Dream Prince
Chapter 12
His Success Matters
A relieved sigh came from Yugi's lips as the boy sunk into the cool waters of the oasis pond. About a dozen metres behind him, on the shore, stood Bakura. The albino was keeping a watch out for anyone who might be coming, for no other reason than to avoid being caught off-guard. Yugi saw this as unnecessary, since they were very unlikely to get attacked in such a place, in the evening no less. Who would want anything with a couple of nameless soldiers anyway?
"Come on, Bakura", Yugi said with a grin to his taller companion. "The water feels really good and you could use a bit of a wash."
"I wouldn't go calling me by that name so carelessly, your highness", Bakura replied with a snarl in his voice. "When we're out in the open like this, anyone could hear us."
"Oh, please", Yugi drawled with displeasure. "Who would listen in to a couple of ordinary soldiers?"
"Anyone who might be suspicious of us, or even slightly curious", Bakura replied instantly. "Even someone simply passing by could hear us." The thief was silent for a while and Yugi thought that the other had said everything he was going to say. But then Bakura snapped heatedly: "Everyone's going to figure out you're royalty if you preen yourself like this!"
"I am not preening!" Yugi exclaimed indignantly. "I'm merely washing off all the grime and sweat. No one's going to think that's abnormal, right?"
"I wouldn't count on it…" Bakura growled and Yugi seethed. He was done with listening to Bakura complain about everything he did.
"Shut up and get in. I'm tired of your sweaty odour", Yugi said testily and glared at the albino, who blinked at him in surprise over his outburst. Finally, Bakura shrugged and started to remove his clothing. In the meanwhile Yugi busied himself with scrubbing at his arms that had turned a couple of shades darker from all the dust that clung to the skin.
Bakura moved into the water, his movements creating a continuous sloshing sound that told Yugi exactly how close the albino came to him. He did not come close at all, actually, and Yugi looked over to the taller teen to see him sinking into the water with a pleased half-smile. Apparently the thief had found a submerged rock to sit on.
"What are you guys doing?" a voice suddenly called and Yugi's head whirled around to the direction the voice had come from. The short prince saw Jono standing on the shoreline with his arms crossed and an eyebrow lifted in query.
"I'm getting washed up while Akefia complains about how feminine it is", Yugi replied brightly and Bakura scoffed from his perch on his rock.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to be clean", Jono said with a grin and Bakura released a disagreeing snort. "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all", Yugi piped pleasantly. He enjoyed Jono's company, even though Bakura was looking at the blond with suspicion. Yugi had by then learned to not pay attention to those looks. The only people Bakura did not give that look to were the ones he deemed too weak to be worthy opponents. So far Yugi himself had been the only one to not receive the look.
While Yugi had been observing Bakura's expression, Jono had managed to remove his clothes and come into the water. The splash caused by the blond dunking his head into the water was what alerted Yugi to this fact. It was strange how Jono could move so silently sometimes even though he seemed to lack grace most of the time.
Jono soon came back for air, brushing his now wet hair out of his face. The blond had a blissful look on his face as he murmured: "It feels so good to be clean again. I can't stand this place."
The statement had a tone to it that was odd to Yugi, but it was Bakura who actually commented on the matter, saying: "It makes me wonder where you're from when you put it like that."
Jono did not seem to be bothered by Bakura's question. That same content smile stayed on his lips as he replied: "I'm from a port, where rivers join to rush into the ocean. There's always plenty of water there."
"And I assume you don't really do bodily labour if you are so used to being clean", Bakura added and Yugi saw the dark eyes of his companion flash in a manner that told him that the albino was purposefully digging.
"Yeah", Jono answered, still not bothered by Bakura's prompting. "My father's pretty well off. He's a merchant."
"A curious thing that…" Bakura murmured as a pleased smirk came to his face. "It's not every day that I see a merchant's son that fights like a warrior and climbs like a traveller." Teeth flashed as Bakura's smirk threatened to turn into a grin. "Especially since you pretty much just told me that you haven't left that home port of yours and gotten dirty before."
"There aren't many soldiers around that far from the capital", Jono answered with a slightly tense tone. Apparently the blond had finally grown bored with Bakura's game. "Someone had to defend the business from robbers."
A disappointed huff followed from Bakura then and Yugi gave the albino an exasperated look as the tall teen spoke: "And here I thought that I had actually trapped you." He rubbed at his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Your story has no holes in it, impressive." The albino grinned. "Perhaps it's a bit too perfect of a story?"
A short silence followed as both Jono and Yugi gave Bakura disbelieving looks. In the end the thief ended up exploding into a fit of laughter that shook his whole body.
"Well played, Jono, I have to say I'm beaten", Bakura said after finally managing to stifle his laughter. "I was hoping you'd get flustered and embarrass yourself but this was fun too." The thief grinned at the blond. "I think I'm starting to like you, even if you're a sheltered honey cake."
Honey cake. That was certainly a new one to Yugi. He had never heard anyone call a merchant 'honey cake' before, but he supposed it made sense to Bakura. Even though Yugi did not know what kind of a thief Bakura was, Yugi suspected that he had robbed more than a few merchants during his career. And it even made sense for Jono to be from a wealthy family. Why else would the blond be as insistent as Yugi on being clean, not to mention that sense of self-worth he had. Yugi could not see Jono letting anyone walk over him and he suspected that the reason Jono had told Yugi that he was trouble referred to that same attitude.
"Well, don't expect me to like you back", Jono said to Bakura and gave the albino an impish grin, and the other gaped in astonishment for a moment before snapping: "You should feel honoured to have me tolerate your idiocy!"
"And that's exactly the reason why I couldn't care less!" Jono shouted back. "You're an ass!"
"Why you!" And with that Bakura leaped at Jono, who made no move to stop the advance. Instead, he allowed Bakura to jump on him and then rolled over so that it was Bakura who was submerged under his weight. Bakura flailed his arms and legs furiously, causing Jono to lose his balance and fall sideways into the water. Both teens came up for air at the same time and Yugi shot the two a worried look, wondering if he was supposed to interfere. But when the two had managed to get their hair out of their faces, Yugi saw that there was no need.
Both Bakura and Jono were grinning widely, clearly enjoying themselves.
Yugi released a put-on sigh that still held his relief in it. Those two were impossible.
"Rasui!" a voice, one that Yugi instantly recognized as Ryou's, called and the three males turned to watch the approaching healer. "I have some very grave news."
"What is it, Ryou?" Yugi asked, treading through the water to be closer to the other. Bakura and Jono followed a couple of metres after him.
"Lord Odji is trying to keep this squadron from seeing fight before the war is over", Ryou said and Yugi immediately had difficulties following what the healer was trying to say. The transfigured male questioned: "Who's Lord Odji?"
"Lord Odji is the noble who came with the prince to determine the battalion's readiness for battle. I suppose I could say that he and the prince are not on the best of terms", Ryou explained. "He told the prince that he will authorize us marching forward when you manage to reach the top of the wall."
"Me?" Yugi exclaimed in disbelief. "But I can't even reach halfway!"
"That's exactly the point", Bakura commented from Yugi's right, the words followed by Jono adding in: "Ryou did just say that the guy doesn't want us to go into battle."
"But why would he want to do that?" Yugi pressed, not grasping the noble's possible motivation. "Why would he stop us from reinforcing the front line?"
"A personal grudge with the prince, I suppose", Bakura stated and Yugi saw Ryou nod his head in agreement.
"Lord Odji wishes to place the prince in a bad light by not allowing him to participate in any battles", Ryou spoke and shot a glance to the direction he came from. "I should head back to my tent soon." The healer shot Bakura a hopeful look before focusing his gaze on Yugi again. "I was wondering if you could have Akefia or Jono train you, since they both reached the top and you're already familiar with them."
"Anything our beautiful and talented healer requests", Bakura crooned and smiled widely at Ryou as he dropped a hand on Yugi's shoulder. "Consider the squirt trained."
A blush had spread on Ryou's cheeks and his voice was slightly unsteady as he spoke quickly: "Beau-? Ah! Th-thank you." The healer gave them a smile. "I'll leave you three alone then." And then he turned around and hurried off.
As soon as Ryou was gone from sight, Yugi turned to look at Bakura and asked: "What was that all about?"
"My guess is that Akefia likes the fair healer a bit too much", Jono said with amusement and received a glare from Bakura in response, along with a snarled: "Shut up. At least I don't make eyes at that priest."
"'Make eyes'? What the heck?" Jono exclaimed in outrage. "I've never done anything that could even remotely be called that!"
"You seemed to get along with him well enough earlier this day", Bakura pointed out with a triumphant smirk at the blond. "You were looking at him in such an…adoring way." The white-haired male snickered. "It's kind of pathetic really."
"You're full of it", Jono snarled and Yugi fidgeted with his hands. The shortest member of the group knew to expect an upcoming fight. A fight seemed to always be about to break out when Bakura and Jono really got going.
"Stop bullying Jono, Akefia", Yugi spoke as sternly as he could, knowing that Bakura would only laugh at him if he showed any hesitation.
A scoff came from Bakura, followed by a grumble of: "You two both take offence way too easily." The albino stuck his tongue out in displeasure. "It ruins all my fun."
"And Jono", Yugi said as he turned to the blond in question. "You only encourage Akefia by reacting so strongly. You know he's just saying stuff to ruffle your feathers."
"Whatever", said Jono with a huff. "I'm getting out now, before I turn into a dried fruit treat." The blond made to climb out of the water.
"I'm still going to say this", Bakura said then, stopping Jono in his tracks. The blond turned around and glared at the white-haired male in warning. Yugi watched Bakura smirk once more before the thief spoke: "The priest was being exceptionally nice towards you. That you can't deny."
"So he's not as much of a bastard as he could be, big deal", Jono said with a careless shrug and walked to the shore. While Yugi released a strangled noise and covered his eyes, Bakura was not affected by the blond's displayed nudity and merely laughed at Yugi's awkwardness. The male was merciful enough to keep all comments to himself, though, and for that the prince was grateful.
"Are you two going to stay a while longer or are you ready to go back to camp?" Jono's voice asked then and Yugi dared to peek at the blond and was relieved to see that the other had covered up.
"We're coming", Yugi replied and gave Bakura a meaningful glance. The albino snorted and went to the shore first with Yugi coming after him.
"What's with Rasui?" Jono questioned when Bakura was finished clothing himself. The thief grinned and glanced back at Yugi, who yelped and held his clothes in front of his privates. Honestly, how was he supposed to get dressed with that big bully staring at him?
"He's being a girl", Bakura answered Jono's question and laughed at Yugi's indignant sputter. "He wants us to keep our backs to him while he changes."
The two did actually turn their backs to Yugi and allowed the prince to dress in privacy. After he was properly clothed, Yugi joined the other two males and they made their way back to the campsite. According to Bakura's promise to Ryou, Yugi would need the rest for the upcoming training.
To be continued…
Ending Notes: I was going to say something witty about initiation ceremonies but I can't come up with anything clever. I hope the chapter didn't seem like too much of a filler.
Also, I have put up a poll in my profile and I would appreciate if you people took a look at it. The purpose of the poll is to decide my next story when I'm done with this one. This story will probably keep going until this summer, though, so you guys don't have to worry about the ride ending all of a sudden.