Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Restrictions Unlimited ❯ Chapter 4: Surprising Meetings ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 4: Surprising meetings

Niaka woke up with a feeling of emptiness inside her. She rose, washed, slipped on a tunic and jewellery and walked out of the door. She collected her task list and hurried to complete it. The first thing on her list was to go to the market for supplies and incense. She strolled through the crowds, greeting people as she passed and collected the various foods and incense. As she started back to the temple, she noticed a slinking movement out of the corner of her eye. She followed it and saw Lifer, the cat. He had escaped the temple again. Niaka gathered her things under one arm and ran after the cat. She followed it right to the entrance of the Pharaoh's private gardens.

"Please Lifer, don't do this to me! Please don't go in there!" Niaka pleaded with the cat under her breath, as Lifer jumped up the surrounding wall, and with a flick of his tail, vanished into the thick bushes on the other side.

"Damn!" Niaka swore silently. Casting a quick look round, she darted past the doorway and entered the garden. She crept silently through the bushes, seeking out where Lifer might decide to hide. She saw the end of Lifer's tail, and smiled. He was within her sight. She crawled towards him and snatched at his fur, but Lifer, sensing the movement of the air, bounded forward and out into the open. Niaka swallowed, and followed him into the open. She stood up and saw Lifer slinking around. She hared after him and stopped, just before she ran straight into the Pharaoh's path. She ducked behind a tree and watched with fearful eyes.

Yami saw the cat shoot out across his path and wondered if anyone was following it. He threw himself on the cat, pinned it against his chest, and picked it up. He walked across to the right, but he heard a tiny sound, like a hidden person draw breath. He stopped and turned round. There was no-one there. He crept forward and reached the tree, where Niaka was hiding. The two of them, Yami and Niaka, walked in circles around the tree, neither of them seeing the other, till Yami stopped and turned round. Niaka stopped short in front of him, lost her balance and fell backwards. Yami smiled at her less than presentable position, on the ground. Niaka scowled, picked herself up and tried to take Lifer from Yami's arms. Yami refused to let go.

"Pharaoh, why won't you let me take Lifer back to the temple?"

"Because this time you have to pay. Last time was a free go. This time, you have to pay the tax."

"There's a tax? Pharaoh, you sound like a toll gate! What is the tax? I have to return soon!"

"The tax is... let's see... a kiss." Yami was smiling.

"A kiss? You drive a hard bargain! Alright." She kissed him on the cheek, picked up Lifer and ran for the exit. Yami ran after her, caught her by the wrist and spun her round. Niaka was a bit nervous; his face was five centimetres away from hers.

"What is it Yami? I've paid the fine, what more do you want?"

"Do you call what you did a kiss? This is a kiss." Yami replied, before kissing her firmly on the lips and snaking his arms around her waist, pulling her so close that Lifer voiced a complaint. Yami let go of Niaka and smiled as he disengaged their lips. "Yes," he murmured, "That is a kiss."

"Whatever you say, oh Pharaoh." Niaka smirked before kissing him on the lips and slipping out of his grasp, darted out of the exit. Yami sighed after her. The fragrance was still in the air around him. He breathed in deeply and smiled. He knew that she had feelings for him, and that encouraged him to spur the game on to higher stakes.

As soon as she got back, she handed Lifer to the other priestesses, ran to her chamber and tried to collapse on her bed. She couldn't. There was someone already on it.

"Who are you?" Niaka tried to keep her voice from shaking.

"My name is Seto, and I'm the High Priest of all the Gods," the tall, brown-haired blue-eyed man replied in a cold voice, "Are you Niaka, daughter of Namara?"

"Yes."

"Then I have a question for you. Why do you spend your time in the Pharaoh's garden?"

"I don't know what you mean. I-"

"Don't lie, Niaka. I've seen you enter there and come out with a cat. Twice. Why were you in there?"

"You've answered your own question. I went in there to get the temple cat. Why you have to come here, into my quarters, I'd like to know."

"I'm here for an important reason. You have met the Pharaoh, talked with him, and you've had contact with him-" -Niaka gasped-"I've come here to tell you this. Forget him. He has other, worthier girls than you to accompany him. I will show you that now. Come with me." He grabbed her by the wrist and led her out of the temple, accompanied by many stares from passers-by. They came in sight of the palace, a massive, golden beacon to the world and entered the main court. The stares and mutterings of the other priests disturbed Niaka considerably. Seto led her to the back of the court, where Yami was sitting on his throne. Yami showed no signs of friendship, or any of recognition.

"Seto, why have you brought this girl into the court?" Yami asked him in a low voice.

"I am showing her to the court, so that they can see the style of girls that you like to consort with."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Seto. I have never seen her in my life before. You are also scaring her out of her wits. Let her go." Seto let go of Niaka grudgingly.

"May I address the court?"

Yami nodded.

"Then I suppose all of you have heard of the priestess, Namara,"There were nods all around. "Well I tell you all now, this is her daughter, Niaka. You can all see the resemblance."

Yami sat up straighter and gazed at Niaka, with an unspoken question in his eyes; /Is it true, what he's saying?/

Niaka replied with her eyes; /Yes, it is true/.

The court was silent, which disturbed Niaka even more. The cloak hoods covered their faces, so Niaka couldn't identify the people under the hoods. Yami stood up and addressed the court.

"I will deal with the girl. Seto, I will be watching your whereabouts, as men are prohibited from the female temple chambers. Niaka, come with me and I will speak with you directly.That is all." He left the court using a door to the left, and beckoned for her to follow. Niaka followed him with her head down, not wanting to risk a look at Seto, who was looking at her with contempt.

As soon as she had entered the room, Yami closed the door and cornered her against the wall.

"Why did you come here, Niaka?" he was urgent.

"I didn't come here of my own free will. Your priest, Seto brought me here to prove that you have enough girls to last you five lifetimes."

"I may have a lot of girls at my disposal, but you are the only one that I care about."

"I know that, otherwise you wouldn't keep kissing me like you do. But why didn't you tell the truth?"

"If I told the truth, I'd be forced to have you executed, because I'm not allowed to `consort' with temple people and I'd lose all respect and face if I'd let you live. I couldn't live with the knowledge that I had killed the only girl I care about."

"I understand." Niaka replied sombrely. Yami looked at her with pity.

"I'm sorry, Niaka. I wish I could make it up to you. Perhaps this will help." He brought her away from the wall and hugged her to him. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. He murmured her name and she looked up. His ruby-red whirlpools of intensity were waiting for her. She lost herself in them and he kissed her on the lips for the sixth time. She closed her eyes and wished that the moment would last forever. Yami broke the kiss and smiled at her. She smiled back and walked to the other doorway, that led outside.

"I have to go. I need my sleep. Goodnight Pharaoh."

"Goodnight priestess Niaka,."