Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Transcending Memories: A Bond Unsealed ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Author's Note: In order to write the following scenes, I will admit that I have done research on Ancient Egypt and the way of life during this time. I truly hope that what I've written is correct but even if it isn't, please try to enjoy the story for what it is. I only wanted to make it more believable; my hope being that what I was writing was not completely inaccurate, though I still plan to stick with my original ideas regardless.

Another point that I wanted to address is the Teana and Yami relationship that I have been describing as a whole. Though I plan to explain the history of that relationship in future chapters, beginning with this one actually, a friend of mine had asked me why Yami was unaware of Teana and who she was when it seemed obvious that she knew who he was. In other words, she wanted to know why they hadn't met and interacted sooner, considering that I am attempting to tie the real events of the Ancient Egypt arc into my own. To explain this, it is necessary to take into account that Yami has hardly any recollection of his past, including her. I also remembered that in the real manga, it had only been a few days since Yami first arrived in his World of Memory. From day one things began to occur at a very hectic pace all around him, and due to the fact that Bakura was viewed as a potential threat, it is unlikely that Yami ever left the palace during that time, until he left to pursue Bakura on horseback, that is. So in short, Yami and Teana, if she had been a real character within the anime and manga, would never have had a chance to meet, or rather meet again, under those circumstances. I hope that this is at least a satisfactory explanation for the time being, and that you're enjoying the story so far! Thank you!

 

Chapter 3


Yami felt as if his mind was splitting open, rupturing apart rather; like the protective shell of a walnut fragmenting into pieces! Squinting uncomfortably, he then made a strenuous effort to swallow; feebly attempting to endure, for just a little longer. And yet, it was a laborious, agonizing task for him to hang on in this manner! These aches….these pains…. What coursed through him was absolutely excruciating! But even so, it paled to what he was inflicting upon himself, the war within him, in his own consciousness…. If he had had the strength, he would have lifted a hand in an effort to contain the sensation, the horrible throbbing that plagued him! This suffering was beyond the pain of his external wounds indeed, for it was both intolerable and utterly frustrating being close, so very close to the truth! He had seen a vision of the girl's face, this Teana, as she called herself, who was without a doubt the previous incarnation of the modern day Tea.

Though confusion and a multitude of questions were ever present, he continued to concentrate, ignoring his sufferings, the strain of each breath, the seconds in which he clung to life….. His only goal was to persist onward, to try harder still; in hopes that he would be rewarded with the gratification of ultimately shattering the seemingly impenetrable wall that had long since kept him from his past, from his true self even! And then finally….it happened…. Comparable, perhaps, to the eruption of an overflowing dam, Yami was then flooded with a wave of vivid memories, and powerful emotions…. He could see it now… It was all so clear…. Everything was taking place before his very eyes….

 

 

With a playful bounce in his step, a younger Prince Yami, who had conscientiously donned the simple, concealing robes of a peasant, gleefully, rather proudly looked behind him as he fled! There was certainly no use in trying to stop him now! Having acted upon impulse that afternoon, Yami had opted to run away from the palace grounds yet again! Releasing an almost wicked laughter as he traveled onward, he then wondered if Simon had even noticed that he had escaped when his back was turned! Or, was it possible that he was still carrying on about…..well…..whatever it was that he had been trying to teach him that afternoon! In truth, he was unable to even recall the subject of the day's lesson, as he soon reasoned that he would be devoured alive due to the sheer boredom of it all if he had stayed! When he found himself struggling to remain awake even, he then concluded that he was entitled to a bit of a break; for his….generally “good behavior,” as he then proceeded to liberate himself from the remainder of the lecture all together! With his intelligence, it was a waste of time really. It wasn't as if he was incapable of simply absorbing information when it best suited him!

In sudden contrast to his impetuousness, Yami, who wished not to be discovered before he succeeded in leaving the grounds, became almost like a jungle predator in his wanderings; moving deftly, cautiously, seemingly becoming one with his surroundings at the precise moment that he nearly could have been detected, had he not skillfully avoided a passing watchman or servant! Finally having reached the massive gates, which were now all that stood in the way of his brush with freedom, Yami paused momentarily to take in the familiar, and at times the somewhat looming rows of statues, sphinxes, and obelisks positioned on each side of the entranceway. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before he too would have his form or the details of his life chiseled in stone; not to mention the preparations for his tomb or his descent into afterlife; all of which were effectively scheduled, planned, and already in progression in some form or another…. Though this had always been viewed as a great and prestigious honor, his “godly” right as the forthcoming pharaoh even, a part of him couldn't help but see the morbidity in these customs; such an intense fascination with death when there was still so much to be experienced in life! Quite a peculiar, or possibly even a radically perceived notion for one such as he….

Having memorized the timely regimes for all the palace aides and contracted workers from beyond, Yami had recalled that earlier that day in particular, Simon had consulted with a number of laborers from the village of Deir El-Medina; builders who were most likely summoned to discuss specialized construction work; a task that Yami opted not to ponder further….. Instinctively however, when he became aware of this information, impulsive or no, Yami knew that estimating when they would take their leave may be of use to him at a later time. Whatever his mind set, he was seemingly always one step ahead in any given situation; in the game that was life, as he often liked to describe it!

Seeing the laborers granted access outside of the palace, Yami hurried towards them, following suit in their orderly stride. Bowing his head so his face would not be seen through the hood, he watched with fervent anticipation as the doors were opened for him at long last! Focusing to keep his senses alert as he continued on his way, Yami made sure that absolutely nothing distracted him from maintaining his pretense (not even his eagerness to leave!) until he was completely beyond the scrutiny of the guards; men who would undoubtedly drag him back at a moment's notice if he did inadvertently reveal himself! Ok…. He was almost through the threshold…..just a few steps more….. Yes! He made it! Ah! Another self proclaimed victory to add to his already long list of achievements!

Finally beyond the point of detection, Yami continued on his way towards the nearest village as he stretched his arms high into the air, his body now at complete ease with the weightlessness of relaxation. He felt quite contented to have made the decision to set out on this excursion, for it was one that he felt that he needed, this time…. And in any case, he felt reasonably certain that he could get away with it when Simon was the one appointed to look after him! Though admittedly, he found that it wasn't quite as easy to escape when he was under the tutelage of the strict and depressingly solemn priests that his father had assigned; the ones who were said to have been selected by the mystical Millennium Items themselves rather…. Reconsidering his perspective, he found that he was somewhat fond of the priest Akunadin; perhaps due to some peculiar quality of his that reminded Yami of his father, somehow…..

Much to his deep displeasure, however, now that Yami was growing older, and the burden of expectation was beginning to trail him like an impending shadow, his studies were now consisting of more time under the watchful eyes of those priests than with the well-meaning Simon. In particular, Yami was almost constantly being reminded of the importance of his “special training;” more so than any other form of protocol…. But for the moment, he had opted to put such distressing thoughts out of his mind; for as long as he was able to anyhow. He simply wanted to enjoy the pleasantness of the outing, like he had so many times previously; which, in truth, usually required an escape plan executed in a similarly well crafted manner!

Though in all seriousness, what was the harm in doing so anyway? Rarely had he departed for an extended period of time. And despite what Simon thought of him, especially at a moment such as this where he demonstrated “improper and unorthodox” behavior for the crown prince of Egypt, Yami most certainly comprehended both the importance as well as the immense power that information could bestow upon him. Knowledge and the way that it was deciphered and utilized was absolutely essential to being a good ruler, as demonstrated by his father, the great Pharaoh Akunamukanon. Yami understood that now more then ever, especially since his father would soon be-

As he arrived at the village market place, he felt a sense of relief wash over him; the change of scenery thankfully interrupting his train of thought. No, he did not wish to be reminded of the current tensions at home, yet another justification for his need to escape the pressure placed upon him. Now wandering in the midst of the crowded streets, Yami made certain to keep himself hooded and inconspicuous. Though he was dressed like any other citizen, he knew that his unusual hair style would surely give even the youngest of those who resided there the basis to recognize him. The frequency of this strange indulgence to visit the outskirts of the palace had become rather legendary after all, especially for the residents of this particular village….. In fact, so often had he roamed through the area, that at times he would even hear talk that he was among them that very day…!....talk that would ultimately reach his own ears, so it seemed safe to assume that no one suspected him at least.

Ceasing his leisurely stroll, momentarily, Yami had stopped to simply delight in the image of the villagers before him; the passing town's folk who were actively engaged in their daily routines. No matter how often he witnessed it, he always found himself astounded by the sight of it all! The sheer number of the populace alone was enough to make one marvel in amazement! In contrast to what he witnessed on the palace grounds, the villagers were all dressed casually, mostly in loose, white linen gowns or skirts; presumably practical attire for the purpose of enduring the daytime's rather sweltering temperatures, no doubt! Though not as common as the material of linen, Yami managed to spot a few residents, at least, who wore clothing of wool as well. Additionally, Yami found that he was not the only one hooded either, though some of the other men also wore turbans or handkerchiefs above their heads instead. Similarly, this was true of some of the women, yet a number of them, both men and women chose to wear nothing on their heads at all; allowing their straight, plaited, or colorfully ornamented hair to flow freely in the wind.

Observing those ornaments in particular, Yami soon became aware of the distinct variety of the accessories that the villagers wore! Though he himself was accustomed to wearing shimmering, finely sculpted jewelry of gold or precious gemstones, he noticed that these adornments, consisting of beads or baked, then subsequently painted clay, were also rather attractive in their minimalism; in addition to their vibrancy and creativity of design as well. Nearly every villager was sporting them in fact; the rich hues of these necklaces, bracelets, and anklets in sharp juxtaposition to the bright whites of their clothing.

Among the hundreds of mud brick houses, canopied shops, or crowded booths, Yami continued his observation; the hustling and bustling, the exchange or the trading of merchandise or perhaps the simple act of conversation, the everyday interaction between friends and family. Smiling with a touch of wistfulness, Yami turned, proceeding upon his path through the busy streets. Though undoubtedly foreign to his own upbringing, he found the rusticity of a villager's life style appealing in its way….. How splendid it must be to live a life free of royal etiquette or the crushing weight of responsibility expected of him since his earliest recollections! He often longed to experience even a sampling of what he witnessed for himself; or at the very least be able to speak with someone in regards to such inclinations, as unrealistic as they may be! And yet, with the exception a few fleeting words between a market place vender, or those of a gossiping villager perhaps, Yami had never allowed himself to mingle with the town's folk at all, despite his burning desire to do so!

But if only he could…. It would be such a refreshing change, a novelty even to befriend someone, anyone who wouldn't immediately bow down to him as if he were a god on earth, a most unsettling concept, similar to his distaste for otherworldly proceedings. But then, he supposed that a minimal sense of satisfaction in allowing himself this enjoyment was presumably all that he could ever hope for. Given the magnitude of his position, Yami truly did not want to risk revealing his identity, at least not for frivolous reasons such as these, he reasoned. Certainly he would never hear the end of it from Simon! And….with his father's failing health….he knew that it very well could be potentially problematic to draw such attention to the royal family, beyond that of an unsubstantiated rumor anyhow. No, he just couldn't take that chance, not now….

*I suppose I should return to the palace.* Yami thought, regrettably.

Though he had hoped that this trip would serve to distract him from his troubles, he soon discovered that wandering aimlessly in the streets had only made him all the more pensive; so much so that he hadn't even noticed the direction in which he traveled, resulting in him walking directly into a very large, bare-chested, muscular guard!

With a touch of sheepishness, Yami's vision slowly panned upward, as his eyes locked rather awkwardly with those of the handkerchief topped man who towered over him. Taking a step backward, he then heard the sound of even more men marching, each equipped with heavy weaponry! Before he could even respond to the sudden confrontation, he soon realized that he, uncharacteristically, had allowed himself to be completely surrounded! *This is…quite the predicament!* Yami thought, a bit aggravated by his fleeting carelessness.

Even so, he couldn't help but wonder about the excessive quantity of the encircling fleet…. Perhaps this particular escape had been the straw that had resulted in the breaking of the camels back, as the saying went! Simon must have been terribly angry with him to give the order for the guards to go and fetch Yami as if he were a common criminal! Nearly disregarding his current dilemma, Yami focused, as the nearest guard proceeded to address him directly.

“We….” The man hesitated, seemingly contemplating what he wished to say next.

Feeling slightly foolish for attempting to find logic in the situation, Yami deduced that despite his orders, the guard still intended to remain respectful to his prince, undoubtedly one of the reasons for his visible reluctance. Similarly, they all perhaps had to take into account that a number of citizens were now witnessing the ensuing commotion! Given the circumstances, Yami thought, the fleet was now forced to access the situation with extreme caution; to protect the prince and his identity from being revealed before their growing audience! “We have orders to take you in. Come with us now.” Said the nearest of the guards, speaking simply, but sternly nonetheless. Despite the perceivably overwhelming odds against him, however, Yami was not about to allow himself to be carted off in this manner!

*If Simon wishes for me to return to the palace this badly,* Yami mused inwardly, *he will have to retrieve me himself!*

Though it seemed a rather inopportune time, in light of what was occurring before him, Yami just couldn't resist imagining the short elderly man walking through the streets, hands on his hips, with steam practically coming out of his ears! But he quickly dismissed such distracting notions as he turned his attention to finding the quickest route past the men blocking his path.

Having to think on his feet as the guard before him approached, Yami ducked swiftly, maneuvering himself around the man, while also succeeding in breaking free of the circle! His options limited, he then ran directly into the group of spectators, which soon resulted in the guards following in hot pursuit, as Yami intended. Until he could think of a more strategic course of action anyhow, Yami hoped that in doing so, he'd manage to at least hinder his trackers within the midst of the crowd!

And so, as if a flag had been waved in commencement, an official competition of both speed and ingenuity had indeed been instigated; one that neither the hunters nor the hunted would allow themselves to lose! Spanning across a large sum of terrain, the unlikely chase would soon venture through the countless pathways of the marketplace, zigzag between the various huts and taverns, or temporarily come to an impasse when the guards would, in fact, lose sight of the young prince, who would stop at nothing to elude them at long last! *Their persistence is certainly commendable…. If nothing else, I will concede in this admission! *Yami thought, beginning to feel winded from the extremity of his run.

And yet, despite his initial alarm, as well as the unexpectedness of the given situation, Yami found, for whatever reason, that he was actually enjoying the rush that he felt from this interesting game of cat and mouse! How exciting it was! He hadn't felt so alive in ages! And though he was beginning to tire, he was determined to push both his mind and body to the very brink of limitation; until finally he could claim the complete and indisputable triumph of outfoxing his would-be captors!

The guards having caught a glimpse of the young prince once more, Yami then resumed his sprint in the opposite direction; glancing behind, momentarily, to estimate how far the men were trailing. In the process of doing so, however, Yami lost sight of his surroundings yet again! Consequently, he failed to notice that he was running directly towards another person, the impact causing them both to lose their footing; thus resulting in the pair falling awkwardly and painfully to the ground!

“Hey! Excuse me! But why don't you watch where you're going!” Yami heard a voice say.

Briefly disoriented from the sudden plummet, Yami shook his head, attempting to regain his focus. With a slight gasp, he soon became aware of his position; that he had not only fallen on a young woman, but that he was lying right on top of her! “Do you mind?” She then asked, her gaze burning fiercely into that of his own.

“Oh! Right!” Yami replied, somewhat bashfully. Though he had managed to regain his overall composure, he was unable to contain the slight blush that had crossed his face while he struggled to remove himself from the stranger. “I beg your pardon! I didn't mean to-” Yami began, now standing over her.

Before he could conclude his remark his however, he turned sharply, perceiving that the guards were now on the verge of catching up to him! Glancing back at the insulted female on the ground, Yami soon found himself at a loss; his gentlemanly upbringing compelling him to apologize to her properly before hurrying onward, but the reality of what could result, urged him to continue running, and fast! Torn between these conflicting views, and before his mind could rationalize his own reasons for doing so, he had spontaneously yanked the young woman to her feet, swept her into his arms, and proceeded on his way with her in tow!

“What are you doing!? Are you crazy!? Let me go this instant!” She cried, flailing wildly.

Despite her resistance, or even the startlingly violent thrashings that he was forced to endure, Yami ran further still. Completely unwilling to admit defeat, quite possibly due to his own stubbornness, he vowed that he would avoid being apprehended, no matter what the cost!

Ultimately, he happened upon a dark and secluded alleyway where a group of impressively large vases lay in wait….. With a sudden burst of inspiration, he soon found himself beaming like an expectant child as his eyes met with those of his unruly captive.

At first, she seemed puzzled, though noticeably suspicious of the strange, impish expression he'd shown her. But at length, Yami watched as the look revelation appeared on her own face, as she seemingly came to grips with what he had in store for them! “Oh no you don't! If you think that I'm just going to sit back and allow you to-”

“Shhh!” Yami insisted.

Without further hesitation, Yami had indeed followed through with his “tactical maneuver;” one that merely required the two of them to jump inside one the large vases and hide before being discovered! Though it was, in truth, a bit of squeeze for the two escapees, fortunately the container had just enough room to conceal them both, despite their somewhat uncomfortable positioning….

“Is that your hand on my leg!?”
“I swear to you, it was simply an accident!”
“And now you're-! Oh! I'm warning you!”
“Please! You must lower your voice!”
“Ow! What's in this thing anyway? I can't see a thing!”
“Hmm, it smells like….”
“Look, you! I don't know what kind of trouble you're in but-”

Yami silenced the girl's protests by covering her mouth with his hand; an action that prompted them both to cease all movements beyond that of their faint breathing or their attempts at suppressing their flow of air altogether. Tensing nervously, they listened as they heard the sound of foot steps approaching, growing louder and louder…..! But in due course, it would appear that Yami had been wise, or perhaps lucky, in his judgment to stay out of sight, as the pursuit was soon taken elsewhere….

Ever cautious, however, he opted to wait for what seemed like an eternity before he believed it was safe enough to emerge from the inside of the vase. But when he was confident in the fact that the guards were no longer in their vicinity, he immediately calmed himself, feeling at ease; feeling victorious rather!

Exiting first, he laughed heartily, as he basked in not only the success of his endeavor, but the tremendous merriment of what he had just experienced! And if that wasn't quite enough of a thrill for him, he had even relived a rather humorous childhood antic just now, and had done so with an intriguingly fiery brunette….

Still on the intense rush that continued to course through him, Yami turned to regard the young woman as she too had surfaced from within the vase. “By the gods, I have not done that in years!” He exclaimed joyfully, more so to himself than to her, as he then proceeded to offer his hand in assistance. She responded with rejection, however; choosing to help herself out of the cramped container!

 

 

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*What a day!* Teana groaned, now setting foot upon the ground. *If I'd had any idea that the afternoon was going to end up out like this, I would have- No, what am I saying? Nothing would have prepared me for what I just went through! Whoever this….this strange man is, he had better start talking!* She thought to herself.

Eyeing him with visible annoyance, she soon found herself additionally irritated by the perplexingly large grin on his face! Just what kind of reaction was that supposed to be anyway? After everything that had happened, he had the gall to be pleased with himself right now?! “Well! I'm glad to see that you're enjoying yourself, at least!” She spat impatiently, waiting for what she hoped would be a perfectly logical explanation for what the stranger had forced her into!

Beginning to brush herself off, she then became aware of the fact that that she was completely covered with grass, leaves and other types foliage that she guessed were already lingering within the vase before they had leapt inside of it. Now feeling the intensity of the man's stare, Teana stopped what she was doing, in order to meet his rather infuriating gaze. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked him, watching as his grin grew even wider.

Much to her surprise, and her displeasure, he then burst into a fit of laughter! Again! Though he made several attempts to speak through his spastic chuckling, he was only able to succeed in pointing in her general direction, as he soon began to double over from his own overwhelming reaction! Ok… Now she was royally upset!

*Why that-! Of all the-! Just who is this guy anyway?!* Teana thought again. *First he rudely runs into me, then he abducts me, and now he's making fun of me?! Oh! He's asking for it!*

As she began to re-evaluate the events that had just transpired, Teana felt her mind beginning to wander, reflecting on how this mishap would affect her; most notably in the eyes of the other villagers….. *It's not as if things aren't bad enough already.* She thought darkly, as the man began to settle down; his eyes watering from his apparently one-sided hilarity. *If people saw me being chased by the guards they'll think- And after all that I- No…. It's not fair…. This is all his fault!* She screamed inwardly, her body trembling.

As her anger steadily escalated, she flashed briefly to a number of events from years prior that she bitterly wished to forget….. The thought of it all happening again, or that her life could become even more complicated as a result… With her fists tightly clenched at her side, she began to breathe deeply, laboriously; cursing internally, she at last felt something inside of her snap!

“That's it…. I don't know who you think you are or what you're after but I've had enough!” She cried. “How dare you drag me into this mess!? It's bad enough that you have the royal guards after you! But thanks to you, they might be after me now too! Are you happy now? Are you?!”

Exhaling again, Teana attempted to grab hold her irrational emotions, as well as the intense quivers that continued to course through her. Her erupting temper and most notably her volume had surprised even herself! She was now more fearful than ever that these feelings would ultimately consume her; just like-

With a slight shake of her head and a hint of guilt for her outburst, she gazed up at the stranger again, expecting him to be angry with her as well. She was shocked, however, to find that he was now completely composed; returning the glance with a seemingly innocent look of curiosity. It was either that, she thought, or he was trying to mock her in some way with his unlikely expression and his especially aggravating silence! To her dismay, this only served to fuel her already wrathful disposition as she felt her fury escalating once again!

“Hello! Did you hear me?! I demand that you explain yourself this instant before I-”

As if some ghostly bandit had managed to rob Teana of her very thoughts, her impending words, and even the sheer force of her rage, she soon felt everything inside her coming to a screeching halt, dissolving away rather, as she watched the man before her slowly unhood himself….. Comparable, perhaps, to being struck by a bolt of lightening, she could only determine that the shock and disbelief that now washed over her had completely desensitized her body! Unable to even conceive what she was witnessing, she just continued to gawk, wordlessly, as he then casually began to massage his neck and shoulders before turning to give her a now self-confident grin!

Even during the process of his exposure, recognition had begun to dawn almost immediately! Despite the fact that he had been wearing a hood, Teana couldn't help but wonder how she didn't know who the man was; that the thought hadn't entered her mind at all! Why….? Why didn't she know….? As the reality of this strange encounter began to permeate into the deepest recesses of her mind, she still found herself unable to move; vaguely aware that the color had most likely drained from her cheeks by now….

“Ummmm…..” Teana said at last, her voice cracking. “Will you excuse me for a moment, please?” Barely able to manage those words with an even tone, the only distance that she could muster between them was to turn herself completely around, facing away from him. *I just yelled at the prince…..* Teana thought with fleeting detachment. *I just yelled at the prince!? What's wrong with me?! Am I insane!? Oh gods! What should I do!? What can I possibly say to him!? This is a nightmare, right?! It has to be! This just isn't happening! Not like this! Not like this….*

With equally hysterical ramblings continuing to plague her, Teana shamefully placed her face in her hands; wishing, praying, that she could just disappear into a puff of smoke at that very moment! She then wondered if, perhaps, she should return to hiding within the vase, instead. As she pondered even that course of action, she felt the stirring desire to either laugh at the ridiculousness of this fateful meeting, or to cry miserably! When she entertained the notion of what the prince must thinking now or how he viewed her, she briefly found herself genuinely leaning towards the latter….

*Ok…ok… Enough of this!* She said to herself, attempting to swallow her conflicting emotions. *I just have to calm down and get a grip! I can fix this…. I have to….*

With her breathing stabilized, Teana then made an effort to clear her throat before gathering the courage to face the young prince once more.

“Your highness, I-”

Repositioning herself in his direction, Teana was stunned to see that he was now only inches away from her, discovering a blossom from within her hair. Bringing the flower to his nose, he had subsequently closed his eyes; seemingly savoring the sweetness of its delicate scent.

“Lilies.” The prince said simply.
“What?” Teana asked.
“The answer to your earlier question…. The vase contained what was left from a shipment of lilies. I also detected small amounts of irises, myrrh, cinnamon….. I believe these are the ingredients that are required to make Susinum, a favored and rather popular perfume among women.”

*Wow…. He'd actually given thought to that passing- And he was able to get all of that from just those few minutes in there too?!* Teana thought in awe.

“Hmm, I must say that this would look quite lovely on you under normal circumstances.” The prince continued, a touch of remorse flickering in his eyes.

In addition to the countless surprises that had already occurred that afternoon, in a matter of minutes the young man had seemingly undergone a startling transformation! Meeting him in such a manner, Teana had been convinced that he was nothing more than a mischievous troublemaker; making sport of the torment that he was knowingly inflicting upon her, perhaps. But now, he spoke so eloquently, he seemed so well-informed; even the way he stood demonstrated the regality of his noble presence!

Still reeling from a number of fluctuating sentiments, Teana eventually managed to take notice of what the prince had actually said to her! Bringing her hands to her head and hair, she realized that it was also covered in greenery and that her messy, matted locks were now potentially wilder than his even! For fear of further embarrassment, and additional self-pity, Teana refused to allow herself to visualize the full extent of what she must have looked like… In contrast, however, the prince's appearance, regardless of the fact that he wore peasant's clothing, was nearly impeccable; as unbelievable as it seemed! Despite the uniqueness of style, not a single hair appeared out of place; and unlike her own, his clothing was visibly free of floral remnants. Was such a thing even possible? Did even traces of foliage respond to the wishes of the future ruler of the land?

“And yet….. I am well aware that this is regrettably my doing.” The prince continued. “Now, as I had wanted to do to from the start, please allow me to apologize to you, my lady.” He said with slight bow, prompting Teana to blush furiously as a result! “Also, I certainly did not intend to insult you by laughing, but you were quite a sight to behold after our little misadventure, especially with these on your head.” The prince said raising the flower that he held.

Brushing off the remainder of the grasses, leaves, and whatever else that may have been clinging to her, Teana then attempted to straighten her scattered tresses with her fingers, hoping to make herself look somewhat presentable at least! In response, the prince gently slipped the flower that he held into her hair, positioning it on her left side. “There…. As I had anticipated, it does indeed look lovely on you now.”

“Your highness, I-” Teana began again.
“Please, tell me your name.”
“Teana.”
“And I am-”
“The prince! Of course I know who you are!” Teana exclaimed.
“True, but please, call me Yami. I think that I would like that very much….” He smiled warmly.
“Um, all right then…. Yami it is.” Teana said, shyly returning the smile.
“Well Teana,” Yami said suddenly, crossing his arms. “It seems that our situation has become a rather complicated one. I suppose I must abandon the notion of keeping myself from interacting with the villagers, as of today. Now that you've become my accomplice, there's no turning back from this point on.”

Teana, though still feeling rather meek in Yami's presence, grew bolder at the sight of the laughter in his eyes.

“No turning back ….” She echoed, her insecurities melting away.
“Please forgive me for my improper conduct in the village and when we were within the vase as well. Though I assure you that both incidents were unintentional, I assume that your husband would be quite upset with me if he knew, royalty or not.”
“Huh? Oh! No! No husband.” Teana replied.

Wondering how she should explain herself, Teana couldn't help but notice the slight raise of an eyebrow on Yami's face when she'd concluded her statement…. “I mean I know that most women my age- Well, you see…. I'm on my own. I have been, for a while now, actually. And it's rather difficult to find a husband when there isn't much to be offered as a dowry.” Teana said with a shrug of her shoulders. *I suppose that's true enough but….* She then thought to herself.

Though it appeared that he'd at least made an effort to mask it, Teana could still see the trace of pity that had passed briefly in Yami's eyes.

“I really don't mind though!” She responded quickly, hands in the air. “It's easy when there's only one mouth to feed. I do a little weaving, for trade at the market and all, I grow some crops, I occasionally care for the children in the village, and-” Feeling sub-conscious, she then brought a hand to her mouth in hesitation.
“And?” Yami asked, urging her to continue.
“Well your high- I mean Yami, I'm actually a dancer too. I sometimes perform in the streets, during festivals and celebrations…. Though I was hoping…. Well, it's always been my dream to…..to be hired to perform before the royal family one day, to perform for you.” She said quietly, bracing herself for his reaction.
“Hmm…..” Yami responded wistfully.

Unsure of what to make of his brief reply, the two simply remained standing, regarding each other in silence. Suddenly, a soft breeze had managed to venture through the narrow alleyway, momentarily diverting Teana's gaze. Feeling her hair being blown by the propelling air, she raised a hand in order to brush and reposition the fluttering locks from her face. As the wind began to diminish, Teana caught the young prince looking at her from the corner of her eye. Curiously, the expression he wore had been different than any that he'd shown her earlier that day, though it also proved difficult for her to interpret….

Disrupting the quiet atmosphere, both Yami and Teana were startled by the escalating commotion, seemingly approaching them from a distance. The two were then faced with the realization that the search for the missing royal had yet to be abandoned and that the guards could still apprehend them at any moment!

“I must go….” Yami said with a sigh. “I truly believe that they will persist in this tiresome search until they succeed in capturing me, or at least until they receive word that I have returned on my own accord. Preferably, I choose the latter of the two instances over the former. Furthermore, though I have no doubt that they were concentrating more on taking me into custody rather than you, I refuse to take any additional risks on this day that may warrant trouble for you in the future. Well Teana, I suppose this is good bye….”

Despite his claim, Yami appeared hesitate to be on his way, seemingly lingering in place with the slightest hint of awkwardness! Ultimately turning towards the direction of the crowd's mayhem, he then took his first steps in his leave, prompting Teana to call out to him without warning!

“Wait! Will I see you again?”

Seeing that the suddenness of her outburst had caused Yami to gaze back at her inquisitively, Teana once again lifted a hand to her mouth, wondering if it was even appropriate to ask him for such a thing! To her surprise, he smiled once more; this time as if to reassure her.

“Yes.” He said simply. “Yes you will…”

With those words, he then proceeded to replace his hood and advance onward; disappearing hastily within the midst of crowd. Teana, however, merely retained her position, gazing at the space in which he had occupied, as she began to question, yet again, the very credibility of this unfeasible occurrence! Slowly removing the flower that he had placed in her hair, she also inhaled its pleasant aroma; resting it near her heart as she allowed herself a brief, girlish giggle; promptly stifled soon after, of course! Admittedly, she found her enthusiasm embarrassing and even uncomfortable in its unfamiliarity, but she also felt lighter than she had in a long long time…. It seemed precarious to even think such a thing, much less believe it but she felt….happy….

*It really happened….* Teana thought to herself, clutching the blossom as proof of the encounter. *He told me his name this time…..*

“Yami....” She said aloud.