Author's Note: Is it geeky to say that I had SO MUCH FUN constructing Ryou's character development? (Answers self: Yes.) Well I did.
Yes, Ryou's role in the story is revealed this chapter! :D
P.S. I forgot to tell you guys that I went back and named all my chapters. (Just because.)
P.P.S. … There are so many chapters; I've officially lost count. I had to go online to figure out what chapter I'm on…
P.P.P.S. I'm experimenting with Ryou just as I did with Yami, meaning that I'm taking one (or two) of Ryou's qualities that aren't usually depicted enough and am portraying them in a different light. I'll tell you what they are at the end of the chapter (incase you don't pick them up by then.)
Chapter 25
As Yugi, Atem, and Ryou walked back into the depths of the palace, the only sound being light footsteps. But after some time, Ryou must have grown tired of the silence, because he began to whistle a tune Yugi had never heard. Atem, however, seemed quite familiar with it and began to hum along. Though Yugi did not know where the song originated, she enjoyed the beat and began stepping in sync to it. Before long, stepping turned to dancing, and she twirled along the hallway beside Atem and Ryou who kept the melody up and alive.
And that is how they entered the Pharaoh's chambers.
"My, you three are a most strange sight," Mahad teased as those present in the room turned their heads to watch them come in. "The Prince, his fiancé, and a white-haired angel, all singing and dancing into the room."
Yugi and Atem stopped and reddened at this comment, but Ryou went on whistling, not fazed in the least as he walked slowly in a circle in sync to his own tune.
Isis suddenly dashed forward and embraced Yugi. She had not spoke, so Yugi tensed under it, unsure who was hugging her. After a few lingering seconds though, Isis released and took a knee to the floor, pleading, "Forgive me, Lady Yugi, but I am just so happy you are safe."
Yugi smiled meekly, (mostly just ecstatic she recognized the voice.) She replied, "You shouldn't have worried, Isis. An angel came down from heaven and guided me out of danger."
At this, Ryou abruptly stopped whistling and pointed at himself, asking innocently, "You can't be referring to me, can you?" Yugi nodded. He rubbed the back of his neck with embarrassment and laughed nervously. "I'm no angel; I can assure you," he tried to convince her.
"But you are, Lord Ryou," Yugi insisted.
"Did you say 'Ryou?'" Akunumkanon questioned, rising from his seat.
"Pharaoh-" Ryou bent his head towards Atem's father. "-I apologize for not sending a letter ahead of me to warn you of my pending arrival."
The Pharaoh dismissed this by shaking his head. He placed a hand on his chin as he examined Ryou from a distance. "By the gods… I haven't seen you in… How many years?"
"Ten, my Pharaoh, almost to the day," Ryou provided. "I was twelve when I embarked on my mission."
Mission…?
The Pharaoh continued to eye the young white-haired man. "You don't look much older, Ryou…" he admitted with a teasing smirk.
"And not on accident." Ryou chuckled. "It helped me keep my cover."
Cover…?
Perplexed by this, Yugi inquired, "Lord Ryou, you've been away from the palace for ten years? Where have you been all this time?"
"Alexandria," Ryou answered easily.
"Oh, so you're a scholar?" Yugi guessed.
"Well, that was my cover, yes."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Lady Yugi," Akunumkanon picked up, "Ryou is our most elite spy." Ryou smiled mischievously at this.
Yugi shook her head, unconvinced. "No, he's an angel. He saved me. No one can be an angel and a spy; that's counterintuitive."
Ryou laughed. "Lots of things about me are counterintuitive. And, by your logic, since I am, indeed, a spy, then I must not be an angel."
"It is true, Yugi." Atem added, "Ryou is my friend just as much as he's my father's most trusted spy."
"I don't understand…" Yugi mumbled, narrowing her eyes at Ryou's angelic face, thinking that maybe her new eyesight had gone awry.
"Allow me to explain," Ryou implored. After a nod from the Pharaoh, he began.
-transition-
Ryou, age seven, swung his legs back and forth as he waited outside the Pharaoh's chambers. He was not allowed inside- but his guardian was. His "guardian" had found Ryou in the rubble of a pillaged village, compliments of the Thief King. The child was the only recovered survivor.
Ryou listened quietly through the wall as two men conversed.
"I can't take care of him, Pharaoh. Should we leave him with the priests or in an orphanage?"
"No, Akhenaden, he deserves a proper upbringing after his suffering."
"Then, may I suggest perhaps giving him a home in the palace?"
A pause. "Elaborate."
"He seems to be a very well-mannered child. He was very compliant when we took him from his home village and brought him back to the palace. Perhaps he'd make a good servant."
A second pause. "No, but that gives me an idea. Very well. He can stay here. Please send him in."
"But, Pharaoh, he hasn't—"
"I know he's been silent since you found him. But I am convinced he will find his tongue when I talk to him."
"Yes, my Pharaoh."
A moment later, Akhenaden stepped out of the chambers and set his gaze on Ryou. The white-haired boy's eyes lowered. The man mumbled, "You're a lucky one, homeless kitten. He wants to adopt you." Ryou gave a silent gasp but didn't move an inch. "The Pharaoh doesn't take no for an answer I'm afraid." Akhenaden lifted Ryou up and pushed him through the door, closing it behind the child.
"Hello," Akunumkanon greeted, his tone significantly gentler than when he was talking to Akhenaden. "Step forward."
Ryou did, but it was hesitant. He was overwhelmed at the man before him.
"On behalf of Egypt, I apologize for what had befallen upon your village. Do you remember what happened?"
Ryou nodded.
"So, you do realize everyone besides you is no longer with us?"
Another nod.
The Pharaoh gave a hollow smile. "I'd like you to stay here and be a friend to my son. Do you agree to this?"
A moment of thought, then a third nod.
"But I have a condition." Akunumkanon was slightly amused when he saw the boy's eyes widen. "There's no need to worry. My only condition is that you need to speak again. Do this, and you can stay."
Ryou looked surprised, but his lips began to move slowly, waiting for his voice to join them.
"Ph…" His voice was soft and scratchy at the same time. It was obvious it hadn't been used properly in some time, but it was still there, lying dormant in his chest. "Phar…"
Akunumkanon stayed quiet, having no need to quicken the boy's progress.
"Pharaoh," he finally released from his lips. As soon as he was assured his voice was still alive, he stated quietly but firmly, "I am Ryou. I thank you for your kindness, my King. I will serve you well."
-transition-
Once again, age twelve, Ryou found himself in the Pharaoh's chambers, standing before said man.
"You called for me, Pharaoh?" Ryou asked softly. He had proved to be a very lighthearted boy as he grew more comfortable with the palace being his home, but all spirit fled from him as he searched for cracks in the stone wall behind the Pharaoh as Akunumkanon analyzed his face.
"Yes, I did." The Pharaoh gave a reassuring smile. "Calm down, Ryou. You're not in any trouble."
Ryou physically took a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing.
Akunumkanon transitioned, "But I did call you here for something rather important."
"What is it?"
The Pharaoh smiled and asked nonchalantly, "Mahad has been training you, correct?"
"Everyday," Ryou confirmed. "For what, I am unsure. I mean no disrespect, but am I supposed to remain oblivious?"
Akunumkanon nodded slowly. "It was intended that you be kept in the dark until now." The man's eyebrows gently furrowed. "And, as good as a job you are doing here by being a friend to my son, I have a different task for you at this time." Ryou didn't intercept, waiting for the Pharaoh to elaborate. After a pause, he did. "Are you familiar with Alexandria, Ryou?"
"Yes, Isis has been teaching me. She says it's a port city at the edge of Egypt where the Nile ends."
"That's right. Do you know how far away it is?"
"A long way," Ryou answered matter-of-factly.
"A very long way," the Pharaoh stressed. "There's some territorial tension there that I cannot survey from here. I doubt it will turn into anything unless someone acts on it, but I need someone to travel up to Alexandria and live there as a classified spy. They will send me intelligence on commerce and civilians." Ryou was frozen, waiting for the impact of the conversation to make contact. "The person I have chosen is you."
After what seemed like an eternity, Ryou squeaked, "I have to… leave?"
"Of course, you won't go alone. Your guardian, Akhenaden will accompany you. But you will be the chief of this operation," Akunumkanon attempted to reassure him. It didn't seem to work, as Ryou was shaking in his place. "Ryou, if you're not ready for this—"
"Pharaoh, you misunderstand," Ryou intervened. "I will accept this assignment."
"You will?" The man looked genuinely shocked.
Ryou, his shaking subsided, extended his stance determinedly. "Yes, I will. I am honored that you would trust me with such an important task."
"You shouldn't be surprised, Ryou." The Pharaoh admitted, "There is only a handful of people in existence that I would trust my life to. And you are one of them. I trust you completely."
Ryou's chocolate brown eyes widened, but he bowed his head. "You will not regret putting your trust in me."
"Good." Akunumkanon concluded the council with, "Now, please go give my son a proper good-bye. I know you two have grown close over the years."
Ryou nodded.
-transition-
"Ryou!"
"Wh—"
Ryou was tackled to the ground, and the scrolls and boxes of even more scrolls he had been carrying spilt onto the stone floor.
Atem laughed, and although Ryou wanted to be mad at the little Prince, Ryou laughed, too.
"Oh…" Atem finally took notice of all the articles he had unintentionally pushed out of Ryou's hands. "I didn't mean to… Let me help."
"No, Prince Atem, there's no need." Ryou gave him a small smile.
Atem either didn't hear this or simply ignored it, because he had began to gather up everything. He named things off as he deposited them into Ryou's arms: "Maps… Common hieroglyphics… Royal hieroglyphics… Lists of names… Lists of cities…" Atem looked up at his white-haired friend, blinking. "You going on an expedition?" he questioned unknowingly with a sly smirk.
"Kind of…" Ryou confessed quietly.
"Is that so?" Atem hummed, still convinced Ryou was joking. "How long?"
"A long time," Ryou coughed.
Atem's crimson eyes burrowed into Ryou's auburn ones, searching for hints.
"Pardon?"
"The Pharaoh- er, your father- he's sending me on a mission of sorts."
Atem abruptly stood up, clenching his little fists. "He can't do that! You've lived here practically your whole life! I'll- I'll go talk to him…"
"No, Prince Atem, please-!" Ryou clasped Atem's hand. "I want to do this to thank the Pharaoh for giving me a home here." His eyes shined with unshed tears. "Please don't stop him. I'll send you a letter every week! Just- just- please?"
Atem closed his eyes, a vain attempt at stopping his own tears from venturing out. His eyes still hidden, he whispered, "You promise? A letter every week?"
"Without delay!" Ryou promised, nodding frantically.
Atem finally opened his eyes again, all tears banished. "I'll miss you."
"The feeling is doubled!" Ryou exclaimed, his voice cracking.
Atem gave a sad smile and pulled Ryou into a hug, the white-haired boy's cascading tears beginning to cease as he took in a shallow breath.
-transition-
"That's so… so… emotional!" Mana took a part of Mahad's cloak and blew her nose into it loudly. Mahad looked disgusted for moment but simply rolled his eyes with a sigh.
Yugi turned o Atem and inquired, "And? Did Ryou send you a letter every week?"
"Without delay," Atem confirmed, using the same wording as Ryou had years before.
The Pharaoh cut in, "Ryou, I am more than thrilled to see you back at the palace, but I don't recall summoning you…"
"That's correct; you didn't." Ryou's expression grew serious, which didn't seem to belong on such a happy-go-lucky person's face. "I'm here to inform you that Item Bearer and mentor of mine, Akhenaden is no longer with us."
The room took on an uneasy feel.
"I felt it wasn't something that I could express over missive," Ryou added.
"I'm sorry your returning had to come about from such a sad occasion," Isis commented.
Ryou simply nodded.
"Was the Eye recovered?" Mahad asked almost too calmly for anyone register.
Ryou simply dug into his pocket and let his fingers curl over something. He took out a golden sphere and tossed it to Mahad, who caught it with ease. There was a mutual nod between them that seemed very business-like before any new subjects arose.
"Well, Ryou, nonetheless, we are very happy to see that you are back," Akunumkanon transitioned.
"Very happy." Atem elbowed the spy mischievously.
"Thank you." Ryou chuckled. "Now, if I may, I'd like to bring up a new subject."
"Go ahead," the Pharaoh permitted.
"All right…" Ryou cleared his throat, his expression unreadable. "Why were there two Prince Atem's when I came in?"
Author's Note: Ryou's characteristics I'm focusing on: His intelligence and happy-go-lucky-ness. (If that's a word.)
Time for a geography lesson with Miss anime-on-replay. *tiny me pops up*
http:/ homepage. powerup. / ~ancient/ map1. gif (take out spaces)
^^ Above is a link to a map of ancient Egypt. Notice: Valley of the Kings *points at the middle of the map* is here. And also notice: Alexandria *hand moves up to the top of the map just below the Mediterranean Sea* is waaaaaaaaaaay up here. Long story short, you can see the Pharaoh's dilemma.
On a different note, I can finally spell "Akunumkanon" without copy and pasting it! (Only took twenty-five chapters!)
All right, that's it for now. I'm so happy I decided to insert Ryou into this mess. XD
Please review.