
"I'm going to go tell, Yami!" Yugi said giddily running off. He didn't make it far, crashing into him in the doorway.
"We're home, Yami! We're home!" Yugi shouted from under him.
"So I was told. That was just mean. You should apologize to cook, though for some reason he thinks I did it."
"Yeah, because the slave only saw the back of my head as we bolted out the door. Don't you worry though; I'll let you take credit for it."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, I mean the world knows you need to be more devious."
"Do I?"
"Absolutely."
"Could you please not flirt in my doorway?" Ryou asked.
"Yeah, okay."
"Thank you."
"How about kissing? Is that okay to do in your doorway?" Yami asked amusement lighting up his eyes.
"No!"
"Sex?"
"Definitely not," Yugi shot down.
"Denied."
"Oh, be quiet."
"We should start getting ready for our landing," Yugi said pushing Yami off of him, and making his way back to their room.
"Wait for us, Master," Mira cried.
"Stop calling me that! Call me Yugi, like you usually do."
"But it makes those in Egypt more comfortable for us to call you Master."
"Are we in Egypt?"
"Uh, no."
"Then call me, Yugi, please."
"Please speak Egyptian," Yami begged from behind them.
"That reminds me, do you remember what I taught you to say to my brother when you see him?" Yugi asked.
"Mostly."
"Do we need to go over it again?"
"No, I remember. I can do this. They're going to be very impressed with my Japanese. What little of it I know."
"Yes, you are sure to amaze them," Yugi said confidently.
;p;p;p;p
"Congratulations on your foot cream, we are very happy for you, and look forwards to celebrating your livestock," Yami said grinning at Otogi and Rebecca who had come to greet them at the docks. Everyone else had stayed behind. They blinked at him, mouths open in bewilderment.
"Our foot cream?" Rebecca asked.
"Our livestock?" Otogi questioned.
"Yes, your…foot cream and livestock."
"Yugi…"
"I didn't even…teach him those…words," He got out through his laughter which Otogi and Rebecca were soon joining in on. Ryou, Jenny, Ryan, Malik, and Mira were already like Yugi, laughing their heads off.
"What? What's so funny? What did do? What did I say? Yugi! What did I say wrong?"
"Don't worry about it, Koi. He meant engagement and wedding," Yugi explained.
"That's what I said. Foot cream and livestock."
"Ha ha ha, stop, Yami, just stop. We'll go over the words again later. For now, come, we should get back to the Palace. It has grown late, even the sun has gone to bed."
"Do you still want to share a room?"
"No, you shall be in your room and I mine. You may visit though."
"So, you must tell us all that has gone on in Egypt." Rebecca said hooking her arm through his.
"Perhaps tomorrow."
"Oh, and Yugi, because we know you'll be very upset by it, I feel I must tell you now, before anyone else."
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow in the center of town…"
Yami didn't hear any more of what she said as she said the rest very quietly in his ear. But Yugi gasped and pulled away, throwing a worried glance back at Mira. He nodded and said something back quietly to her.
"There's that and also…"
"Why?"
"It would have been insulting not to."
"I suppose."
"…for the week and then gone. So how long are you staying?"
"Uh, I'm not sure. You'd have to ask the Prince of Jealousy."
"I am not the Prince of Jealousy," Yami argued behind them.
"It's rude to eavesdrop you know," Rebecca said haughtily.
"That's nice. Can you show me to my room, Yugi?"
"Play nice," Yugi warned them both. They turned their heads away from one another at the same time. Yugi unhooked his arm and grabbed Yami's hand leading him away. Tomorrow was going to be very eventful. Now, he just needed to sneak out of the Palace, so he could help her. Mira would never forgive him if he knew about this and did nothing. He wasn't sure what he could do, but if he could get her, he would. Looks like he would be travelling back to Egypt with a little extra this time. Oh dear, how was the Pharaoh, let alone his fiancé going to take that one?
Chikan-pervert. Josei-woman. I will update next in April, so be on the look out for it. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed Guest and User alike. Also, thanks to everyone who are/have following/favorited this story. Please review. Midnight ;p