Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Quest For Love ❯ Vizier Anzu ( Chapter 1 )

Jou trailed his eyes along the great castle. Vines crawled up the stone walls and a pair of tall, wooden doors locked him out. He blinked as he looked at just what guarded the doors.

A pair of humanoid dogs.

He stood there for a moment, before deciding that, no matter what, he would get information on where he was. Taking a deep breath, he made his way to the dogs. As he stepped up to the doors, the dog on his left growled and grabbed his shoulder roughly.

"Halt," he spoke with a growl. "No stranger may enter the Castle of the Crown."

Jou took a step back and looked at the guard.

"Good day to you guards." He took a nervous breath. "I was cast upon this island in a storm. Would you be so kind as to tell me where I am and who resides in this castle?"

The dog quirked an eyebrow. "A castaway?" He snorted. "A likely story. We haven't had any foreigners in this area since Anzu arrived."

The dog opposite Jou frowned at looked at the other guard. "C'mon, Gruff, don't be so mean. It's not like he's asking for any secrets." The second guard dog looked at the blonde.

"You're standing on the Isle of the Crown, and this," he patted a wall fondly with a small smile, "is the Castle of the Crown. The royal family resides here. Or, rather," his face fell slightly, "what's left of the royal family…"

"The Isle of the Crown?" Jou tilted his head slightly. "Please tell me, am I anywhere near the Land of the Green Isles?"

The first dog sneered at Jou. "This is the Land of the Green Isles! The Isle of the Crown is the main island, you foolish boy."

The blonde's eyes widened. "Then Prince Yuugi must live in this very castle!"

The dog nodded. "Aye. The prince is our treasured jewel to guard (Jou felt a surge of jealousy towards the dogs) - and we consider it an honor."

Jou bit his bottom lip. He had to see Yuugi. "Excuse me guardsmen, er… dogs," he tried once more. "I've been traveling for months to see Prince Yuugi, and I would like an audience."

The guard frowned at him. "I'm sorry but the prince is not receiving visitors." He narrowed his eyes at him. "Particularly not strangers."

"I really must see the prince." Jou was just short of dropping to his knees and begging. "Could I please speak to someone in charge?"

"Who are you that I should bother Captain Saladin?"

He sighed. At least this is going somewhere, he thought. "My name is Jounouchi. I'm a prince of Daventry and a friend of the prince."

The dog snorted. "A prince is it?" He rolled his eyes. "And I am lord of this dusty path." His eyes narrowed. "Step aside! You'll not be getting into the castle without proof of your claims."

Proof? Jou thought. The only proof I have is scattered about the ocean.

"I assure you," he said, near desperation, "I am Prince Jounouchi of Daventry."

"And I assure you," the dog snarled, "that you'll not get past me without proof."

Jou frowned, unconsciously starting to run his finger over the crest on his ring. How can I prove what I am? He pondered. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the guard dog trying to inspect his ring until he spoke.

"What is that you have?"

The blonde blinked and looked at his royal insignia ring. With all his papers lost in the shipwreck, it was the only identification he could come up with. He held out his hand, so the dog could inspect the ring.

"It is the royal insignia ring of Daventry. Only royalty is allowed to wear it," he explained, hoping the dog would get the message across.

The sentinel snorted. "I'm sure. Just let me see that ring." He roughly grabbed Jou's wrist and brought his hand closer to his face, eyes running over the gold. A moment later, with a twitch of his lips the dog released his hand and lowered his eyes respectively. With a noise somewhere between a growl and a bark, he muttered, "I'm sorry your highness. It's just that princes are so uncommon in these parts. Let me get Captain Saladin."

With that he threw open the castle doors and vanished inside. A moment later, he came back, a tall humanoid collie following.

"Prince Jounouchi of Daventry, I presume," the collie spoke. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with your country, but I'm sure Vizier Anzu will want to meet with you - if indeed you are a friend of the prince." He turned around and glanced over his shoulder. "Please, follow me."

The blonde teen took a breath and walked after Saladin, hearing the doors behind him shut.

Walking down the halls too fast for Jounouchi to inspect them, the duo entered a small room were waited two people. One was a semi-tall female with short-chopped brown hair dressed in the clothing of a vizier. Her dark blue eyes glinted in the dim lighting as she looked upon her visitors. The other was a tall man with deep oak hair. His unnaturally bright blue eyes sparkled dangerously as he glanced at Jou.

Stepping up to the pair, Saladin spoke once more.

"Lady Anzu, a visitor to see you. Prince Jounouchi of Daventry.

Jou bowed in respect, slightly unnerved at how the collie kept one hand on his slightly unsheathed sword.

Anzu bowed back, just barely managing to hide the suspicion behind the sweetness in her voice that made Jou slightly more uneasy, "What is it that you seek, Prince Jounouchi?"

More nervous about the looks that both the brown haired man and Saladin were giving him than about Anzu, he began politely.

"Pardon the intrusion, my lady, but I came to see Prince Yuugi. Some months ago my father, King Pegasus, saved my family and I from imprisonment under an evil wizard named Mordack."

Anzu blinked slowly. "The same wizard that kidnapped the prince?"

"Exactly. When my father rescued us, he also liberated Yuugi and sent him home."

"Then your father has my gratitude, and that of the entire kingdom, but I still fail to see the purpose of your visit."

Jou cleared his throat uneasily, noticing vaguely as Anzu began to ghost her fingers over a tall blue lamp with intricate patterns upon it. "Well, I came to make sure that Yuugi arrived safely and to pay my respects. Before we parted, he gave me an invitation to visit."

"I have no doubt in my mind that he did exactly that, at the time, Prince Jounouchi. However, things have changed dramatically for Yuugi since his ordeal in Mordack's castle

"Yuugi's parents became sick and died while he was gone. Yuugi is in isolated mourning for them, as befits a prince. He is not receiving visitors of any kind," she explained, narrowing her eyes ever slightly with her last words.

"And even if he were," she continued, "I do not think your visit would be appropriate. You see, it is time for Yuugi to take his responsibility for the kingdom seriously. With his parents gone, he no longer has the luxury to be a carefree lad.

"As was his parents wish, Yuugi and I are to be wed." Her eyes gleamed dangerously. "We shall rule the kingdom together." She blinked and the gleam was gone. Looking at Jou, she narrowed her eyes slightly once more. "I assure you, our marriage is all Yuugi wants right now. As a prince and a gentleman, it would be best that you leave before there is anymore… embarrassment."

Jou nodded, eyes downcast, his heart hurting, and his thoughts awhirl. Yuugi wanted to be married? What about him…?

"I see… I suppose I was mistaken." He thought back to the mirror and of Yuugi's words. "I thought for certain that Yuugi…" he sighed and bit his bottom lip, determined not to cry. "Well, I apologize."

Anzu nodded, an oddly sympathetic look in her eyes that didn't quite seem to belong. "A young man sees what he wishes to see. I'm sorry you wasted your time traveling to the Land of the Green Isles. May your journey home be swift."

Jou shrugged, not truly paying attention as thought of Yuugi wanting to never see him again continued to haunt his mind. "Perhaps I will take the opportunity to look around your fair land while I'm here."

"No!" Anzu suddenly cried, jerking Jou out of his thought and startling both the brown haired man and Saladin. Anzu's hand, which had been tenderly caressing the blue lamp, clenched around it with her shout. Quickly, the woman loosened her grip on the lamp and spoke calmly, "I mean, I would advise against that. The kingdom is, shall we say, 'inhospitable' these days." Slowly, a dangerous look appeared in her eyes for a moment and a smirk played across her lips before vanishing in an instant. "But, it is your neck. You may risk it if you please."

Turning around, she made a dismissive motion to him over her shoulder. "Captain Saladin will escort you from the castle. Good day."

Jou just couldn't pay attention to the beautifully decorated walls as his thoughts once more turned to Yuugi. The little prince was everything to Jou, and he just couldn't take it that the boy wanted to marry someone else. But then again, he thought, sadly, he just might not feel the same way you do. That depressed him even more.

He was lost so deeply in thought, that he jumped when the wooden doors before him opened up and sunlight bathed his face. Squinting to allow his eyes to adjust, he was aware that he had made it outside the castle and that Captain Saladin was about to speak.

"You have had your hearing with Vizier Anzu. I trust you'll respect her wishes and not return.

"I have been instructed not to let you back in the castle again. Good day, milord."

As Saladin prepared to reenter the castle, he paused by the guards and whispered something. The two dogs nodded and glared at Jounouchi.

I don't think they'll be letting me into the castle anytime soon, he thought as he walked down the long path away from the castle.

Done! ^^

Yami and Kura : … That was fast.

Angel: I know. ^^ Time for the RQaABtRCA

Q - Why is Pegasus Jounouchi's dad?

A - Angel: Read Adopted.

Angel: And that's all I can think of. If you have any questions, go ahead and ask them in a review. Until next time, I don't own YuugiOu and: Ja ne!