Author's Note: I've been procrastinating so much on this… ^^'
Hmm… Just when I think you guys couldn't get any cooler… BAM! You release a review tornado on me. Honestly, I didn't think I'd get that much feedback… YOU HAVE EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS! :D
Quick Note: I made a typo last chapter. (I fixed it.) But, Yugi and Isis are going to take a walk in the courtyard, not the courtroom. Yeah, ya need to know that…
I love this chapter with all my heart and know you will, too!
And, without any further delay, I present to you Chapter Three!
Chapter 3
"Isis?" Yugi inquired, her silvery gaze resting on the sky above where clouds she did not detect floated aimlessly.
"Yes, Lady Yugi?" Isis hummed with a pleasant smile, content to walk in the courtyard on a beautiful day.
Yugi self-consciously pulled at her blonde bangs, a sign that she was nervous, and asked quietly, "Do you have a brother?"
Isis immediately halted her leisurely gait, taken aback by the randomness of the question. Yugi sensed this and stopped walking herself, waiting patiently for Isis' reply.
"I-" Isis' lip quivered, "- I do have a brother. In fact… I have two."
"What are they like?" Yugi wondered aloud. Her eyes, although devoid of vision, were filled with genuine interest.
Absent-mindly, Isis placed her right hand on her Millennium Necklace and stroked it with her thumb. She hummed for a moment before finally answering, "Well, I have an older brother who is an Item Bearer just as myself-"
"'Item Bearer'?" Yugi echoed. She had never heard the term before.
Isis nodded and explained, "An Item Bearer is one who wields one of the seven mystical Millennium Items."
"I've… I've never heard of these items…" Yugi's voice felt far away to her. It was times such as this that she felt absolutely without any real knowledge of the world.
This struck notice in Isis. If Lady Yugi was from a wealthy family, (wealthy enough to be offered to the Prince), she should have received a formal education. How was she uninformed of the Millennium Items?
Before Isis could interrogate Yugi about this, the blind girl shifted the subject back, asking, "And, what of your other brother?"
"My other brother…" Isis trailed off as she thought. Finally, she informed her, "My other brother is younger than I. He is… considered a disgrace to our family."
Yugi's head instantly lifted. She questioned, "Why? What has he done?"
Isis swallowed then continued in a whisper, "At a young age, he started thieving. We didn't know why. As time went on, it became apparent that he was dangerous and my father disowned him. I don't know where he is now… Rumor has it that he has partnered up with the notorious Thief King."
Thief King? Millennium Items? It was all foreign to Yugi. But, she nodded as if she understood, not wanting to bring up any more painful subjects.
"What about you?" Isis inquired as she began walking again, "You are the one who brought up the topic. What of your brother?"
Yugi's eyes widened. She resumed her previous pace alongside Isis and asked, "How did you know I had a brother?"
Isis laughed briefly and stated, "You announced it yesterday in the courtroom."
"You were there?" Yugi felt her face raise a few degrees. How many people had been present to watch you be dragged into the courtroom?
"Yes," Isis answered and urged, "Tell me of your brother."
Yugi was suddenly inundated with memories of her brother. She felt a headache coming on and stopped in her tracks, caressing her cheek in her palm. A shiver escaped her.
"Are you all right?" Isis asked, seeing the distress in Yugi's expression.
Slowly, she nodded.
"Should I call for a doctor?"
"It is not something that can be cured by medicine," Yugi simply stated, "Only time and closure can heal my specific wound."
"What do you mean-"
"I mean nothing," Yugi shook her head to compose her thoughts. She pleaded, "Please disregard this."
"… All right," Isis reluctantly agreed, comforted by the fact that color was once again returning to young Yugi's face. But, she silently promised never to raise the subject again unless necessary.
"Lady Yugi! Isis!"
Both Yugi and Isis turned their heads to the side as their names rang through the air.
It was Prince Atem.
"Who is it?" Yugi questioned Isis. The voice was too far away to distinguish.
Isis almost answered, "The Prince" but then remembered what Atem had told her and notified, "Atemu."
Yugi nodded, a comfortable smile resting on her lips.
Atem finally reached Isis and Yugi. He was exhausted from sprinting and stopped a few feet in front of them, leaned over and panting to catch his breath.
"What's wrong, Atemu?" Yugi smirked and teased, "Too much exercise for you?"
"No…" Atem immediately retorted, wiping some sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand as he quipped, "Just seeing your beauty takes my breath away."
Yugi took in a shallow breath, awestruck. Had she heard correctly?
Isis had to sustain a giggle. Yugi's cheeks had unwillingly accepted a lovely shade of pink.
The blind girl suddenly felt at a loss for words and stuttered, "That was a- a bit bold, Atemu…"
"Bold in a good way or a bad way?" Atem wondered aloud, a worried expression escaping onto his features.
Atem didn't receive an answer. Yugi was collecting too many thoughts at the moment to pick one that fit comfortably to her lips.
Instead, Isis stated, "I think I have a meeting with the other Item Bearers…" Oh, she was a terrible liar. She could see a somewhat mocking glow on Atem and Yugi's face that read that they didn't believe her hasty lie in the least. But, she persisted, saying, "Atemu, guide Yugi back to her chambers when she wishes to return back for rest."
"Okay," Atem answered, a smile returning to him. He watched Isis leave and turned to Yugi when the priestess was out of earshot, alerting, "If you want to go back now, you most certainly can. Don't feel obligated to stay with me. I don't mind if you want to go and rest…" But, his tone said otherwise.
"No- no!" Yugi waved her hands pleadingly in front of her as she stumbled, "Really, I- I'm fine!" Suddenly, she was more composed and told him in a steadier voice, "Actually, I have a favor to ask you."
"A favor?" Atem repeated then replied, "Of course. What is it?"
Yugi tilted her misty gaze at the courtyard ground and whispered, "I'd like to be able to find my way around the palace myself if I am to stay here a while. Could you teach me how to navigate through it?"
"Sure," Atem responded automatically. He grasped her hand and led her in, what seemed to Yugi, a random direction. He said softly, "This way." He guided her through the courtyard area and into the garden across from it. Halfway into the garden, Atem spotted the bench he was looking for and gently pushed down on Yugi's shoulder, signaling her to sit down. "Wait here, okay?" But, he didn't wait for an answer and ran off, his footsteps fading in a matter of seconds.
Yugi leaned back on the bench and almost fell, realizing just in time that the bench had no back to it. Under her hands, she felt that the bench was smooth, cool marble; although, it wasn't freezing as one would guess, being that it was warmed in the Egyptian sun that day. But, it began to cool down in the presence of Yugi's shadow being cast over it.
The girl looked up and concentrated. She was attempting to guess where the sun was to estimate what time it was. From the heat mostly resting on her tri-colored hair, Yugi predicted that the sun was at its apex, being that it was about noon. Although, when being without sight, it wasn't a very exact approximation. Nonetheless, it was an good educated guess.
"I'm back!"
Yugi jumped. She sensed 'Atemu' approach and sit down on the same bench as her, leaving a small gap of room between them. Yugi thought this to be out of respect but no; it was serving another purpose.
She heard him dropping miscellaneous items in the opening between them. Some of the objects made small clangs, either made out of rock or metal. Others made little to no sound at all, most likely made of wood.
Atem placed his hands on the bench and began rearranging the pieces. "Hold on…" he whispered, obviously deep in thought about whatever he was creating.
Yugi listened with great interest, wondering what in the world he was doing.
"… And… done," Atem finished, wiping some moisture off his neck.
"What is it?" Yugi inquired, her curiosity piquing.
Atem smiled and informed, "It's a map of the palace."
Yugi smiled, but it seemed melancholy. She reminded quietly, "I'm blind, Atemu, remember? I can't see your map."
Atem chuckled and explained, "That's why I made it like this." Before Yugi could question, Atem grasped both of her hands, receiving a surprised yelp from her. He guided her hands down to the objects he had assorted and led them around the perimeter of the map of palace, which he had marked with small, connected branches. "This is the outer wall of the palace," he stated.
Yugi stared off into space as she attempted to imagine it, engaging deeply on the shape of the palace. It was not a perfect rectangle as she thought. In fact, it felt as if it was two long, thin rectangles connected to a large square.
As if reading her mind, Atem described, "The entrance is at the large part in the front of the palace. The two smaller areas are corridors and chambers." He then led her hands through the map's palace entrance and informed, "Now, you're inside the palace. There's a long, outdoor strip that leads into the courtroom…" He gently tugged her right hand up into the courtroom that he had lined with more twigs.
Yugi gasped when her fingers touched rough rock. "What is that?" she asked.
"It's a stone I placed in the area to signify the courtroom," he brushed her hand against it, questioning, "Feel how rough and jagged it is?"
Yugi nodded, fascinated.
"Now, remember that…" Atem brought her hand back out of the courtroom area and back into the outside quarter before it. He drew her left hand to the side and announced, "This is the courtyard, where we just were…" He slid Yugi's right hand to the opposite side and added, "And, this is the outdoor garden, where we are now."
Both places had other stones, different in physique to signify the different spaces.
"And…" he led Yugi's hand back through the courtyard, (left), and explained, "This is the hallway that leads to your rooms. He placed her hand in the space of her chambers, a smooth, slippery stone in it, deeming it to be her quarters. "Off to the side is the kitchen and dining area. You only need to go there for one meal a day, dinner. And, over here is…"
The rest of it was a blur. Yugi could only focus on the warm hands holding hers and strong voice leading her. She felt a subtle blush growing on her face but banished it away.
"… So, those are all the rooms you need to know. Do you understand?"
"Uh…" Yugi gulped and said unconvincingly, "I think so."
Atem smiled brightly and released her hands, saying, "We can go over it again tomorrow, okay?"
Yugi missed his statement, dwelling on the fact that her hands felt so empty without his. But, sensing the silence droning on as he waiting for her response, she nodded.
"Good," Atem stood up and asked, "Would you like to go back to your rooms now?"
In all honesty, she didn't. Yugi wanted to stay in the garden and listen to 'Atemu's' voice all day. But, if she told him that, he'd have to stay with her, and she was sure he had better things to do than babysit a blind girl. So, reluctantly, she whispered yes.
Atem was heartbroken for a moment then suddenly received an idea and suggested, "How about we make this a test and see if you can make it back to your room all by yourself."
"You're going to leave me by myself?" Yugi asked, frightened.
"No, of course not," Atem chuckled lightly and explained, "You're going to guide yourself back to your room. I'll be right behind you."
"Oh…" Yugi stood up as well and nibbled on her lower lip nervously.
"Here…" Yugi suddenly felt 'Atemu's' hands place themselves on her shoulders. He turned her to the side gently, mumbling, "… I'll put you in the right direction."
Yugi nodded and gazed ahead at what was claimed to be the right direction. She didn't think she could do it. She was never allowed to roam without a guide or escort before.
She turned her head to Atem and questioned, "Are you sure the Prince would allow this?"
Atem secretly smirked, stating confidently, "Oh, he'd be fine with this."
"Okay…" Yugi turned back. She just needed to take her first step. Then, the rest would just fall into place. Yes, one step and she'd be off and-
Yugi tripped on a rock.
Atem facepalmed. Then, he remembered that she might be hurt."Are you all right, Lady Yugi?" The Prince took her hands and pulled up back up.
Yugi blushed furiously and muttered, "I'm fine."
"Okay," Atem gave up a small push forward, ordering softly, "Now start."
Before Yugi started her trek, she thought about 'Atemu'. He was barely treating her like a blind person, let alone a blind girl. Had he forgotten?
Yugi took her real first step, this time, not stumbling into the dirt. She remembered what 'Atemu' had taught her and began slowly walking left, out of the garden. Atem followed her like a shadow, being careful this time around to be alert for objects in Yugi's path.
"We're entering the outdoor path to the courtroom, correct?"
"Yes," Atem answered, beaming as he thought what good of a teacher he was.
Yugi walked through the courtyard and inside to the hallway that led to her chamber. She stopped directly in front of the entrance to her rooms, too fearful that she failed to ask if she had made it or not.
"You did it."
"What?"
"I said, you did it."
Yugi touched the doorframe of the room in front of her and whispered, unbelieving, "You mean, I actually found my way to my room… by myself?"
Atem nodded, "Yes."
Yugi felt tears begin to prick the sides of her eyes. She had never gone anywhere by herself. It was a beautiful thing to be able to do so.
She wiped the unshed tears off her eyes and murmured softly, "Thank you. I must go now." With that, she disappeared into her room.
"Lady Yugi, I-" But, Atem saw the moisture in her eyes as she turned and stopped in mid-sentence.
Had he done something wrong?
Author's Note: Oh, goodness, we're off to a confusing start, aren't we, Yugi and Atem? Oh well, more fun for me! (and my readers!)
That earn a review by any chance?