Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Royalty ❯ Royalty Ch. 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1

Author: Well I'm doing this fanfic for Ryou-Bakura1's Fanfic Challenge! Believe me, this one's really really gonna be a challenge cause I've never done a Ryou/Seto fic or a Yami/Ryou one before. This would prove to be quite interesting indeed...

Ryou: But...I don't want to be with them! You usually put me with Bakura or Malik!

Author: Sorry babe, no can do this time.

Ryou: TT_TT *big Ryou googly eyes*

Author: *sigh* Don't torture me like that... Please R&R

~*~*~*~*~

He felt sick.

Ryou coughed again, his stomach churning as the wagon drove over yet another bump on the eternal road. He had sat, huddled in his cage, in the dark back of the vehicle, for hours as it drove into another village where the young boy, among others, will be placed up for sale.

"Don't get sick, big brother," a small child whispered beside him. A tiny hand reach through the bars and clutched onto Ryou's ragged shirt, "Master will get mad at you and hurt you again; I don't want brother to be hurt."

A smile crept to Ryou's pale lips as he stroked the small hand, "Don't worry Bane, I've been hungry for far too long to vomit anything up."

Bane was a boy of five who was taken off the streets after his parents were lost in a fire. Unfortunately for the young child, the one who 'saved' him was the slave trader who was currently driving the wagon.

Ryou had been caring for the boy since he was added to the collection of slaves, giving him most of his meal to keep him healthy, and warming him at night.

Bane's other hand entered Ryou's cage, fingers closed around a dirty biscuit, "Here, I saved it for brother."

The white haired teen took it gratefully and ate it. After 2 days of starvation, the biscuit tasted heavenly, "Thank you Bane," raising the small hands Ryou kissed them gently in a fraternal manner.

The little one beamed in the darkness with pride.

The slaves caught a small amount of sleep before the wagon abruptly stopped, rousing them from slumber.

The back doors of the wagon opened and the many boys in cages shielded their eyes from the blinding sunlight that shone in. "Out my pets!" a bearded man shouted as his assistants unlocked the cages.

Ryou stretched his cramped legs the second he exited the stuffy prison, inhaling fresh, sandy air before turning to help Bane, who was too small to jump out on his own.

Their master was shouting orders to his men, "Line them up by height! Tallest to shortest! I want them each chained by the neck to the one in front of them! Get moving you scum, I haven't got all day!"

The two were separated from each other. The five year old child stretched his arms out for Ryou until the adolescent was swept away to the beginning of the line. 15 year old Ryou was among the tallest in the group, he hasn't been sold in years. Every time they were placed up in the market he would cover his face with his messy cream white hair, and look extremely dirty. He would rather stay in the trade than to be placed under a certain master; some are quite horrible to their slaves; at least HE is clothed and fed.

Barobh, his master came up to him, "You better be sold today young man; I've been supporting you for far too many years and now that you're older, you've eaten more and more of my supplies. It's a good thing you can take care of the young ones so well or else I would have had you killed already."

Ryou snorted as he left to examine the others, "Like I'm going to leave..."

A tug on his interconnected leash from the boy in front of him indicated it was time to move; they marched single file into the marketplace.

By noon, when the sun was high in the sky, Ryou was drenched in sweat. He actually didn't mind too much because it was causing grit to stick to his body, which enhanced his unruly appearance. Only two slaves were sold so far, an older, handsome one for a woman who needed a pleasure slave (the thought made Ryou sick), and a younger one to serve a noble boy the same age.

"Damn citizens," bearded Barobh cursed, "People who live near the palace are too snotty for their own good! They don't know quality slaves if it bit them on the ass!"

Ryou smiled in spite of himself, his master looked so funny when he's mad.

Afternoon rolled around, and Ryou was trying his very best not to wipe the sweat off his face, knowing that once his sleeve was brought across, that his delicate features would show through the layers of sand and dirt. He strained his neck to look for Bane; the child was staring in awe at a noble woman's long, flowing, silken robe.

The little boy edged out slowly from the line and with his trembling fingers, reached out and clutched onto the fabric, fingering the soft material.

The woman gasped and whirled around to face the bedraggled young boy. Bane squeaked in surprise then quickly withdrew, whimpering, "I-I-I'm sorry."

The woman stared, before suddenly breaking into sobs, "My son!" she knelt and scooped the astounded little boy into her arms, "Dear child! The gods have brought you to me!"

Noticing the commotion, Barobh rushed over to where Bane and the lady were, "You stupid child! Get back in line! I'm sorry my lady, did he scare you?"

The woman looked up and glared, her brown eyes piercing, "Don't you DARE speak to this boy in that manner!" she stood up and brushed herself off, " he reminds me of my child who was lost in the Nile a long time ago. I'll be taking him with me- don't give me a price, he is worth more than I can give." Reaching into the sash at her waist she withdrew a pouch full of gold. "This is all I have with me. Take it." She handed it to Barobh.

Flustered, the man took the offered sachet, eyes bulging out of his head as he gaped at the contents, "Thank you my lady! He will be of great service to you I can promise."

"He will be of no more service than to be my loving son," she gazed at Bane, "would you like to?"

Bane nodded eagerly with excitement as Barobh unchained him from the rest. "Can you please," the boy said shyly, "wait for a moment?"

"Of course dear."

The little boy ran over to where Ryou stood and hugged him tight, "I'll miss you brother. Can you come with me? Please?" his eyes were pleading.

Ryou smiled sadly and shook his head as he watched the younger boy's eyes well up with tears, "I can't Bane. I have to remain here. You go ahead, now you'll have the life you've dreamed off."

"My sweet child," the woman called, "please hurry!"

Ryou gently pried Bane off him, his throat burning to keep his own tears at bay, "Go now..."

"Will I see you again?"

"Someday, maybe...now go..." The white haired teen choked a bit, losing his will to speak.

Slowly, Bane slipped away from Ryou and went back to his new mother, whimpering softly as tears slid down his cheeks.

As they left Bane turned again and waved vigorously. Silent tears coursed down Ryou's face as he waved his hand in farewell, knowing, despite his promise, that he probably won't see his little brother again.

~*~*~*

Author: Where there's a start, hopefully it'll progress to what I want it to be…

Ryou: Wow…already so angsty and I'm not even with Seto or Yami yet…

Author: You can't wait, can you?

Ryou: Yes I can… ><