Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Transcending Memories: A Bond Unsealed ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Author's Note (October 2010): As of this writing, I have only managed to update chapters 1 though 4 of this story, and even in comparison to the changes in Chapter 3, I found that Chapter 4 was changed rather drastically; so much so that I even included a number of events that did not transpire previously at all! This was done for several reasons…. Firstly, I simply wanted to have more interaction between Teana and Yami during the early stages of their relationship; before things became more complex, and potentially problematic. Having re-read my own work, I became aware of the fact that this had begun to occur as early as the original version of chapter 5 even! So instead, I wanted to see more of the playfulness and innocence in their beginning, which hopefully served to give it a bit more depth and meaning as well. Additionally, I also hoped that the new scenes would level the pacing of their first days together, taking into consideration that I had once received constructive criticism in regards to this point; that perhaps things between them happened just a little too quickly in the original version….. And lastly, I found that a certain event that I introduced near the latter part of this chapter could prove to be useful in terms of later developments. It will serve as a plot device if you will, even though what transpires is also a new addition; completely absent in the original version of this work. But perhaps the most significant difference within this new Chapter 4 is that it concludes at an entirely separate point than the prior one. So I believe it is especially important *not* to read beyond this chapter until the new version of chapter 5 is completed as well. As stated previously, when the revision IS finally posted, I will also include an entirely new author's note, if nothing more than to alert the reader of its' edited status. Until next time then, everyone! :)

Author's Note (June 2003): Another close friend of mine had asked me about the timetable in which these flashbacks are occurring in relation to the real events of Yami's life as pharaoh, as seen within the manga. My best estimate, at this point, is that these events take place roughly a year prior to the events of the Egypt arc; rather those of the actual past, when they originally occurred in Ancient Egypt. From what I gather from the manga, I don't believe that Yami had been the Pharaoh for an extended period of time. According to the various books that I have read about this era, a pharaoh's tomb did not begin construction until he was officially seated upon the throne as the new king. It was one of the first matters that the Ancient Egyptians addressed, due to the importance of their beliefs, customs, and religion. In the true Yu-Gi-Oh story, since Simon had mentioned only having the general plans of Yami's tomb completed, and that they were scheduled to begin the process of its construction, this leads me to believe that Yami is a newly crowned pharaoh; or in other words that he was still a prince, as he is in my story, only a short time before.

Chapter 4

Yami felt as if he were only semi-conscious; his mind slowly absorbing, sifting through the incoming collective data like a modern age processor. Even the incident itself, like an out of body experience, was difficult for Yami to grasp coherently. He had a vague awareness of being both feverish and disoriented, a sense that he was disconnected, detached from everything; particularly from any tangible sensation. For this, Yami felt most grateful; having been given a merciful reprieve from the pain of his wounds, albeit temporarily. Drowsily, he then caught a glimpse of the blurred form and features of Teana, who had remained by his side, mouthing something that he was regrettably unable to hear…. Before he could focus upon her face, his surroundings, Yami could feel himself being led to yet another time and place. A new memory….

"Thank you so much, kind sir. I appreciate your business." Teana smiled.

Reaching behind from where she sat, she carefully chose one of her many hand made pottery works to give to the fair-haired young man who had stopped to approach her that afternoon. In turn, this was bartered for a small bowl of fresh vegetables, which she then happily accepted.

It was humid, yet still moderately pleasing in terms of climate conditions in the market place that day. Patiently, Teana sat behind a simple wooden table hoping to exchange an assortment of goods that she had worked to produce, for either food or any number of items that would be of use, with a passing villager or merchant. Well, one that would make the effort to look her way at least…. Many other locals were also situated in this manner; naturally with like intentions. Their own stands, however, were considerably more decorative or bountiful, with their protective canopies, the use of containers or intricately woven baskets of various shapes and sizes, even the use of fine linen sheets to place underneath their tradable goods. In addition, many of the others also had a much larger selection of items for barter.

Aside from pottery or various foods, tools such as bronze plow blades were being offered for what was perceived as an equitable exchange. Some of the larger, more successful merchants were presenting their selection of beaded necklaces and bracelets, bushels or bags of grain, clothing of varying quality, and those who were most plentiful even offered farm animals or acres of land for their asking prices. Even in terms of homemade items alone, Teana could see that the others did indeed have much more to offer than what she herself had brought to the market. She reasoned that this was likely due to the support and contributions of friends and family, who undoubtedly shared the responsibility of the heavy workload. Whether it was the number of items, or even one of the many decoratively enhancing elements put in place, these additions appeared to contribute in drawing attention to those that wandered the area, much to Teana's dismay… Nevertheless, she simply had no choice but to make due with what was already in her possession; much less what she could manage to accomplish or arrange on her own….

Her eyes wandering, Teana couldn't help but notice that while the other villagers were seated closely, in an effort to utilize as much of the area as possible, they also sat far enough away from her to avoid any interaction; particularly that of friendly communication, to aid the passage of time, or the cooperative assistance between neighboring venders. Aside from this relatively subtle display of exclusion, more often than not, Teana would be forced to endure the malicious whispers as well; talk of the infamous and her apparently inescapable past, the ranging and at times even ridiculous exaggerations about her family origins….

And yet, there were also a considerable number of those who remembered true events; ones who had witnessed the very "misdeeds" that would forever mark her as an outsider, quite possibly throughout the entire land even. Some could argue, convincingly, that fact was far worse than any fictitious rumor conceived by the fearful or the superstitious. Perhaps such things were already in motion long before the events of ten years prior; instances that had occurred before her birth, or before her father- As if on cue, a few of the town's folk had scurried by her. Civility be damned, they eyed her with unmistakable and purposeful revulsion. Normally, the utter lack of propriety would either upset or irritate her; so much so that she often questioned why she wasn't accustomed to such treatment after so many years now. In this instance, however, she was almost grateful for the crude distraction; for it was at times far more painful to relive events in her own mind, particularly due to the distinct clarity of such haunting memories. More than anything or anyone else, this was especially true when she thought of her father…..

The only saving grace present in her way of life was that a small percentage of the villagers did not remember what had transpired years ago. This was possibly due to their contrasting ages, or because some simply hadn't seen the events for themselves. Certain individuals would at least question the outrageous rumors regarding her, while a select few would take pity on her for her perpetual solitude. Realistically speaking, Teana couldn't help but wonder if the locals would approach her simply in an attempt to feel charitable; that it was for this reason alone that they had opted to offer an exchange, much less stopping to acknowledge her at all! On second thought….she had seen that brownish blond haired youth, the one who had left her booth previously, on more than one occasion at least…. Whether or not this was, in fact, the case, as long as she could continue her efforts to support herself, she supposed that she should just accept these circumstances for what they were…..

Teana did like to believe that she was at least steadily enhancing her dubious reputation. The town's folk did seem to genuinely enjoy her dancing capabilities, deeming her as a credible candidate in the occasional festivities; requests that were happily accepted, regardless of all else, due to her own aspirations! And though she was considered an absolute last resort as a caretaker for the neighboring children, at times, need or desperation alone would force one of the villagers to consider trusting her in this capacity.

Much like the inquiries for her performances, however, Teana would often consent to tending to anyone's child; and not simply to win favor or to accomplish her goals. In truth, Teana positively adored children, with their illuminating smiles and their vibrant, playful demeanors. They were perhaps the true innocents among all the individuals that she encountered, and quite possibly the only ones to show her genuine kindness and respect. Sometimes, when she did come to the market, or when she herself wandered throughout the streets, Teana would often delight in seeing the youngsters running about excitedly; making plans to play various games with their peers, or amusing themselves with their newly acquired toys and trinkets. Apparently, they would bring out the best in the adults as well. A common sight would be that of loving parents strolling hand in hand with their children, attempting to please them with promises of favored homemade meals, or when they showed pained compassion for a little one that would cry out with a scrapped knee, for instance.

With a touch of sadness, Teana would bear witness to it all, either resulting in the longing for a family of her own, or instead cause her to reminisce about the days in which she was a child. Regardless, it was due to such insight, or perhaps being so in tuned with her own sentiments of the past and present, that allowed her to understand and relate to the children so acutely; so much so that they would reciprocate fondness for her as well! Visibly disconcerting for most parents, this inconvenient attachment would often lead to their children adamantly insisting that Teana be chosen to watch or play with them! In order to avoid disappointment, or their child's resentment, the adults would, at times, eventually, yet begrudgingly, indulge them. Perhaps in this sense, there was hope for her acceptance in the future; one in which she could cease her never-ending apprehension about a damaging word or exploit…..

With that notion, Teana flashed back to her embarrassing and outlandish reaction to that very topic; particularly in the presence of the one who was truly occupying her mind, even in the midst of all else! Resisting the urge to bang her head repeatedly against the table, which she thought would deservingly add the physical to her already lingering mental torture, Teana managed to stifle this impulse; opting to rest her head gloomily within her hands instead.

Though she felt foolish for pondering it in such detail, she estimated that this very afternoon had marked precisely three days, since her unlikely and very literal runin with the young prince. When it had ended, her life had proceeded, to her disappointment, as monotonously as the days that had come previously. It was as if it had never happened, or perhaps it had simply been an incredibly convincing fantasy; one that she had concocted instead! If that was the case, how ironic that her impossible dream was now mocking her in this fashion, rather than being her usual pillar of strength and hope…..

But no… It just couldn't have been her imagination! Musing over it fondly, the parts that didn't involve radical outbursts or looking as if she had fallen out of a tree, Teana could still remember, so clearly, how Yami had smiled at her that day…. It was an expression that had, at times, seemed innocent and child-like, yet it had contrasted, equally, with his level of maturity and self-confidence. And the way he had spoken to her…those briefs moments of flattery and consideration; articulately worded with a voice that seemed to resonate with both power and intensity! Losing herself in her recollections, her heartbeat beginning to quicken at the mere thought of it all, she then looked down at the direction of the table before her; though in actuality, she stared at nothing but the blissful representations that danced endlessly within her mind. Feeling her cheeks reddening, a grin forming on her face as she continued her daydreaming, she was then startled abruptly; alerted by the sound of the intentional coughing of the one who stood over her.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Teana began, looking up. "What can I-"

Her eyes widening, she was taken aback by the sight of the hooded, yet very recognizable face that greeted her! "Ya-!" Immediately taking into account where she was, and exactly who she was addressing, Teana had managed to cover her mouth with both hands; quickly muffling her exclamation before she had finished pronouncing his name. "Yami, you came back…." She whispered happily.

As she continued to gaze up at him, her elation was soon replaced with curious bewilderment; as she became aware of the strangely satisfied grin that he too was attempting to hide with his hand. Realization dawning, she then contemplated, apprehensively, what she had been doing before she had noticed him! "Just…..how long have you been standing there, anyway?" Teana asked awkwardly.

"Oh, for quite some time." Yami said, with a feigning seriousness. "I was beginning to wonder if I would be forced to leave you and the table alone to your intimate stares." He then continued; his voice seemingly uneven with his barely contained amusement.

"What? Oh, no! You're wrong! It wasn't anything like-" Teana stuttered, fighting yet another wave of mortification!

"Is that so?" Yami teased gently, as he interjected. "Then what, may I ask, were you doing then? Or even more specifically, just what or rather who has succeeded in diverting your attention so thoroughly?"

"Well…. I mean…." Teana nervously attempted again.

Unable to provide him with an adequate explanation, she opted to partly give in to her earlier inclination instead! With a half joking, though, admittedly, a mostly serious whimpering noise, she dramatically buried her head within her arms upon the table; her forehead smacking loudly against her own limb in the process. *I can not believe this…. Can I be any more obvious?* Teana contemplated, utterly exasperated with herself.

Allowing herself a deep breath within that enclosed space, as she very slowly and reluctantly prepared to emerge from her elusive "hiding place," she then found herself ultimately pacified by the sudden and very gentle placing of a hand upon her head…. Though the action had been unexpected, Teana, whose face remained concealed from Yami's view, felt herself closing her eyes contentedly; momentarily savoring the lightness of his touch, before he withdrew it at last. Subsequently raising herself, peeking upward just high enough to meet Yami's gaze again rather, she found herself calmed further still by the familiar expression that he wore; the warm, reassuring smile that he had shown her when the two had parted ways previously…. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, as her tenseness dissipated, Teana proceeded to straighten her sitting position, unwilling to hide anymore; either from sight, or in regards to what she was beginning to feel again…..

"I'm happy to see you…." Teana said simply and openly. Though Yami had said nothing in response, the nature of both his smile and facial features illustrated that he had seemed pleased by her remark; despite only the subtle difference from how he had appeared beforehand. However, this was, perhaps, most evident by the slight, yet the still noticeable softness seen in eyes….

"But…. Um… Is it all right for you to be out and about again so soon? Will they come after you again?" Teana asked worriedly, glancing from left to right.

Though she was genuinely concerned for Yami's well being, even in spite of being overjoyed in seeing him again, she had also made her inquiry to avoid becoming flustered; this time because of that particular look of his. Being honest with herself again, she could now acknowledge that it was an expression that she was growing progressively infatuated with…..

"Hmm…." Yami trailed, turning to look out into the distance.

To Teana's dismay, his tenderness had vanished, without warning. Though she thought what she had said had been an innocent enough of a remark, a genuine graveness had washed over him as a result. This was amplified further still by the sudden scowl that had appeared on his face; as well as his deep, fretful, furrowed brow. "Admittedly, I have yet to receive answers in regards to what truly occurred that day; or even a legitimate reason why." Yami continued.

Crossing his arms, he appeared lost in thought, seemingly troubled by the matter; as Teana winced inwardly, now regretting her hasty decision to question him. "I have reflected upon it since the very moment I laid eyes upon that ridiculous number of soldiers; though I have no doubt that they were, in fact, ordered to take me into custody. And yet, I have the strangest feeling that it was more than what it appeared to be…. Though I have yet to question him directly, no matter how thoroughly I perceive or analyze the situation, I simply can not believe that Simon would-"

Yami had then ceased his assessments, presumably taking notice of the growing anxiousness that had appeared in Teana's face. With a remorseful sigh, Yami took steps to calm himself; closing his eyes momentarily as if to consciously shift his demeanor.

"Forgive me." Yami said, his cordiality returning. "Now is most certainly not the time to evaluate such distressing notions such as these. For this moment, I simply wish to focus my attentions on you, Teana….." He then remarked, matching the directness that Teana had shown him beforehand.

Smiling affectionately yet again; this prompted Teana, who, in the end, couldn't contain her blushing, to respond in kind. And once more, the two simply regarded each other in a lingering standstill, before the moment was finally disrupted by Teana, who proceeded to sigh unhappily.

"Wow… I almost completely forgot…. It's just my luck too… If I'd only known that you were coming today…" Teana breathed, more so to herself than to him. "Not that I'm unhappy that you did come!" She quickly clarified. "It's just that I would have waited until tomorrow maybe to set all this-" As she wondered again how she should explain her situation, she began by gesturing sheepishly towards her booth, in addition to the homemade items positioned around her. "The truth is, I would love nothing more than to be able to spend the day with you…." Teana said at last. "Maybe then I can even work to redeem myself a little, huh?" She half joked. "But… unfortunately I have to finish my business here today. You see, things have been a little…scarce in terms of food lately. I really do have to try to trade as much as I can if I'm going to be able to make it through the rest of the week." Teana said quietly, feeling rather self-conscious due to her revealing account.

"Well then, if that is the case, please allow me to assist you."

"What? No! I mean- I can't ask you do that!"

"Ah, but you're mistaken, my dear. You aren't the one that is asking this of me. Rather, I am the one that is asking your permission. Will you allow me to do so?"

"But I-"

"As long as I remain hooded, there should be no reason why anyone would question my identity. Naturally I will do all that is necessary to maintain this pretense, but that alone will not prove to be beyond my capabilities, I assure you. Yes…. I can see it…. It should proceed exactly as I envision it…." Yami remarked thoughtfully.

As Teana continued to watch him, she briefly allowed herself a half smile; for she found the sight of Yami's supposed mental preparations amusing, in its way. Crossing his arms again, he nodded several times as he seemingly reflected upon the idea. It was as if he was now strategizing each course of action, each premeditated word.

"As I had mentioned during our last encounter, I've since decided against limiting my interactions with the people of this village, thanks to you." He said playfully. "Or rather… I could view this as a rare opportunity to freely indulge in an unlikely whim; much like a scenario in a game of make-believe, I suppose…." He then continued; wistfully this time.

Moments later, Yami's expression had changed once again…. It had passed quickly, but it was as if he had attempted to mask what appeared to be a genuine trace of discontentment and….bitterness, maybe?

"How very unlike me…." Yami said again, briefly massaging his temples. "Though I am uncertain why I am admitting this to you….the truth is, it has always been my wish to be treated as an equal; to simply be among others without the stipulations of social status or the weight of one's lineage to consider…." He then sighed, as he uncomfortably looked away.

With those words, coupled with his fleeting vulnerability, Teana had felt a tightness in her chest; a sudden longing to reach out to the young prince, or, at the very least, a need to question him further. Yet, almost immediately afterwards, she chided herself for such an audacious notion! Still….she had been pleasantly surprised and even touched that he had opened up to her in this manner, despite his apparent uneasiness in doing so. Did he somehow sense that she would empathize with those inclinations? Or maybe….just maybe, his feelings overlapped with that of her own, she thought, as she humored those perceptions….

Much like she had been, perhaps Yami had, in some way, also been on his own, regardless of the significant quantity of those who may had only looked to him as the, "great and all powerful" heir to the throne. At best, Teana reasoned, he had to have been severely limited in his social connections, which could possibly explain why he felt compelled to perform these infamous escapes from the palace to begin with! But when it came to voicing his thoughts or feelings… Did he have anyone that he could go to? His family? Friends? Or if he did, were his mounting obligations now restricting those relationships too?

She couldn't help but wonder, as crude as it may have been to make such a comparison, if it was similar to her position at the market place, for instance. She, of course, knew full well how a person could be surrounded by so many, and yet not a single one of them would have even the slightest interest in knowing what was underneath the surface; or even how affecting such indifference could be….

Dismissing her own unpleasant emotions, Teana smiled up at Yami again, this time in an attempt to lighten both of their moods, which he soon reciprocated, appreciatively. Though Teana still had her misgivings about his proposal to assist her that afternoon, she also welcomed the chance to spend more time with him, as she had been hoping to do from the start! In the process, maybe she could discover even more about the enigmatic young prince. She could also determine if any of her insights about his character had been accurate, or if she was simply projecting her own feelings on to him instead….

With the tension broken, Yami returned to being hopeful, and even a little impatient; as he awkwardly waited for Teana to respond to his earlier suggestion. It was so evident, that she could now see the eagerness on his face as well; strengthened further still by the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on his newly crossed arms. Shaking her head as she surrendered to his restless habits, she marveled at seeing so many ranging facets to his personality…. Judging from what she had seen of him so far, it felt strange thinking of the generally calm and collected prince in such a manner, but in spite of herself, she had to admit that the expression he was now giving her could be considered cute…...

"Well, if you insist on helping, then it's all right with me." Teana said at last. "It's not really that hard anyway." She began, turning to regard the items behind her. "All you have to do is-"

Before Teana could even finish what she had been saying, Yami, who was now beaming with enthusiasm, had almost immediately raced behind the booth, adjusted his posture, and had rather loudly requested for everyone's attention! Completely stunned by his impulsive actions, though more so due to his booming tone, in particular, Teana spun around clumsily; nearly falling out of her chair as she, again, motioned towards him! Recovering from the initial shock, she contended with her new feelings of insufferable embarrassment! As more and more of the villagers stopped to look in their direction, Teana began to gesture frantically for Yami to cease his antics; or to lower the considerable resounding of his voice, at the very least! But alas, as he fully immersed himself in what he was doing, seemingly becoming one with the role that he played, Teana soon realized that any additional efforts to interrupt him would be undoubtedly, yet inoffensively disregarded…..

Though she never would have believed it to be possible, there was a certain prominence, some undeniable element in the meticulous choosing of his words….. Or, perhaps it was, in fact, the impressive volume; the tempting allure in his voice. But in either instance, Yami had indeed managed to attract the interest of the surrounding spectators, perhaps even the village as a whole! Much like those within the midst of the crowd, Teana was nothing short of mystified by the scene that had begun to occur, right before her very eyes! It was like magic! It was now an indisputable fact, that the young prince had been given the extraordinary gift of articulacy; as demonstrated further by each passing moment! Though Teana had seen a sampling of this quality beforehand, it had been nothing in comparison to the way he had stirred his ever expanding audience now! He was so amazingly convincing! So persuasive! So splendidly charismatic!

Feeling as if her own assistance was all but unnecessary, she merely remained in her seat, watching as Yami compelled the residents that he had called forward into trading for each of her goods, one by one! He had even managed to sway a number of customers into exchanging for even larger portions than she would have been able to, as he insisted that her dresses and textiles of "fine linen," that her "skillfully crafted" pottery, or that her own "ripened" crops were, "of the very highest quality, unable to be acquired anywhere else!"

In time, Teana found that she could be of some use after all; namely in the sorting of the newly acquired items which included a number of different foods, in addition to various household materials that she, at best, had only hoped to acquire! As she attempted to systematically organize what was now increasingly cluttering her table, at first glance she could see that her original goods had been traded for her own bushels of barley and wheat, as well as baked bread, milk, vegetables, an array of spices, and even meats such as fish and fowl!

And yet, what Teana had found more surprising than even that, was that Yami had actually managed to obtain rarer commodities; items desired by any number of those who traded within the market place! Recognizing only a few of those transactions, as she too became steadily engaged, Teana noticed the acquisition of precious metals like copper, silver, and a pot of honey too! Her favorite! Beyond that, however, Teana still had much more to categorize and identify, and in the meantime, she had come to the conclusion that she should put her trust in Yami's abundantly proficient abilities, and simply allow him to proceed as he wished.

Having positioned herself at the opposite, and the much less crowded end of her table (in an attempt to give Yami even more room to conduct his dealings) Teana then became entirely engrossed in her own activities; so much so that she had failed to notice, to her displeasure, that she had been approached by the very people that she had hoped to avoid that day….

"Who is that….? And what could have possibly possessed him to help you out?" Teana heard a voice say.

Looking upward, she had to all but stop herself from involuntarily rolling her eyes in annoyance, as she now acknowledged the arrival of a particular trio of women…. In all honesty, Teana never knew or even cared to remember their names. She could vaguely recall that they sounded somewhat similar in pronunciation….but in any case, what she was aware of was that they were often seen grouped together in this manner. A more precise observation was that they were practically joined at the hip as they traveled, quite boastfully in fact, whenever they made their presence known throughout the crowded streets. From what she knew of them, these three (who were either sisters, cousins or related in some form or another) had seemingly inherited not only a significant amount of land for ones of this particular social standing, but also a number of livestock as well. Perhaps that was only part of the story, given the unusual nature of their arrogance, but without further details, Teana could only speculate..…

Needless to say, much like any other villager, it was still an absolute necessity to take on various jobs in order to maintain their livelihood, but these willed assets made things considerably easier for them in comparison; so much so that they would often take these leisurely strolls of theirs, seemingly for the sole purpose of flaunting their prosperity or quite possibly their free time even. It was perhaps because of Teana's less than fortunate circumstances that these women seemed to take great pleasure in mocking her, more so than anyone else that they encountered. Or maybe this was yet another form of torment that they felt justified in implementing, due to Teana's notorious past. But it was also plausible that it was due to sheer and unadulterated jealousy, which these women would, of course, never admit to, if that were the case….

Despite what Teana did or didn't know about their personal histories, she had often heard that these three also had some lukewarm aspiration to excel in dance; an ambition that Teana knew would never be realized, primarily because of their utter lack of dedication to the craft. Setting aside her own rigorous and daily practices, or even her own adoration for the field itself, with an objective mind set, Teana knew all too well that the real appeal for these three rested in wanting to see and be seen as they performed, and not for any real love of dance that they possessed themselves. She supposed that vanity was also an affliction of theirs; given that they were all rather lovely with their flowing, plaited, dark hair and the voluptuous quality of their figures. If memory served, these three had actually been hired as street dancers for a celebration in recent years. And yet, in that presentation alone, Teana had managed to confirm every one of her prior suspicions….

What had been most distinctive, she remembered thinking, was that they had no sense of rhythm whatsoever. Furthermore, they seemed all but incapable of moving with the flow of music of any kind. And lastly, they clearly and perhaps stubbornly had refused to concede to the capabilities or flexibility of their own untrained bodies. This was painfully obvious when they attempted maneuvers and acrobatics far beyond them, resulting in not only their own down fall, both in the literal and metaphorical sense, but also the loss of balance for those who'd surrounded them in the busy pathways.

Ironically, this mishap only served to strengthen Teana's own merit and worth as a performer; particularly in the eyes of those responsible for the selection process regarding such festivities. Though she had no desire to sound arrogant herself, Teana was aware of the very distinct possibility of what had actually occurred that time… In essence, the reason she hadn't been chosen was because they had hoped to find someone else with genuine talent; eliminating her need and usefulness for upcoming events altogether. Whether this was true or not, however, Teana's increase in popularity, as well as the infuriating "audacity" that they were overlooked for any opportunities afterwards, only seemed to add to the trio's already antagonistic feelings towards her. Teana couldn't help but let out a sigh at the thought of such petty drama, but then, perhaps it was easier for these women to place the blame on another than to come to grips with their own shortcomings; ones that they could very well overcome if the effort was only executed….

With a slight shake of her head, Teana attempted to rein in her wandering thoughts, as she now focused on the current dilemma; namely the fact that these three had all set their eyes on the beguiling young prince.

"I've never seen him before…. Wow…. Is he from another village maybe?" The second woman asked, eyeing him seductively.

"Mmmm, I must say, he's one smooth talker. And from what I can see, he's handsome too! I guess he just hasn't realized what a colossal waste of time it is to even attempt to help someone like you. When all is said and done, it's not like one day will change anything, will it?" Said the third.

"Maybe we should have ourselves a little chat with this mysterious young man of yours. Well, if he's yours at all, anyway. I mean it's our civic duty to tell him all about who he's been associating with…. Isn't that right girls? "

"Of course it is! I mean, how can we not? Though, it's almost a pity that he'll want nothing to do with you once we're through with him. Hmph! Almost."

"But really now, it should come to no surprise that we have so much to say about you, little lady…. This is going to be a lot of fun; fun for us, that is."

"And who knows? Maybe when he's finished casting you aside, the three of us can get to know this stranger better." "Oh yeah! I like the sound of that!"

As the three women seemingly took turns laughing and carrying onward with their scornful remarks, Teana found, to her alarm, that she was completely incapable of responding to their words; for some strange, incomprehensible reason….! Wide-eyed and seemingly frozen in place, she could only watch helplessly, dimly aware that the three appeared to be closing in on her, somehow appearing more and more menacing with each passing moment. Wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her, she then felt a touch of nausea; the unpleasant taste in her mouth forcing her to swallow uncomfortably. Attempting to dismiss these notions, she desperately strived to muster a sound of any kind; an effort that soon proved futile, as the intensity of her uneasiness escalated, steadily.

*What's wrong with me….? Why can't I- I don't understand what's happening….* Teana thought agitatedly.

With the intent of calming herself, she then tried clearing her mind; hoping that this perplexing paralysis would dissipate if she could only succeed in rationalizing her situation…. Though the words that were being thrust at her were both cold and mercilessness, even in spite of her concerns regarding the villagers' perceptions, normally she would have at least made an effort to ignore these women; especially given the tremendous likelihood of this recurring scenario. At times, when they would choose to linger at her booth, Teana would still be able to progress with her usual business transactions, as she quietly hoped that boredom would strike at long last; resulting in the eventual conclusion to their spiteful tirades.

Or, if nothing more than to assist in coping with the magnitude of their disdain, she'd sometimes imagine a number of witty or perhaps…colorfully worded comebacks, at the very least…. And in the days when her patience was wearing particularly thin, Teana would even picture how utterly gratifying it might be to give them all a good swift slap in the face; impulses that she was forced to keep thoroughly suppressed, for obvious reasons. But this time, even the normalcy of those thoughts eluded her, as her mind continued to numb, her voice persisting in its stubborn refusal to function, while her fists trembled and clenched tightly upon her lap.

Why….? Why was she behaving this way? And what was preventing her from even trying to restrain these involuntary responses? Was it because these women were attempting to frighten her; specifically with the notion of telling Yami about what they knew? Yes…. That was the reason…. Though Teana was unable to fully comprehend why it was affecting her physically, what she did know was that she was consumed with dread at the mere thought of what they would ultimately say to him! She may have been as accustomed as she could be with this treatment towards her alone, but if they did manage to reveal not only what they themselves were aware of, but what the village in its entirety believed…. If they twisted and warped the truth even further in their accounts, and without the chance to reveal her side of the story….they could even succeed in what they were threatening to do… Perhaps Yami would turn against her…

As her mind fearfully entertained this chain of events, she imagined the gentleness in his face disappearing forever, as he now looked at her with that same outraged expression; the one that she'd seen on so many faces, both in the past and the present…. In the end he would just walk away, never wanting anything more to do with her ever again; just as the three had promised…. And if that should happen, she'd-

*Oh gods… What should I do?* Teana thought again. *If they tell him everything now, he might really- No! I just can't let that happen! I have to do something! I-*

Before Teana could proceed with her frantic speculations, she then felt a hand on her shoulder, followed by its slight squeeze; a small, yet considerate gesture which had finally allowed Teana to free herself from her petrified state. Looking upward, she noticed that Yami was now standing beside her, so closely…maybe even protectively…. He then faced down all three women with a deep penetrating stare; an expression that soon changed to one of….pleasantness…?

"Ladies, ladies…. Please forgive me for not addressing the three of you in a much more timely fashion. Given the high volume of customers that I was attempting to assist in my own perimeter, I first had to politely excuse myself from the others in order to come….to your aide. Let me assure you, however, that I would have dealt with your particular interests immediately, had I been given the prior opportunity….."

As Teana continued to gaze up at him, even in the midst of his generally hospitable approach, she then noticed a subtly in his face and in the words that he had spoken; one that seemed to just barely contain the severity of his displeasure…! Amazingly, however, the three women hadn't even the slightest inkling of these perceptions, as they all smiled coyly; giggling both girlishly and provocatively as they made the blatancy of their interests known. In an effort to draw further attention to themselves, they alternated from feigning innocence as they fiddled and tossed their hair, to boldly pushing forth their physical attributes, presumably with the hopes to entice him to their supposed charms; in one way or another….

"Well well now…. It's a good thing that we were able to finally get you to notice us, huh handsome? You're not from around here, are you?" The woman in between the two others began. "We were just saying how you might be very interested in knowing about-" She then paused, casting a fleeting yet deliberate glance at a newly tensed Teana; one that served as a reminder that the three had the power to expose her however and whenever they wished….

"As I was saying…. We thought that you might want to know…..more about our village….."

Releasing the breath that she had suppressed inadvertently, Teana felt relief wash over her when the woman had switched topics; though only somewhat unexpectedly. Dimly musing over how this spiteful woman must be reveling in watching her shift uncomfortably, Teana chose to focus on the fact that her secrets were still safe; at least for the moment….. And yet, the real question remained; for how much longer…?

"What she's trying to say," The woman nearest to Yami interjected, seemingly trying to outdo her companion, "is that there's plenty to see, so much to experience around this place…. Sounds fun, right? And who knows? If we have time, we could even fill you in on some of the rumors that have been circulating around this area; and for quite some time too…. I can tell you now, that you might find a few of them especially interesting. Maybe even scandalous….! So how about it? You're done here, aren't you?" She then remarked, more so as a statement, rather than a question.

Brashly raising herself to sit upon the edge of the table, she made certain that her angle would not only flaunt her now crossed legs, but that in doing so she would succeed in further eclipsing Teana, who was forced to draw backward, as the woman's hand slammed roughly and purposefully upon the surface in front of her.

"Oh! Can you believe that…? There she goes again! I mean just look at her showing off like that…." Grumbled the woman who had been interrupted, previously.

"I know, right? Doesn't it seem like she's always the one who gets to go first? Gods, she sure is a greedy little-" The third began.

Flashing them both a look of annoyance, which had managed to silence their petty griping, the woman on the table then readily turned her attention back to Yami, who appeared both stoic and expressionless; even in the midst of all that was occurring before him…. As Teana gazed up at him again, vaguely aware that she was also curious in regards to how he would ultimately respond, moreover she had the sense that Yami's lack of visible emotion was somehow even more disconcerting than the subtly of his anger had been. And though she hated herself for reacting so negatively, whether or not it was intentional on her part, Teana found that she was unable to contain the cold, ominous chill that had begun to course through her ….

"Ah, I see…. A man of few words, eh? Or rather one who dislikes wasting them, judging from what I've seen here today. But come on now…." The seated woman began again, as she inched closer and closer across the table. "There's really nothing to think about here. All you have to do is to get rid of this insufferable waste, and we'll be more than happy to-"

Before she was able to conclude her remark, Yami had chosen to step backward abruptly; effectively halting her attempt to make physical contact with him! Slowly and perhaps sheepishly lowering the hand that she had raised, the woman, as well as the two others, all seemed genuinely surprised by his now apparent and even "baffling" lack of interest! And though he had quickly regained his composure, as near as Teana could presume through her own observations, it was as if he was finally unable or rather unwilling to mask his distaste any longer!

"Yes, well…." Yami said at length, the texture of his voice noticeably harsher than it had been beforehand. "Let us proceed with the business at hand, shall we…? Though I suppose, I must first ask you to remove yourself from our work space; if you would be so kind to do so, that is." He then continued, his eyes narrowing, as he addressed the woman upon the table directly. "I'm afraid that I find such attention to be quite distracting….. I daresay inconsiderate even; both to me and the others who have quietly and patiently awaited their turns this afternoon. Of course, the sooner that you are able to stand aside, the sooner we can all continue with our on-going endeavors….."

With a look of insulted indignation, which was especially evident by her slight gasp and gaping mouth, the woman awkwardly proceeded to do as she was told; sliding off the surface to rejoin her equally stunned companions before the booth.

"Ah yes. Now that's more like it. I must say that your cooperation is most appreciated. So then…..ladies… Can I perhaps interest you in an article of clothing that we have on display? Oh…. I must apologize. I don't believe that we have any such items within our inventory that would conform to your particular tastes, given the conservative quality of these designs, after all… How unfortunate….."

Teana's eyes widened at his remark, which had seemed both forthright and equally discreet in its' insinuative nature!

"Instead, would you be willing to barter for one of the bracelets or beaded necklaces that we've received this afternoon? It is, of course, entirely possible that they may assist in amplifying your…unique beauty." Yami continued, with an intentional pause within his words. "And yet, I can offer no promises in that regard. It is, after all, an undeniable truth that cosmetics or even the most exquisite adornment can only mask so much; especially when one's inner nature is so hideously apparent!"

"This is a joke, right?" One of the three women began, losing her patience.

"It had better be! I mean having the nerve to talk to us like that….!"

"Yeah! Just who do you think you are, anyway?"

"I am no one that you wish to trifle with…."Yami said quietly, allowing the potency of his stare to speak for him.

Even as he uttered those words, Teana, who had remained seated at Yami's side, turned to notice a faint golden glow; one that appeared to be coming from a pocket of his concealing robes… With Yami momentarily preoccupied, Teana soon found herself captivated by the curious light, which emanated a form of familiarity to it, in some fashion.… As her hand involuntarily reached in its direction, it was almost as if the illumination was beckoning her forward, urging her to uncover its source; before it had subsequently faded as quickly as it had appeared ….

Now returning to rational thought, Teana blinked, wondering what had caused her fleeting lapse; the strange, automatic response to what she had just seen. If she had, in fact, seen it…. Taking into account that neither Yami nor any of the women had become aware of the perplexing glimmer, Teana began to question if she had simply imagined it instead; much like her vision had been tested previously in the midst of her panic. But then …with a wave of instinctive foreboding, she slowly, or perhaps reluctantly, set her sights upon the rest of the crowd…. To her surprise, though admittedly only in part….she could now see that the entire market place had come to a sudden standstill! Everyone, everywhere appeared frozen like motionless statues! It was almost as if time itself had been disrupted; a feat implemented by the gods themselves it seemed! Or perhaps…. it was some other unworldly force instead…

Her eyes shifting from left to right, as she searched for even the slightest of movements from the others, Teana could now sense that the air around them, that the very atmosphere had begun to grow dark and cold; a dark haze enveloping the area until only the five of them remained unaffected. Having nearly convinced herself that she was the only one who could see the occurrence of this strange phenomenon, Teana watched as recognition dawned on all three of the women, who had begun to murmur fearfully and incoherently as a result! Becoming wide eyed and increasingly frantic, the women quickly moved towards each other; forming a half circle among them. Seeking comfort or perhaps a sense of grounded rationale in their closeness, the three unsteadily clasped hands as they concurrently and submissively turned to face Yami again …..

"There is no escape from this place….. Try as you may, but any path you take will simply lead you back to the very spot in which you now occupy. And you must know that whatever you say or do will go completely unnoticed by those who exist outside of this realm. As far as the others are concerned, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary is occurring; rather it appears as if we are still conducting our prior business dealings. The business that you so crudely disrupted, that is! Just as you wished, ladies, it is simply the four of us; alone at last…." Yami remarked, now bearing an ominous half smile.

*So… This is his doing…. He's the one making this happen.* Teana thought, with an almost detached acknowledgment.

As a sense of disbelief and a guarded anxiousness soon followed, Teana then attempted to process the sight of her dismal surroundings; much less Yami's now vindictive temperament….. *Hold on…. Four? He said four... But I-*

"Now then, how to proceed…. The truth of the matter is, is that I am currently at a loss for ideas…. I suppose we'll have to settle for something simple, something unoriginal even, as anticlimactic as that may prove to be… I could begin by showing you your greatest fears come to life, for instance. Venomous snakes? Or would you prefer a horde of deadly scorpions instead? No, that isn't nearly enough…. Perhaps a true lesson of humility is in order… I could choose to strip you of your youth, the very beauty that you seem to prize above all else. Or better yet…I could even show you what is reflected within each of you; a sight that could very well haunt you for the rest of your days. Nourished by your selfishness, your hate, your petty jealousies, I could choose to draw out your Ka; the living manifestations of your very souls…. And if my presumptions are as accurate as I believe them to be, I know that those creatures will prove to be just that; hideous monstrosities! So tell me now ladies, which will it be?"

Unable to move from the sheer incredulity of what was occurring before her, while also becoming increasingly affected by this shocking side of him, Teana found that she could only stare blankly into Yami's face. The expression that he wore… It was a face that seemed both merciless and cold, but even more alarming was the unmistakable pleasure that she had seen as he voiced those chilling threats….

Suddenly, as Teana released only the slightest of gasps (one that was perhaps stifled defensively) her body was once again put on edge, first by the flickering of deep crimson hues; a bloodied, unnatural glint that had gradually begun to overshadow the normalcy of Yami's violet colored of eyes….. And even more alarming, was the appearance of a glowing golden eye; a mark that shone brightly upon his forehead. This time, however, it appeared as if three women had also witnessed the materialization of this unearthly light, forcing them to cower even more so; trembling incessantly, rather, like defenseless children…..

"No…. No, please…!"

"Please, forgive us! We beg you….!"

"Don't hurt us…. No… Just stay away…. Stay away from us…!"

As the women slowly attempted to retreat backward, the three still clinging to one another with each uneasy step, at length, they had hardly managed to put any distance between Yami and themselves at all! Ultimately, the unsteadiness of their legs had given out completely; resulting in the trio's simultaneous fall to their knees. Even collapsed as they were upon the ground, as if the recoil had failed to register within the depths of their minds, without a moment's hesitation, the three women only sought to reach for each other again; rocking themselves slightly as if to stave off their now maddening apprehension!

In response to their loss of balance, and the apparent blow that they must have felt by the unnatural angle in which they had fallen, Teana found that she had instinctively begun to raise herself from her seat; having moved slightly in their direction. Now gazing, curiously, upon her own outstretched hand, followed by her inability to look away from the trio's whimpering (and their stagnant expressions in particular…), Teana had become aware of a deep and aching pity that she was beginning to feel for them…

Despite all of their malicious taunts….the months, the years of anguish that she had had to endure at their hands, and with such enormous difficulty as well… Even considering the threats of that very day (threats that she knew that they would have had no qualms in implementing) at that very moment, as she placed that reaching hand upon her chest in response, Teana could only feel the pang of that now unbearable pity. It was as if the three women truly had been reduced to being frightened children; not unlike the ones that she had thought of earlier that day…. And though the concept may have crossed her mind briefly in the past, there was certainly no joy to be found in their suffering; the sheer magnitude of their visible horror. No…. Teana simply wasn't capable of wishing such a fate on them or anyone else….and she knew that if she could do something to help them, that she would be unable to live with herself if she chose not to; no matter how unlikely and even perilous it could very well be….

Clenching her fists, Teana swallowed nervously, turning towards Yami again; this time with the hopes that she really could convince him to put an end to this nightmarish reality! Expecting to have to face that look of twisted amusement, Teana was stunned and even shaken by a feeling of agonizing remorse; one that seemed to be emanating from him…..

The glowing mark upon his forehead was gone…. Yami's eyes were now closed as well, shut tightly even, as if he himself was unable to bear witness to what he had said and done. As the intimidation and tenseness of his posture gradually diminished, (his once folded arms appearing limp at his sides) the three women had also begun to quiet down, their breathing stabilizing, as a result. And visible in the wary but steady softening of their expressions, there was now newfound hope that the paranormal activity around them was indeed coming to an end. With his head lowered, Yami simply retained his passive position; standing motionlessly, for what seemed like an eternity.

"Enough. Enough of this….." Yami said at last.

Reopening his eyes, which had also returned to their ordinary shade, the expression that he now wore seemed solemn and grave; maybe even…weary. "You have nothing more to fear…. Though I had spoken to the contrary, rest assured that no harm will come to any one of you. For that, you have my word." He then continued, addressing the three of them again. "However, when we return to our world, I simply ask… No, I insist that you apologize for your spiteful remarks, much less the sordid behavior that you've displayed here today; especially to Teana who you seemed to have affected greatly by your actions!"

Despite his change in attitude, Yami's gaze and overall tone did intensify slightly upon voicing those words in particular; though with only a fraction of the fortitude that he had shown beforehand.

"You will speak to no one of what you have seen here today, for I have the means to find you, wherever you are, if you choose to do so. If you can accept these terms, with true sincerity, then I will release you. You will be free to carry on with your lives, without any further interference from me. Perhaps then, we can all disregard these transgressions…. as if they had never happened…." Yami trailed, momentarily shifting his gaze. "Are we in agreement?"

Looking briefly at one another, as they maintained their hold on each other, even now, the three women were only able to nod; both concurrently and in accordance to Yami's wishes.

"Very well then…. It's done." Yami said.

Within mere moments, Teana watched as the thick, smothering mist that had darkened their surrounding area soon dissipated; until only the brightness of the afternoon sun could be seen from high above. Feeling the warmth on her skin, as its bright rays streamed down upon them, it was as if she had witnessed the dawning of a new day; or quite possibly the conclusion of a nightly terror….. In turn, time had begun to flow both freely and consistently again. The others, who had appeared frozen only seconds before, resumed their activities without a moment's hesitation; without any knowledge that something so unearthly had occurred at all! And finally, the once deathly silence was now replaced by both the hustling and the resounding chatter of the many that presided among them.

It was exactly as Yami had said it would be… The townsfolk, even in their surrounding vicinity, were, in fact, unaware of anything out of the ordinary; with the exception of the spreading and increasingly bewildering inquiries about why the three women were now seated upon the ground! Raising themselves, ever so slowly, as the multitude of questions and even passing concern was thrust upon them, the three seemed to completely disregard the others, their heads turning wildly as if they were unable to put their trust in the common nature of the village setting.

"Ladies…?" Yami began again, his voice containing a mixture of both anticipation and command. And yet, somehow…in that one word, there was also a heaviness; a touch of lingering regret, perhaps…..

As the three met Yami's gaze again, they seemed to understand his meaning, even in the midst of their remaining confusion and dread.

"We're sorry…" One of the women said, meekly. She had glanced briefly at Teana upon speaking, but it was clear that the apology was directed at Yami, more so, than it had been towards her.

"Y-yeah… We are…" Another stuttered, still clutching the arm of her companion; her grip wavering.

"We won't bother you again….." Said the last, as she anxiously guided the other the other two away.

Even as they continued on their path through the ever expanding group of spectators, many who remained inquisitive over the women's unusual circumstances, the three simply persisted in staring at Yami; until the very moment that they were far from sight. Even then, their gazes were fixed keenly, intently, as if they had seen a ghost; or perhaps something far more menacing…. And all the while, they possessed those same vacant, wide-eyed expressions that had never flattered, one that Teana wondered if she herself now shared; as she too looked up in Yami's direction…

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