Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Quest For Love ❯ The Ferryman ( Chapter 3 )

Jounouchi stepped out of the bookshop, his mind set on where he would go next. Walking down the path out of the village, the blonde prince came upon a large house with flowers covering the yard. He was about to pass by when a pretty young maiden standing by the wall caught his eye. From what he could see, she had long hair that was half blinding white and half jet-black and she was dressed in rags.

Suddenly, the front door flew open and an old woman stepped out. Placing her hands on her hips, she glared at the girl and screeched, "You lazy thing! Get back to work and stay away from those roses! I've told you a million times - those flowers are too sweet for the likes of you!" The girl hung her head shamefully and took a step away from the roses she'd been admiring. The woman continued shrieking, "You've still got to do the breakfast dishes, make lunch, and clean the stables yet this morning!"

The woman was about to turn back into the house when she suddenly glared over her shoulder and snapped, "And put your veil back on! No one wants to see your face!"

The girl seemed to hang her head lower and Jou just barely managed to hear the beauty murmur, "Yes stepmother," before she turned inside.

When the pair had vanished into the house, Jou growled softly under his breath. Just what kind of vile creature would turn their own stepdaughter into a slave when it looked as though the family didn't even need unpaid labor? Shaking his head, he continued down the path, still thinking curses upon the girl's stepmother.

Before Jou even realized it, his feet were plodding over the wooden docks. Blinking, he shook his head free of his thoughts just in time to see a tall black-haired boy dive off the pier and splash into the water below. With a curious tilt of his head, Jou walked to the edge of the dock and peered over. In the water, the boy grinned up at Jou.

"Hey, stranger! Come join me in the water!" His dangerously bright blue eyes sparkled. "I can show you the way to the next island!"

Jou frowned and backed up. Those eyes unnerved him greatly and the water didn't look all that safe to him. With an apologetic grin, the blonde prince turned his back on the boy and headed to the large ferry that had been dry-docked.

As he was turning away, he heard the boy call out to him, "All right! Be that way! Don't come in the water - you'll be sorry!"

Turning to apologize, Jou blinked as, in the water, he saw no sign of the black-haired boy. Maybe he just dove under, he thought uneasily. With a shrug, he stepped up to the ferry's door and knocked upon it. A few second later, a tall man opened the door. His bright green eyes peered down at Jou as a soft breeze ruffled his long, spiky bluish-black hair.

"Yes, what do you want?" the taller man snapped.

"Excuse me. My name is Jounouchi. The owner of the bookshop in the village told me you might be able to help me. I hear you used to run this ferry for the islands. I'd like to talk to you, if you have a moment."

The ferryman regarded Jou for a moment. "You say Otogi sent you?" At Jou's nod, he rolled his eyes slightly. "I can't see why. The ferry's not running, you know."

"I understand, I'd just like to talk to you about the islands if you don't mind."

"Well… I guess it'd be alright," he gave a careless shrug, "if Otogi sent you." The ferryman turned about to go back into the ship and glanced over his shoulder. "Don't just stand there, come on in." Jou gave a gentle smile and stepped in.

The interior of the ship was actually quite cozy. The bed was built into the wall; built into another was what looked like a couch and towards the middle was a large crate and a couple of chairs set up around it. The ferryman flopped into one of the chairs and motioned for Jou to do the same.

When the blonde had taken a seat, placing his book on the floor next to him, the ferryman held out his hand and smiled. "Before we begin, my name is Ryouta, Jounouchi."

Jou smiled and shook the offered hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ryouta."

"now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

The prince cleared his throat slightly. "I am a visitor to these islands. I'd like to learn what I can about the area."

Ryouta nodded. "So you said outside. What is it you want to know?"

"Well, for one thing, why has the island's only ferry been dry-docked?"

Ryouta snorted. "It just isn't safe to sail these days, what with the islands feuding and all. Vizier Anzu ordered the ferry closed 'till things settle down. Me, I don't think she'll ever see water again." He sighed softly in regret.

Jou narrowed his eyes in thought. "But, why are the islands feuding?"

The ferryman shrugged. "You got me. Something about stolen property or some such thing. 'Tis a real shame. Things used to be so friendly."

"Then… this unrest is recent?"

"A few years is all, but it's been long enough."

Jou sighed. A few years of feuding islands, he thought. I'm almost glad I wasn't here. As he took in the new information, his mind continued to pester him about the islands.

"Perhaps if the ferry were repaired?" he tried.

Ryouta held up a hand and shook his head. "This old thing? This ferry's been out of water so long, she's no longer even seaworthy. Her boards have dry rot. She'd fall apart at the first taste of sea water."

"but, there must be some way to get off this island!"

"There's only one way to travel that I know of - a magic map. The owner of the Pawn Shoppe can tell you more about it than I can, Jounouchi."

Jou sighed softly. A magic map. From the pawnshop owner. Before I take off, I guess I'd better get some more information.

"Tell me, Ryouta, about the ferry."

Ryouta sighed and a small smile spread across his lips. "I remember when I used to ferry Queen Allaria and Prince Yuugi themselves! There was no thought of danger back then.

"They used to go visiting to care for the needy and keep up the friendly relations between the islands."

His face saddened slightly as he continued. "I remember their last trip. Things had started getting nasty by then, and when the came back aboard, I gathered that the queen and the prince had been received a bit coldly.

"Prince Yuugi was such a sweet thing, and he was terribly upset. 'But who could be spreading these lies?' he asked the queen. But the queen had no answers."

Jou bit his lip, anger flaring up within him as the knowledge of someone upsetting his beloved Yuugi. Forcing his mind away from that, he looked to Ryouta and asked, "What do you do now that the ferry no longer operates?"

"Me?" He snorted. "I'm out of a job - the job my family has had for generations. I'm the only one trained to avoid the reef and the rocks, but that knowledge does me no good now."

"Is there no other boat on the island? One that might be seaworthy?"

"Boats don't last long on these shores, as you might have found out if you arrived here by ship (Jou winced - it still hurt when he thought about the wreck). You can be quite sure that this old ferry is, or was, the only craft on the island."

Jou nodded slowly. Suddenly, without warning or reason, he said, "Tell me more about Yuugi." To his, slightly jealous, surprise, Ryouta grinned broadly and leaned back in his chair.

"Ah, such a handsome child. And so pure of heart! Why, a contrary thought never crossed his mind.

"His mother was the same way. The king and queen, they served the islands, not the other way around. Always thinking about the people." He gave a bitter sigh. "They are sorely missed.

Jou bit his lip and glanced away. Another touchy subject. What could they talk about that wouldn't end with them both upset? Of course, he thought. What originally came for!

"What else can you tell me about the land?"

Ryouta looked to him with a small smile. "Well, let's see. The Isle of Wonder's a lovely spot. A bit crazy, mind. You need a good sense of humor to enjoy a visit there.

"The Isle of the Beast is pretty, but unfortunately you cant get very far onto the island.

"The inhabitants of the Isle of the Sacred Mountain are the most gorgeous creatures you'll ever see. If you ever see them, that is.

"There are some that say the Land of the Green Isles is near the edge of the world and that the deadly currents are a result of magnetism that sucks life from this world into the next. Of course, that's all silly talk…"

Jou nodded and leaned back in his chair, his mind registering all the information he'd just received. As he glanced around the cabin, something on the crate caught his eye.

"I see you have a rabbit's foot. Has it brought you much luck?" he inquired.

Ryouta snorted and rolled his eyes. "As you can see, my luck's been out for some time now, despite that old charm." He paused and thought for a moment.

"Why don't you take it with you? Perhaps giving the old thing away will bring me good fortune at last!"

Jou smiled. "Perhaps it will at that. Thank you, Ryouta." He reached over and took the small, black rabbit's foot and stuffed it in his pocket with the poem. Standing, he picked up his book and held his hand out. Well, I think I'll be going now. Thank you for allowing me to enter your home."

Ryouta stood as well and took Jou's hand in his own. "Not at all. It breaks the boredom if you know what I mean."

Saying fond farewells to each other, the blonde prince stepped out of the ferry and began his trek to the Pawn Shoppe.

Yay! Nudder part done!

Yami and Kura : 'Bout time, too.

Angel: Oh hush you two. I still have school for another two weeks and… finals… next week… Dern it! >< *sigh*

Angel: But on a happier note - I got the first 32 episodes of YuugiOu in Japanese a couple of days ago. Tho, after watching a few eps in a row, it's weird to hear people talking in English. It kinda creeped me out to hear my mom talking. o.O

Yami: Aren't you forgetting something…?

Angel: Gr… *sigh* I don't own YuugiOu or King's Quest 6. And, also, if you have any questions, go ahead and ask them seeing as how I can't really some up with any for this chapter. Ja ne!