Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Keeper Of The Crown ❯ A Slave To Love ( Chapter 8 )

Keeper of the Crown

Chapter Eight: A Slave to Love

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The sound of metal doors banging shut made Yami quickly regain consciousness. Opening his eyes slowly, he the first thing he noticed was that it was pitch black. Shaking his head, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. When they didn't, he tried standing.

"What the...?"

Keeping him on the ground were four chains, each clasped to both his legs and his arms. "Is this real?" He touched the metal, confirming that it was really there. "Where am I?" he wondered, looking around. It wasn't too dark anymore, and he could faintly make out the steal bars of a dungeon cell surrounding him. "How did I...get in here? Where's Teana?"

The door to the dungeon opened with a bang and in walked someone that Yami couldn't see. He could tell it was a man, just by how heavy the person's footsteps sounded. The bars around his cell were suddenly opened and a torch was lit. Yami's crimson orbs widened in shock at who stood in front of him.

It was the Pharaoh of Egypt!

And he did not look happy.

"Ph-Pharaoh!" The teenager bowed his head respectfully, receiving a snort from the country's great ruler. "Pharaoh," he whispered, knowing he probably shouldn't be speaking at a time like this. Especially if he really was in the Palace dungeon. But he wanted to know some answers. "What am I doing here?"

Akunamukanon glared down at the spiky haired boy. This teenager was asking why he was in prison. "If you do not consider it a crime to sexually assault my daughter, I certainly do. A crime that, mark my words, will not go unpunished." With that, he left the cell.

Yami blinked, staring at his manacled hands. 'Sexually assaulting the Princess? What...?' Looking back up in time to see the Pharaoh exit the dungeons, he frowned. "I...don't understand. How did this happen? Why-why does the Pharaoh think that I sexually assaulted his daughter? I don't even know his daughter! Well, I did see her once a few years ago but-" he stopped, eyes widening as a sudden thought came to him.

The Princess he recalled seeing had an uncanny resemblance to Teana. He had remembered thinking that to himself the day he saved her from those drunken men.

"Yami...I...I'm not exactly...who you think I am..." she began slowly.

Yami gasped. Was that what she had meant? `Of course that's what she meant. "I'm not who exactly who you think I am." What else could it mean?! Teana is Princess Anzu! I should have known sooner. God, I'm such an idiot!

"No wonder I'm in this dungeon. Someone probably saw us together."

Someone started laughing in the cell next to his. The tri haired teen looked over to the right and, through the dim lighting of the dungeon, could barely make out a male figure. There was a scuffling noise as the person came closer to the cell bars.

"How come you aren't chained?" Yami asked bitterly, seeing the man's free wrist holding onto the metal bar.

The man's face came more into view. Much to the peasant's surprise, he wasn't grungy and horribly looking. He was rather young and handsome with long blonde hair and soft lavender eyes. "Name's Malik," he greeted with a smirk. "Malik Ishtar. And the reason I'm not in chains is because I never committed any crime. And Pharaoh knows that."

The crimson eyed boy snorted. "Then why are you in the palace dungeon if you did nothing wrong?"

"Because," Malik replied, grimacing, "My brother, Mariku Ishtar, is partner of the Thief King. Pharaoh believes me, since I am Mariku's kin, to be helping the Thieves - which I am not. My father used to be second-in-command to the old Thief King. Because of that, he engraved this into my back," Malik paused and turned, showing Yami the carvings. "I ran away after my mother was killed and came to this village. When Mariku took my father's place as second-in-command, he decided to rob a village not too far from the capital. Pharaoh found out I was his relative and captured me - even though my record was clean."

Yami nodded. "I'm sorry. That seems pretty unfair."

"You got that right. So I heard you're in here for raping the Princess. Why'd you do that?"

"I didn't," the shorter answered defensively. "I never touched her in any disgraceful way. I...I did kiss her, but only because I thought she was someone else. She...she had lied to me and told me she was just a commoner. I thought, you know, it would be okay to kiss her. And she kissed me back, so I continued to think there was no harm in it. Then she left so suddenly. And next thing I knew, I was in here."

Malik smirked. "You honestly don't know why you're in here though?"

"No. I mean, no one except me and my friends know where my house is. It's pretty secluded. And I don't think she would have told anyone. I just don't know what to think."

The blonde nodded knowingly. "There's talk `round the village. Before I was arrested, I heard from Mariku that the Thief King Bakura had an affair with the Princess Teana. When Teana fell in love with another man, he killed her in a Shadow Game." Yami gasped. "Yeah. I heard that Teana and Anzu, the other Princess, look almost identical...so Mariku said Bakura had his eyes on her as well."

Yami sat staring at the floor for a few minutes. He raised a hand to his chin. "But Bakura's my friend."

Malik burst out into laughter. "Bakura doesn't know the meaning of the word friend. He's a sadistic bastard. I'm betting it was he who turned you in. If you're saying only your friends know where you live, maybe he spotted you with the Princess. He probably thought the best way to get you out of the picture was to have you arrested."

"You think he'd frame me?"

The purple eyed teen nodded. "I used to live with these type people. I know he'd frame you. Why would he care about friendship? As long as he gets what he wants, he'll be happy. That's what kind of people thieves are. That's how my father was, that's how my brother is, and that's how Bakura, especially if he's the King of Thieves, definitely is."

Yami bit his lip, trembling slightly in anger. He couldn't believe it! He had trusted Bakura! And Bakura had stabbed him in the back and taken the person who he had fallen in love with. `But did I fall in love with her...or the person she pretended to be?' he wondered. `She lied to me about her name. Could she have been lying about her personality too?'

"Yami...I really love you and I never wanted to hurt you but..."

`Was she telling the truth? Can I believe that she really loved me and that she didn't want to hurt my feelings by telling me the truth?' He shook his head. `That isn't important now. If Bakura has her, whether she was telling the truth to me or not, I have to get her back. If Bakura hurts her, I could never forgive myself.' He turned to Malik. "How long have you been in here?" he questioned.

Malik shrugged his shoulders. "Eh...about a three months," he responded with a shrug. "Why?"

"Because...I wanted to see if you know this place well enough to get us out of here."

The blonde grinned widely. "Heh, an escape plan? Well I never tried one, but after watching these goons that guard the entrance and exits, I figure it'd be pretty easy to get out. Give me two days and I'll have us a way out of here."

Yami smiled. "Great!" He stopped, frowning. "You're not going to want something out of this are you?" he asked after a moment.

Lavender eyes glinted. "I was hoping..." he began, licking his lips. "I want to get rid of Mariku for landing me in there. I'm guessing you want revenge on Bakura for doing this to you and for taking Anzu. What do you say?" he held his hand out, sliding it through the bars and into the opposite cell. "Partners? Together, you and I can get rid of Bakura and Mariku. We'll be heroes...and you'll get your lady!"

The tri haired teenager smiled. "I have to admire your courage, Malik. Though, I can't really extend my hand that far to shake yours, I agree. Let's get out of here and get our revenge!"

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"So these people actually obey you?"

Bakura smirked, taking a bite of an apple. He nodded at Anzu's question. "Well they sure as hell don't obey your father."

Anzu scowled. "I have a question."

"Hmm?" The Thief King threw the core of his eaten apple in the sand, kicking dirt over it so it would be covered.

"What do you have against my father? Heck, you have something against all royals, it seems. So why? What makes you hate us all so much?"

Bakura snarled and grabbed the Princess by the collar of her thin dress. It tore a little bit but he made not effort to release her or even loosen his grip. "That is a matter of my past...something we in the Thieves' Quarters are forbidden to discuss. So that includes you. Don't mention it again!" Blinking, he laughed. "Oh, where are my manners?" Placing Anzu back on her feet he gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Wouldn't want to cause my lover pain."

The brunette shook her head, blushing slightly by the kiss. Bakura started to walk away and she stared after him, cheeks still red. `Oh! What am I doing staring at him like that? He's my captor! He's a cold hearted jerk and I hate him! I shouldn't be thinking anything romantic about him...'

She held a hand to where he had kissed her. `But still...he has sweet moments like this. Any girl would feel weak in the knees...' She shook her head fiercely. "But I love Yami! Yami! I can't like Bakura too! I don't like Bakura!"

The white haired thief was whistling loudly, waving his hands in the air to catch her attention. "Princess? You coming, my sweet?!"

Anzu sighed. `I'll deal with my emotions later.' She ran up to where Bakura was. "What now?" she asked. The day so far had been uneventful. Vivian had given her a tour of the town that morning and now Bakura was showing her how he had control over everyone. Supposedly, it was to impress her. But after seeing how her father ruled an entire nation, this really wasn't much.

"I don't know...care to go swimming?"

A vision of when she saw Yami bathing came the Princess's mind. Immediately, her face turned bright pink. Closing her eyes, she remembered him for a moment and wondered what he was doing...if he was thinking of her right now...if he was even alive right now. She frowned at the horrible thought. Then she shook her head, scolding herself for thinking so negatively. "I-I guess," she answered.

"Great!" Bakura gripped her around the waist, "come to my private springs, my love!" He led her in a different direction and she let out an embarrassed giggle.

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Later that night, Anzu sat in the middle of the large bed of her temporary room. She had to admit, it was pretty nice. The mattress was very comfy. The only thing she disliked was the amount of gold - most likely stolen gold - in the room. Just how long had Bakura been thieving, anyways?

Smiling, she rested her head in her hand. For a thief, he was a pretty nice guy. She suspected that he would just bring her to his home and abuse her. But actually it was quite the opposite. She was welcomed and treated as a guest. Bakura must have been just trying to intimidate her by saying she would be his pleasure slave.

Or maybe he was just giving her the opportunity to adapt to the new lifestyle before putting her to her duties?

`Nah if he wanted to do something to me he would have done it by now. I think he just wanted me to behave. I don't really know what to feel towards him. Bakura's a really nice guy for a Thief King. He's friendly to me. But then again, he's my captor. He put Yami, the person I love, in jail. Yami could be sentenced to death because of Bakura. How could I even think about befriending him?'

`Because', a little voice in her head sniggered. `He makes you feel something. He's quite charming when he wants to be, you must acknowledge that little fact.'

"No! He doesn't make me feel anything."

`Why'd you blush when you were swimming with him?'

"Because it reminded me of Yami!"

`No you just liked Bakura shirtless and wet.'

Anzu wrinkled her nose. "No! Well, yes, he is handsome, but I love Yami! Nothing will ever change that."

`Is that really true? You've been here only one and a half days and you're already blushing over another man. I don't think you love Yami.'

"Yes I do!" Tears formed in the brunette's eyes and she clutched the bed sheets. "I do love Yami. I...I never wanted to hurt him...I love him. He's the first person I've ever felt romantic towards. Ever since that night at the festival...I felt attracted to Yami... not Bakura...."

The room was silent. The Princess flopped back on her bed and closed her eyes. "I do love Yami...I do...I'll get out of here and find him...And I'll prove I love him..."

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Seto sat at his desk, staring intently at the dark wood top. His hands were crossed in front of him and his eyes were closed as he thought. "What could have happened to you, Anzu?" he wondered aloud. "Where did that kidnapper take you? I hope and pray to the gods that you are safe, wherever you are."

The door to his chambers opened and Seto's blue eyes darted to meet whoever was coming in. It was Kisara. Head bowed, she entered the room. "Master," she whispered, bowing lowly before taking a step further in.

"Is something wrong? Did Pharaoh send you?"

"I-I was not summoned here..." looking to the floor, she took a deep breath. "I was worried about you, Master. You have been in your chambers all day. You allowed no visitors, not even your father, in."

Seto sighed. "I am worried about my cousin."

Kisara nodded in understanding. She looked towards the door. "Do you wish for me to leave?"

The brunette stared at her longingly. Shaking his head, he stood from his desk chair. "No, you can stay. I'd like you to stay."

A light blush made its way across the blue haired servant's face. She nodded with a small smile and bowed in thanks. "If it's not inappropriate of me to say so, I terribly miss Princess Anzu. She..." Kisara stopped, noticing her master sit down on the large bed. She was a tinge uncomfortable under his deep gaze. Though she had been serving him for many years, she had never quite gotten used to the intensity of his eyes. They were so powerful...as if they were looking right through into her heart and soul.

Oh how she loved his beautiful, passionate eyes.

"She was always very kind to me," Kisara explained, taking another small step forward. "She'd always talk to me when she was lonely. It made me very happy and I know it's silly, but I like to think that maybe the Princess and I are, in a way, friends." She pursed her lips and lowered her head. "But it's silly to think that because I'm just a servant and she's such high status."

`Kind of like how it's silly that I'm in love with you and you're my master, the soon be High Priest.'

Seto was thinking something along the same lines. Though he hid it well, he did have feelings towards his fair haired servant. He loved the odd color of her hair and the brightness of her eyes. He loved how she was so shy and easily embarrassed. Quite simply, he thought everything about her was perfect and he would have loved nothing more than to tell her that. But things were too complicated. He was the High Priest's son and she was a servant. He was her master. How could any type of relationship form between master and slave?

Smiling, the brown haired priest motioned for her to come and sit next to him. Kisara blushed and waved her hand in a disagreeing manner. "Oh no, Master. It's wouldn't be proper for me to sit next to you," she explained, shaking her head.

"I insist."

"Master, I mustn't. We're not equals...it's not right."

"Kisara..."

She looked away from him, keeping her eyes glued to the floor. She had always been taught never to look someone of royal status in the eyes. And though she had broken that rule many times when talking to Anzu, it was different when with her Master. "I mustn't," she repeated.

Seto took her hand, leading her over to the edge of the bed. "I insist," he argued, bringing her down next to him. "There," he said, grinning. "Is that so bad." She didn't answer. Instead, she turned her head in the opposite direction. "Look at me." When she did nothing, he reached out and put a hand to her chin, forcing her to look at him. He was shocked to find her eyes teary and full of fear. "Kisara..?"

"I'm sorry, Master!" She cried, bringing her hands up to cover her face in shame. "I didn't obey you. I deserve to be punished for not listening and-and instead you're being kind to me. I deserve to be punished, Mater!"

The high-priest-in-training's eyes softened and he did something very unexpected. He pulled her into a tight hug. Immediately, the girl's crying stopped and her expression was one of utter disbelief and confusion. Keeping her eyes on his chest, she asked him what the purpose of his actions was.

"I just wanted you to...to see that I'm not going to hurt you." Seto, to his own horror, blushed. Steeling himself for what the outcome of his next words might be, he closed his eyes and just said them. "I care about you, Kisara. More than I should. I'd like to think that maybe...that maybe we can be friends to. Or-or maybe more than that..." He sighed loudly. "I know this is wrong but I've felt it for a long while now. I...I think I love you, Kisara."

When no reply came, he looked down at her to see her face. She was clutching the fabric of his robe tightly and shaking as a wave of new tears flowed down from her crystal blue orbs.

"M-M...Master..."

"Seto," he corrected. "When you're alone with me, you can call me Seto."

She smiled through her tears, holding him tighter. "S-Seto..." she breathed out, burying her face in his neck. "Th-thank you...I-I l-love you t-to-too...I'm s-s-sor-orry!"

Seto grinned widely. That wasn't as bad as he thought it could have been. In fact, it felt nice to have that weight off his shoulders now. Bringing a hand down to her chin, he tilted her face up. She hesitated a moment before raising her eyes and locking them with his. A bright blush appeared on her face. Closing his eyes, he leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against hers.

It was something he had wanted to do for a while now.

And it felt so right.