Author's Note: This chapter went on inch by inch, word by word, paragraph by freakin' paragraph. Thing is, I knew exactly what I was going to say; I just couldn't word it right. It was so infuriating. So, this suffered several rewrites and such. Also, sorry about not updating last weekend. Busy and all that. ^^;
Read and enjoy!
(P.S. There are WAY too many transitions in this chapter. ^^; But I was really agitated by the short chapters I've been writing, so I wanted to fit more in. Sorry if it's choppy…)
Okay, now you can read.
Chapter 19
Akunumkanon didn't expect this. He really didn't.
"My Pharaoh, we have a slight problem."
The Pharaoh's brow crinkled. "Well, how 'slight' is it?"
The guard's face flushed. "Not slight enough to be described as slight."
Akunumkanon gave an exasperated sigh, rubbing his temple in a circular motion. He really didn't want to ask what the problem was, but he knew if he didn't ask, the guard would not supply the answer.
"What is the problem?"
-transition-
Seto was a little worried. Or perhaps "worried" wasn't the correct term. "Concerned" seemed more suitable. The reason being was that the Pharaoh had called him to his undisclosed chambers for an immediate private meeting. In the several years he had worked as High Priest, never once had he been called to a meeting by himself. He wasn't concerned for himself but rather Lady Yugi. She seemed to be the provider of both joy and problems lately. And, if this meeting was anything like he expected it to be, joy was soon going to be the farthest thing on everyone's minds.
"Priest Seto?"
Seto nodded, humming to himself as he did.
"Are you aware that the Thief King and several of his comrades are outside the palace?"
Seto expression suddenly morphed into panic. He had never been in this situation. Usually he was the one with the cool persona that knew next to everything. But suddenly the tables had shifted and he was on the opposite end of the spectrum.
"… Yes."
Akunumkanon looked like he was about to yell, but he maintained his composed expression as he deduced calmly, "And I suppose you thought this information was of no use to me?"
"Pharaoh, I can explain-"
"Go on ahead."
Seto's jaw snapped shut. He really hadn't expected the Pharaoh to let him give his side of the story. Now that he had, Seto was at a lost of how to explain his side or if he even had a side. Why hadn't he reported that to the Pharaoh anyway? He supposed he was a bit distracted from the new information when he took it upon himself to talk some sense into Lady Yugi about her ridiculous notion of surrendering… But one would think that kind of information wouldn't escape him so easily!
"Priest Seto?" Akunumkanon's tolerance was thinning. He was usually a very patient man who gave plenty of grace, but this was an especially important subject that needed a rapid answer.
"I… I don't have a reason for not telling you… My best speculation is that I just simply forgot…"
The Pharaoh absorbed this. Seto waited silently as he did so. Finally, he enlightened, "This information actually wouldn't be so urgent, but I was just informed that the people I sent for to attend Lady Yugi's meeting are being forced away from the palace walls by the Thief King and his followers."
Silence sliced between the two men.
"Priest S-"
"Let me take care of this."
And, with that, Seto turned around and marched out of the Pharaoh's chambers without further explanation, cursing Bakura under his breath.
The door slammed.
Akunumkanon leaned on his hand and muttered to himself, "This meeting better take place soon… Sometimes I suspect that everyone else is more aware of what happens in this kingdom than I am…"
-transition-
Yugi walked around the garden, her nimble feet teetering on the side of it. For unknown reasons, she didn't want to step in it. Some kind of invisible force was keeping her close to the palace entrance. The young woman counted her footsteps inside her mind as she strolled daintily.
One, two… Three, four…
Other footsteps neared, making Yugi sub-consciously count them as well.
Five, six, seven, eight… Nine, ten, eleven, twelve…
The person was about to intersect her. Was it coincidence or a purposeful encounter? For some reason, Yugi just kept walking, not fearing the person merging into her path.
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen… Seventeen eighteen, nineteen, tw-
Yugi's silent counting abruptly stopped as she ran into something that felt like a brick wall. She toppled to the ground, falling back with a startled yelp that sounded like it came from a baby deer.
"Lady Yugi-"
A hand pulled her back up, probably more roughly than necessary.
"- I didn't expect…" He trailed off awkwardly before starting back up. "What are you doing just walking around?"
It was Priest Seto. Yugi almost didn't recognize the voice at first. He sounded a little frazzled to be honest, his voice more shill than usual and wavering up a down wildly like a wild stallion trying to escape its corral.
Yugi completely ignored Seto's question. "You sound panicked, Priest Seto. Is everything all right?"
Ordinarily, Seto would have stressed the importance of answering his query, but for the time being, he forgot it completely. He cleared his throat to adjust his tone and dismissed, "I'm entirely fine. Entirely." Repeating himself gave himself away.
Yugi sighed. "What happened?"
Seto pinched the bridge of his nose and matched Yugi's sigh.
"I would explain but it's unnecessary at the moment…"
Yugi resented this but stayed quiet, knowing Seto would elaborate on this further if she gave it a few seconds. And she was right.
"… You wouldn't happen to know of any way to smuggle about ten people through the palace gates without the Thief King and his companions intercepting them, would you?"
This was about the last thing Yugi had expected Seto to ask.
But somehow… somehow… She did know a way! She could help! She could, in fact, be helpful in this situation!
"I actually do know a way…" Yugi's tone was far away, as if she wasn't too sure herself. She straightened her posture to appear more confident. "… Trust me, Priest Seto; I'll get those people inside. You have to do one thing for me."
"What's that?" Seto inquired, an eyebrow rising hesitantly. Why was it that Yugi had all the answers lately?
Yugi stated:
"I need you to distract Yami."
Seto shook his head. "Come again?"
"Remember, Priest Seto, this is a game. Just a game." A sweet smile traced Yugi's features. "And, in a game, rules can be bent in accordance to fairness. Tell me, do you think this game is fair?"
"Not in the least," Seto replied without hesitation.
"Which is why we're going to perform some evasive maneuvers and sly tricks to even up the score."
Seto's expression was borderline terrified as he observed aloud, "Lady Yugi… I've never seen you look so devious…"
Yugi shook her head to try to rid herself of the smile that had sneaked onto her face, but it didn't work and the smile remained. "Just promise me you'll distract Yami."
Seto sighed for the hundredth time that day. Wait. Was he actually considering going along with whatever Yugi had conjured up in that mind of hers? Not that he didn't think she had a good idea… But still!
"Well?" Yugi was impatient to begin her little plan.
Seto shook his head but reluctantly mumbled, "I don't know how you convince people to go along with you so easily, but fine… I'll do it. For how long?"
Yugi's smile expanded wider. "Hmm… I'd say about an hour."
Seto felt his eye twitch. "An hour? How in Ra's name am I going to distract your vicious brother for an hour?"
Yugi crossed her arms, pouting. "You were best friends once. I'm sure you'll think of something."
The priest gave Yugi a look. Though she couldn't see it, she most certainly sensed its cynical feel.
She bartered, "Fine, forty-five minutes. Is that any better?"
Seto debated this in his mind. But staring into Yugi's hopeful lilac eyes wasn't spurring his argument towards his favor.
"… All right. You win. I'll distract him."
Yugi nodded her approval. "Good. Now, go."
Seto rolled his azure eyes but complied, going off to find Yami. He just hoped doing so wouldn't land him in the lion's den… Yugi did the same and departed, off to go execute her idea.
The palace was no longer the palace. Instead, it was now the battlefield. And Yugi had just lifted her pawn up and placed it forward on the checkered black and white board, beginning her own assault.
Ready, Yami? Yugi thought, her mind's tone passionate and strong, I'm making the first move. I've assembled my resources, and you've assembled yours. It's my move first.
Yugi's stride quickened.
Let's duel.
-transition-
Yugi crept out the palace gates. As she did so, it occurred to her that she hadn't once stepped out of the palace since she had arrived. Whether it be by choice or habit, she had just never thought of doing so. It felt odd, Yugi thought, that then she was on the outside of the palace, and Yami was within.
It scared her, too, that she knew that no one knew where she was going, save herself. It was her own little secret, one to hold close and stroke for comfort if she'd ever have a numb moment, something to prove that she was still alive.
Yugi could almost hear Atem in the back of her mind, whispering that he was there as well. But, as true as that was, a person was not a secret unless kept so. And a delicious secret had a different taste, a different texture. It desired its own company, and yet it preferred silence. It was indecisive, like people in that sense.
The idea Yugi had ceased wouldn't be a secret forever- in fact, she was sure it wouldn't last another hour or so. But, until then, it was hers and hers alone. No one could tell her otherwise.
Yugi suddenly crotched down to the ground. It was her attempt at hiding. For all she knew, she could have been in plain sight! But she needed to feel the ground, touch the vibration of the living, breathing earth to prove that it was still there, a resource to her.
She placed her hand out on the dirt, her palm flat. Faintly, she felt voices. Yugi moved her head towards the ground, straining to her an exchange going on between two or more individuals.
"Move along," one said gruffly.
"But the Pharaoh! He-"
"Enough of the Pharaoh. You either move along, or you'll have the Thief King to answer to."
Ah, so it was true. The Thief King and his assembled and somewhat assorted group of bandits were driving people away and making sure they couldn't enter the palace. But then, where were all these turned-down people going? Surely they wouldn't give up that easy, right?
Yugi cocked her head the opposite direction, noticing that the wind was coming from that way. That meant the wind would carry sound. Sound… She strained to hear any form of sound…
"The Pharaoh knows the Thief King is keeping us out, of course?" a nervous voice jumped up above the other sounds.
"Indeed." Another asked rhetorically, "But what can he do?"
Though it was not meant to be answered, another man replied, "Who knows what goes on at the palace? I use to hear all kinds of gossip from it, but now it has been hushed. For what reason, Ra only knows."
Yugi moved stealthily towards these voices, simultaneously listening to them as she crawled closer.
"It's too bad, too. I don't think the Pharaoh realizes how much we could help him."
"Isn't that the entire point of why we were called to this meeting?"
"What is this meeting about anyway?"
Yugi stopped when her fingertips touched something of fabric. A tent. So, those who where turned away were now waiting it out in the tent. Interesting.
Yugi wanted to listen a bit more before entering, but something made her freeze completely.
Shadows. She could hear them.
Yes, she didn't feel them or sense them or anything f that nature. She could hear them. They sounded like whispering winds, and yet they rustled like fallen leaves from the trees. When Yugi turned in surprise, they jumped back, making an almost audible pop. Then the shadows slithered back to their origin, brushing the smallest grains of sand around them on the ground in a million different and undistinguishable ways, never to be discovered again.
"Who's there?" Yugi loathed how frightened her tone was.
"Atem-"
Yugi took a breath of relief.
"- How in the world did you hear me?"
Yugi told him, "The shadows- they have a sound."
"They do?" Atem's eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued. "I wasn't aware. That is good information to know."
"Atem, how and why did you follow me?" Yugi asked, her pride somewhat wounded.
Atem's mouth weaved upward into half a smile, and he answered simply, "Shouldn't I know where my fiancé goes off to when she doesn't tell me?"
Yugi was outmatched in this side duel. She knew she should have told him, so why didn't she?
Atem must have scanned Yugi's thoughts, because he mused aloud, "You were probably scared to tell me for fear that I would try to stop or at least delay your wild plans-"
Yugi held her breath.
"- But there's no need for that, because I'm behind any plans you may have, no matter how silly they may seem."
Yugi exhaled. Why had she been so scared? Atem would never turn down an idea of hers and keep her locked away. He had just said so himself! Was in just instinctive to keep things to herself because of Yami? Had he changed her habits with his own? These thoughts frightened her.
"Now," Atem's hand was suddenly under Yugi's chin, moving her void gaze up, "What are your plans, Yugi? Without doubt you've already come up with ones more brilliant than most of our court can comprehend."
Yugi's face waved in shades of light pink to deep red. She said quietly, "I'm not smarter than your court, Atem… You're just being ridiculous…"
"I resent the fact that you think so, Yugi. You're too smart for your own good, really." Atem leaned his face down closer to Yugi, the motion not escaping her senses. "Just promise not to do anything reckless without telling me first. I can't afford to lose you."
"I- I promise," Yugi tripped over your tongue in astonishment at Atem's words.
Atem slowly let go of Yugi's chin, and she began to miss it the instant his hand returned to his side. Atem went on to enlighten, "You gave yourself away when you sent Seto to do something or another… I couldn't get out of him what, so I knew you must have been the one to convince him to do that something."
Yugi laughed lightly as she imagined Atem trying to get information out of Seto of her whereabouts and plans.
"Your plan, Yugi, what was it?" Atem questioned, pulling Yugi out of her little daydream.
"Oh, yes-" Yugi took hold of Atem's arm, leading him closer to the tent of people. "- This way."
Atem mumbled a yes and followed. He wished so much that he didn't have to stay on task, at the matter at hand. He wanted nothing more than to hold Yugi and never let her go. But life doesn't always lean itself on a straight line, so Atem and his little Yugi would just have to dodge the assaults until things quieted down…
That is, if they ever did.
-transition-
Akunumkanon was listening to Isis as she retold one of her visions when Yugi, accompanied by Atem (naturally) and about a dozen of other people entered the courtroom.
"Lady Yugi… Who are these people?" Akunumkanon asked, for once, his expression lost.
"Are they friends of yours?" Isis inquired, looking over at the group who appeared very nervous.
Yugi giggled, holding her hand up to her mouth in an attempt to stifle it. Atem, on the other hand, just burst out laughing, not caring in the least if it was disrespectful.
"I'm confused…" Isis mumbled, looking at the floor awkwardly.
"Don't be," Atem dismissed, flicking his hand, "I was, too. You see, these are the people you invited to Yugi's meeting."
The Pharaoh's eyes grew very wide at this, leaning forward, nearly on the edge of his seat. He queried, "Karim, is that you?"
"Karim's" face flushed deep red as he mumbled, "Hello, Pharaoh, I am sorry to have to look like this… It was the only way we could get into the palace…"
"They're all wearing woman's clothing," Atem bluntly stated what everyone else was thinking.
Yes, the group of men were all in dresses and silks, lined with bells as numerous as if they were wind chimes. It was ridiculous and quite hilarious but indeed necessary to be let past Bakura's guards and gain entry into the palace.
Akunumkanon wouldn't dare laugh, but he was having trouble not and managed to stumbled through it by politely asking, "Yes… Karim… How- how was your expedition?"
"Fine, thank you," Karim stated flatly, his face still bright red.
The Pharaoh took a deep breath to cease the laughter that was beginning to bubble to the surface and decided aloud, "I suppose we should begin our meeting now."
"Yes." Karim grew even more cherry (if at all possible) and added, "Could we perhaps have a change of wardrobe first?"
"Most certainly," Isis intercepted, being as the Pharaoh was now hiding chuckles under his own hand and was unable to respond.
Karim muttered a thank you and shuffled out of the courtroom with his companions.
Akunumkanon regained his composer within a few moments and questioned, "Who in the world convinced that group to dress up in effeminate clothing in order to get past the Thief King?"
Atem merely pointed at Yugi, smirking.
The Pharaoh's eyebrows raised. "You, Lady Yugi?"
Yugi blushed lightly. "Yes, me," she confirmed then added, "But it wouldn't have been successful without Priest Seto. He took care of the hard part."
"Where is Priest Seto?" Isis wondered aloud, looking around as if he would magically appear once mentioned.
"Running an errand for me," Yugi answered, promising, "He'll be back in time for the meeting, I assure you."
Akunumkanon nodded and decided, "We'll carry out the meeting in a little while then, to wait for Priest Seto and the rest."
Those present nodded as well.
Isis wanted to rejoice in the fact that the young couple had won a small victory that day, but she couldn't. She was too distracted by the vision she had received and had been reciting to the Pharaoh. Because it wasn't one of the past-
It was one of the future.
Author's Note: For those of you who don't know, Karim isn't an OC. He's a character in the Ancient Egypt Arc. He just isn't mentioned much. But that's what FanFiction's for! XD
I just couldn't resist putting "Let's duel" in there. It was just screaming at me to throw it in, kay? *dodges chair thrown at me* Okay, it was bad, and I know it… Sigh.
Oh! I have some much news! Here's my attempt at trying to fit it all in one author's note… Ready? Go:
-I have a poll open for this story! No, I know exactly where the plot is headed. (Always have.) But I've gotten a lot of reviews about giving Yugi back her eyesight. I'll be honest and say that it was never part of the master plan, but I can fit it in if you'd all like that… I'm a bit apprehensive to do so, because it'll kind of take away some of the magic, but I CAN do it. The reason I didn't address it 'til now is because I didn't know if I could fit it into the plot I already laid out, but just the other day, I thought of a great way to fit it in! :D So, go vote! For myself, I'm really on the fence about it. There's good and bad to both ways, so I'm letting you decide! Don't let me down, guys!
-I have a Facebook page! Yes, just search anime-on-replay under pages and you'll find me! :) I'll be giving out spoilers and info about my stories, mainly this one because of its popularity. So, like the page please! :D
-I've reached two hundred reviews! Whoa, how the hell did that happen…? Seriously, I post a chapter, turn around for a second and a half, and TWO HUNDRED REVIEWS. Thank you, people! :3
Enough news! Thanks in advance, and please review. :)