Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tales of Hierakon's Empire ❯ Chapter 4

The citizens still littering the city streets of dusted sand watched as the Maladraad prince and the Hierakon princess trekked their way back to the palace from the Temple of Horus they resided in for a couple of hours, whispering to each other about the odd behavior of the princess prior to the concealment of the two. Many accusations were made within the tangled web of gossip around the empire, but none were believable, the soothsayers waving away the assumptions with hisses of annoyance.

 

On the bright side, others swooned at seeing them together in hopes of them eloping to create a new and future ruling once Omorose's father declined the throne, imagining what changes, if any, would be made within their presence. Kafele was a superb ruler, noble in his acts, though harsh upon his laws, placing many of the poor peasants in a state of hate for the Pharaoh. If one couldn't work, one couldn't get paid and if one didn't get paid one had to go into slavery to pay one's dues against taxes; a ball and chain that would never be released from the ankle it was placed upon once ensued.

 

Washed up from getting flour on her attire as well as her appearance from helping Osteen in the kitchen, young Rehema waited patiently for her sister and the prince to return in the palace lobby, sitting upon a wicker bench with one of the royal felines that kept the rats at bay in the darkest of places within the palace walls. Her dainty hand stroked over the short, velvet feeling cabbit-blue fur of the cat she called Luxor, his purr telling her just how much he enjoyed the rub down. Aside from cats, the royal family also had lean- bodied hounds, used for hunting sport or loyal companionship, Rehema loving them all since she felt great comfort from the furry creatures.

 

Luxor's giant triangular auds lifted at the sound of distant talking from the palace entrance, alerting the young princess about a familiar presence. His once slit eyes opened wider, his tail giving a flick, crystalline whiskers flaring out as his tucked inward front paws spread out to allow him to stand on all four paws once he hefted himself up from the lying position he was in. Mewing softly, he cantered his head to the princess, holding his tail high to express curiosity.

 

“You hear them, too, don't you Luxor? Let's go greet them!” Pushing herself off the bench with a giggle, Rehema hurried across the marble flooring that was so clean her reflection mimicked her actions, Luxor padding after her quickly with a jingle of his thick golden collar.

 

As soon as Omorose passed through the opened archway leading into the palace, her surprise was caught when her younger sister threw her arms around her to hug her tightly, a smile painting across her lips to cover the frown she once held. Hugging her back just as tightly, the elder princess kissed her sister on the cheek, remembering why she loved staying inside more than out. “Rehema! I'm more than happy to see you. Have you waited for me all this time?” she asked, lifting a thin brow to her quizzically.

 

“Nope! I've been helping Osteen in the kitchen. Everyone is waiting on you and Djoser so we'd better get a move on!” Smiling to the prince once her ivy green eyes fell upon him, Rehema tugged her sister along by the wrist to make her follow her. “Come on!”

 

Laughing softly at her sister's behavior, Omorose tried to keep up with her steps as she sprinted after her, taking her mind off the horrible day she'd had. “I'm coming! I can't possibly remain behind with your grip upon my wrist.”

 

Djoser watched the interaction between the two sisters, smiling softly to remain where he knew he should concerning the distance Omorose declared when walking her back to the palace. He only wanted to console her over the sadness she felt, but she refused to show any true emotion to him, feeling he had to work harder to gain access to her heart. Following in the path of the two princesses, the Maladraad prince entered the dining area shortly after Rehema and Omorose, the praise from Kafele more than known with his booming voice.

 

“Ah! There's my beautiful daughters and the prince I wanted to see this evening. Come and sit at my right hand and dine upon the perfect meal lining this table,” the Pharaoh offered, gesturing to the seat on his right, which was the highest honor given to a man, Este sitting on the other side with a charming smile to Djoser.

 

“I hope you enjoy the welcoming meal created by the hard working staff here. The menu was made by Kafele in your honor. We feel there is no other man as worthy as you to take the hand of our eldest daughter in the future,” the gracious Queen relayed to the prince, keeping her hands in her lap appropriately.

 

Approaching the elaborate seat cushioned with a velvet pillow, Djoser sat down with a respected bow of his head, his sleek layered ebony tresses shifting with his movement. “Thank you, Lord and Lady Hierakon for inviting me to stay for the next six days in order to get more acquainted with your beautiful daughter, Omorose. We had a lovely time at the temple. I look forward for more alone time with her.” Lifting his head, the torchlight sent a glimmer through the garnets adorning his brows, his smile placing a warm comfort to those around him.

 

The weary sapphire orbs of the elder princess locked upon her empty, clean plate adorned with carnelian, turquoise, and lapis around the rim, forcing herself to wear the façade she always did around her parents when Djoser was present. “Yes, mother and father. It was a lovely walk. I am sure the next six days will be filled with great delight now that he is here for me.” Flashing her fake, though promising smile to her parents, she shifted her gaze over to the many food items, spotting the great priest, Darwishi, feeling his gaze upon her.

 

Poor child. She has to fake her every emotion to keep her parents happy. I feel so sorry for the Pharaoh's honor in picking a husband for his daughter or daughters. Smiling softly to Omorose when her eyes hooked gazes with his own, he gave a brief nod, averting any further contact to show he understood, placing a hand upon Bennu's thigh. “Such a great reunion, don't you think?”

 

Alluring sea green oculars looking to the priest, the royal healer smiled sweetly, nodding, her many beaded tassels swaying with a familiar clack. “Of course it is. It is always an honor to have the prince here with us.”

 

Omorose could only keep her fake smile there upon her face best she could throughout the rest of the dinner as she ate by her future husband's side. The prayers she had said previously in the Horus Temple rang over and over again in her head as the vegetable soup of the day graced her lips. She was eager for the dinner to end so she could quickly excuse herself to her bedroom.

 

Kafele could see that his eldest daughter was uncomfortable for she always had that awful habit of looking down at her food even when she was pausing between bites to hint such. Her plates were nearing empty and he knew any minute now she would rush herself to bed without another word to the young prince and Kafele didn't wish to insult the fine prince of Maladraad. Finishing the bread he had in his hands, he clapped his now free hands to summon the two main servers that were nearby: Mu'dra and Sadren.

 

The two servers blinked a few times hearing the Pharaoh calling to them as they headed towards him. Mu'dra and Sadren both bowed respectively and held the bowing stance knowing they were not allowed to look him directly in the eyes for he was of higher status. Both of them rested their hands at their sides as they awaited his orders.

 

“Bring in the dessert. I am sure our dear Omorose and Djoser would like to have the Basbousa before retiring to their chambers,” Kafele suggested eagerly.

 

Mu'dra and Sadren both nodded in agreement, “Of course, my Pharaoh.”

 

Sadren excused himself from the area with Mu'dra right behind him seeing as they had plenty of the Basbousa for the royals to consume and it took more than one hand to do so. The two servants headed over to the opposite table that held the food prepared for the dinner and took the Egyptian cake that was adored by the royal family. Sadren picked up his part as Mu'dra took his tray filled with the cake before heading carefully back to the dinning table. Both walked cautiously so as not to fumble up and disgrace the Pharaoh who was trying to impress the foreign prince. They knew if they did, they would be beaten severely for it.

 

Mu'dra served the younger royals as Sadren took the Pharaoh, Queen, the royal priest, and the healer. As both were passing out the pieces they felt each would desire, they also took up the plates they felt were finished. As Mu'dra made his way over to Rehema, who looked to be finished with her soup seeing as he witnessed her not touching it for some time, he dared to remove the plate only to have Rehema's hand grab onto his ivory wrist gently to prevent him from doing so.

 

“Wait, I am not finished with that,” Rehema expressed innocently as she looked the slave in the eyes best she could.

 

Djoser looked to the younger princess as well as the servant and couldn't help but scoff upon the accident made by the young man. “Such incompetents,” Djoser expressed with his eyes slightly narrowed. “You would think such lower class slaves that serve the royal family would be a lot more aware than this fool expresses.”

 

Omorose couldn't help but turn from Djoser as she frowned at his choice of words. Her hands there within her lap, she gripped tightly onto her dress as if to release the urge to slap him. She was in no mood to watch another servant be punished for a meager accident that even a royal could have done.

 

The Pharaoh was quick to rise from his seat as he slammed his palm down on the table, rattling the plates and things upon it. “What is the matter with you? Can you not accomplish such a simple task as serving us when we eat?”

 

Este and the others couldn't help but flinch under the rising anger of the Pharaoh as they both said nothing knowing it would matter little if they did. Besides, it wasn't their right to say anything given the Pharaoh had the most power.

 

Mu'dra quickly bowed his head in forgiveness though he was quivering mostly from rage. “I apologize, my Pharaoh,” he muttered through his teeth as he clutched his fists tightly at his side. He wanted so badly to do something about the overbearing Pharaoh but he couldn't, at least not now. There was nothing he could do that would satisfy the Pharaoh of Hierakon, or so it seemed lately with how strict he was.

 

Rehema could only let her father do the talking though she knew it was just a harmless mistake. Taking her spoon, she swirled it about the soup she was still eating as she lowered her head in response to what she had caused. She felt bad for it and took part of the blame directed at Mu'dra.

 

Djoser couldn't help but smirk at the servant as he looked to the rattled Omorose. Reaching his hand over to hers resting there in her lap, he was surprised to feel the elder princess to pull away from him quickly. “Is something the matter, Princess Omorose?” He wondered as he saw she was furrowing her brow in fixed anger.

 

Not able to stand the tension she now felt towards the situation, Omorose was quick to pull from her chair and stand there beside it. “May I be excused, father?” Omorose boldly asked, looking to her feet as her chin cut chocolate-tented bangs covered her angered expression to the best of their ability.

 

Kafele was about to refuse but it was Este's gentle hand that grasped onto her husband as if to stop him from doing so. Looking to his wife, Kafele watched as she shook her head to signify she knew him all too well and knew what he was about to say to their, obviously, upset daughter. Growling at his wife, he gave into her wishes this time as he gazed back at Omorose. “You may be so, but I want you to study until you retire to bed.”

 

Omorose knew that was her punishment for leaving the table earlier than expected as she nodded to her father. “I will, father. I promise.” Turning to Djoser, she nodded once to him with a serious frown on her features. “Goodnight to you, Prince Djoser. I will see you tomorrow when I wake, I am sure. I pray you all sleep well tonight…now if you'll excuse me,” she sighed, turning away from the table and heading to her bedroom.

 

The foreign prince watched as Omorose walked to her bedroom for the night as he took a bite out of the cake there in front of him. She is much too kindhearted to be Queen, he thought to himself. I can only hope that it changes or her father's empire will fall.

 

 

 

The stars shined brightly that night through the window that Jin could see there at his bedside. He was working on another item late that night seeing as it was too early for him to sleep and he wasn't tired at that given moment so he occupied himself with the only activity he enjoyed. His fiery red hair blew about in the gentle breeze as he gazed at the stars in the sky while working on the Egyptian griffon necklace he had planned out. “The stars sure do look nice tonight, don't you think?” Jin said as he looked over at Touya who was lying on his stomach still.

 

Touya merely looked over at Jin before looking back at nothing in particular since he had no interest in the stars at that moment. The pain in his back was really getting to him though he tried his best not to express it.

 

Jin could only try his best to smile for Touya since his friend refused to as the redhead looked back up at the night sky when he managed to get the tip of the wing of the griffon just right. The stars continued to shine their majestic beauty as one managed to soar quickly across the sky catching Jin's childlike interest as he smiled brightly. “Oh, look at that, a shooting star!” Looking back at the irritable Touya, he pointed at the sky that the bi-colored hair demon on the opposite bed could just see from where he was resting. “There was a shooting star, Touya!”

 

Touya's narrow eyes looked back at the talkative Jin from where he was resting with his arms crossed under his chin to suffice as a better pillow.

 

Seeing that he had Touya's interest once more, he grinned from ear to ear as he looked at the young man from the corner of his eye. “You know what they say—if you see a star fall from the sky, you best make a wish.”

 

The injured slave could only scoff at Jin's want to cling to childhood fairytales. “You still believe in all of that, Jin?”

 

“Oh, come on now,” Jin encouraged as he looked back out the window near his bed. “Just make a wish and I am sure it will come true.”

 

“Alright,” Touya grunted as he tried to situate himself only to pause and release a hiss of pain. “Damn, that really hurts! If anything, I wish my pain would go away!”

 

“Your pain has to be unbearable, I bet,” Jin sighed as he put down his necklace he was working on to tend to his friend. Heading over to Touya's bedside, he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder gently to look at him with concern. “Don't worry I can take care of your bandages for you. I managed to pick up some medicine I thought might help and onions may help with your health.”

 

Pulling away from Touya for a moment, Jin headed into the kitchen area to pull out the cream and bandages he purchased that day before making his way back to his friend's bedside. Jin carefully began to remove the bandages that Touya had on him knowing that the medicine applied previously had obviously subsided and allowed his friend's pain to resurface. Touya couldn't help but cringe as he gripped tightly onto the covers beneath him thanks to the air attacking his opened wounds and making the agonizing pain worse than it already was. His eyes closing tightly in horrendous pain, he huffed through his clenched teeth as Jin worked on concealing them once again.

 

“Shhh, this may take awhile so be patient with me,” Jin insisted as he dipped the strips in the cream before working on covering Touya's marked back.

 

Sighing heavily through his nostrils, Touya balled the sheets into his fists thanks to the searing, burning pain the new medicated bandages brought to his battered body, trying not to fuss anymore than he already had given the circumstance. Occupying his mind away from the pain best he could manage, he recalled the shooting star, grunting a hiss as he opened his mouth to speak. “So what are you going to wish for? I told you mine already. Mmph!”

 

Dipping another bandage into the clay jar of medicated cream, Jin gave his partner a side ways grin as he slid the excess cream off the bandage, carefully applying it to one of the many gaping wounds on Touya's back. “Out of the many things I have in mind, I wish for us both the freedom of living normal lives with our own created families.” Noting Touya's scoff, the child-at-heart redhead was quick to counter his reason before his friend had the privilege of attacking his thoughts. “I know that seems impossible, but I believe we will have that opportunity. Every cloud has a silver lining, so don't you tell me otherwise, mister grumpy pants. Be positive for once.” His tone indicated he was being playful, but Touya just wasn't in the mood for it, merely hissing through his teeth since another bandage was being placed down again. “I know what you're thinking. You're not going to die. Not while I'm here to protect you.” Finishing up his work in doctoring the wounds, he placed the lid back on the jar, getting up to put it in a safe place where it wouldn't get knocked over.

 

Trying to relax after the agony of being rebandaged, Touya rested his flushed cheek upon his arm so he could see out of the window better from where he was lying with a steady breath. I can only hope you're right, Jin. I feel here lately they are eager to be rid of me before the real time they scheduled my `departure'. A spoon suddenly shoved in his face, he couldn't help but blink, resisting the urge to jerk back since it would hurt tremendously if he did. “Jin! What in—“

 

“Its what you didn't eat at dinner. Don't worry about sitting up; I'll feed it to you. You need something in your stomach to help those wounds heal. Come on, do it for me.” Giving him the most pitiful look he could muster within his child-like innocence, the cobalt orbs of the redhead held great concern, wanting him to get better since he worried about him. “Please?” he added in a whisper, nudging the wooden spoon to his lips gently.

 

Left with no other choice, Touya gave in to comply, parting his lips to accept the spoon filled with vegetables and broth, grateful he had Jin there to mellow out the bitterness he held inside towards the royals and why he was in such pain to begin with. The two worked hand-in-hand, like two peas in a pod, gaining strengths through one another in their day-to-day lives. If one was struggling with a certain issue, the other would jump in to try and help the troubled one become stronger in the area of weakness, working vice versa when the other happened to strike a rut. From the rearing of their childhood they had worked in such a force, forming a bond impossible to break. Once he managed to swallow what he had in his mouth, the alluring, narrow cerulean orbs of the bi-colored tressed male shifted to look up at his partner. “Thank you.”

 

A smile etching slowly across Jin's lips, the redhead gave a nod, dipping the spoon back into the bowl of soup to scoop out another bite. “You're welcome, Touya. Does it taste okay? You need something to drink before taking the next bite?”

 

Shaking his head gently, he sniffed lightly to clear his sinuses. “It tastes just fine. I'll let you know when I need something else, just give me the soup for now.” Eyeing his companion's bed a moment, he noticed the half finished necklace item, lifting a thin brow as he took his next bite of soup offered to him. “What're you making this time?”

 

Hearing his friend's inquiry, Jin looked back at the item made of silver, a bit of gold, and carnelian thus far, laughing softly. “Oh, that? It's a griffon I had in mind I've wanted to construct for several days now. It's halfway finished. So far I'm pleased with it.”

 

“For anyone in particular?” he couldn't help but ask, getting spooned another bite, humming lightly at the mild taste of herbs washing over his taste buds.

 

“No, just one of my projects to keep me occupied,” he merrily replied, content that Touya was mellowed out now and not near as anal as he once was. “Oh! When you finish this, I have dessert for once. Some Basbousa.”

 

Raising his eyebrows, Touya couldn't help but look surprised, nearly choking on his food. “Basbousa? Seriously? But the flour used is quite expensive. How could you splurge with the income we make?” He had obviously forgotten about the coins Bennu left behind to pay for extra food, leaving him flabbergasted.

 

“With the extra currency the royal healer left behind when she came to first tend to your wounds. With what she provided combined with what little we make to survive, I had enough to get things we rarely get to have.” Laughing a bit, he reached over to stroke Touya's messy cerulean hair, muddling it up a bit. “We'll be eating like kings for a short while, I guess you could say. Enjoy it while you can. Are you thirsty now?”

 

“I…yeah, sure.” Lifting his head a bit more to accept the rim of the cup being placed to his lips, Touya carefully drank down the cow's milk given to him for extra protein as well as calcium, wiping the white liquid mustache off with the back of his hand. “Mind you, that still doesn't change my mind on what I think about them even if the healer was generous enough to provide that money. However, I thank her all the same, I suppose. Been ages since I've—heck, since either of us has had basbousa.”

 

Standing from the edge of the his bed he was seated upon, Jin made his way back towards the kitchen area to place the soiled bowl, spoon, and cup onto the dinning table for the moment since he'd have to wash the items later, going for the dessert to get a nice sized piece so the two could share it. When he managed to bring it back over to his bedfast partner, Jin settled back down, cutting a nice sized piece off the pastry to offer to Touya, who gladly took it with a satisfied hum.

 

“Mmm, that's good stuff,” he mumbled with his mouth full, making Jin laugh, he starting to laugh himself since he knew he must have sounded like a hungry fool on the sandy streets that hadn't had sweets his entire life tasting it for the first time. “Well it is!”

 

Trying not to fall backwards upon his bed the change in attitude was so sudden, Jin managed to keep himself perched on the edge of the bed, feeling tears mist his eyes he had been laughing so hard. It had been a long time since they had shared such an amusing moment together, the exhilaration riveting. “You never cease to amaze me, Touya. Damn I love you.”

 

Swallowing the bite of pastry so he wouldn't choke on it, Touya, for once, felt no pain as he continued to chuckle over the incident. “I know you, do, Jin. I love you, too. Why else would I put up with you for over twenty years?” he joked, licking the sweet crumbs off his lips he felt sticking to his skin.

 

“If you weren't wounded I would hit you for that,” Jin chided, smirking, sticking his tongue out at him. “Here, have another bite since you love it so much.”

 

Snorting playfully at his redheaded partner, Touya took the next bite offered to him, Jin taking one of his own, they both reminiscing of their childhood days when they were actually happy, even if poor, indulging in their first taste of basbousa when they were lucky enough to get it. It was times like these Jin could only hope Touya would lighten up about his situation to not be so gloomy about it, however, he knew that would be asking too much concerning the poor man literally had a death sentence hanging over his head. But no matter how much Touya grumbled, Jin would try to keep his spirits up. Even if it came to nearly dying to do so.