AN: Sorry for the 2 day delay...I was sick. Okay, some more action(?) in this chap...so the action only keeps going from here! This chapter is not really filler, but kind of a bridge chapter so yeah. Also, I don't own Yu Gi Oh!

And guys thank you for reading and thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them, we're currently at 39 and I would appreciate more too. I have to say I was disappointed with the lack of reviews last chapter, b/c I never know then if ppl are enjoying it less generally speaking...so yeah. Anyways, I appreciate your reviews guys and I hope you enjoy this.

Guest: (since I can't pm thank you) Thank you for the review! I'm glad you liked the first meeting! Hopefully this is a good follow up!

CHAPTER 8

"The Loosed Tongue and the Half-Moon"

Knelt on the ground, with his back and head bent over, Yuugi waited, and waited, for the celebrating to be finished.

His heart was racing and yet he could not have been more bored.

He kept his chin tucked in, low enough to make certain that the hooded shape of fabric on his head curtained his face, but still, every so often he could feel the heat of a piercing stare like a smoldering coal on his skin.

While his gaze was on the ground he could still see not the alabaster stone floor, but the eyes of the prince, his master, searing into him, trying to peel back the layers of his body to stare directly at his very heart and mind, his soul, his secrets. This must have been the true power of one born as the Living Horus, a direct connection to the gods that gave him powers no mortal could ever dare hope for. And this was the power under which he was to spend the rest of his days serving.

Tremors engulfed his small body.

How could he serve such a man? How could he, little clumsy, foreign Yuugi, wait everyday on a man whose quickest of glances delved so deeply? While the celebration paraded on worries mounted ever higher in Yuugi's mind.

Time passed slowly; without food and with the humid warmth, rhythmic music, and the increasingly heavy perfume of incense, Yuugi found himself slowly growing dopey and dull; his body threatened to slump completely to the ground in a lazy stupor. It was his mentor beside him who saved him from making such a grievous error.

A pinch on the underside of his bare foot was enough to startle Yuugi to a more alert state, almost too alert, and he kept his head from raising and eyes looking wildly about only by Kahotep's voice, which came in a quick, whispered, command.

"Yuugi," he spoke without looking, without even appearing to be speaking at all. Yuugi ducked his head lower to, hopefully, convey a similar appearance.

"The prince is readying to retire from the party. Follow ten steps behind him. Be silent. Keep your head down but watch him as well. He seems quite full of wine; make certain he makes it to his chambers safely. Do not do a single thing unless he directs you. Wait til he has climbed into bed and shut his eyes and, unless he says otherwise, go directly to the lower chambers. Wake early and wait by his door until he rises. Always bow to the ground when you see him coming. Do you understand?"

"Yes Kahotep," he whispered back, looking just above the floor line.

"Good boy, now go."

Yuugi rose swiftly, too much so, nearly faltering when he belatedly realized there was little sensation in his legs. By the edge of the room, walking along the wall in the shadows was the prince, discretely making his exit from the slowly dying festivities. Without even a look behind him the young man slipped from the room to some unknown passage, disappearing from sight into the darkness.

The momentarily lame servant hobbled along after the prince, keeping his head down only to gracelessly lift it slightly every few steps, trying to avoid the paths of both servants and guests as he desperately tried to keep up with his new master.

It was with a sigh of relief that Yuugi finally made his way free from the main chamber, stumbling finally into a large, unfamiliar open-air path. Anxiety rose again when he heard no footsteps. Throwing caution aside he raised his head fully, eagerly searching for his sly master.

To the right and to the left; both ends appeared empty. This hall seemed to have been deserted even by guards, but the prince had gone this way, he was certain of it. Yuugi chewed at his mistreated lip again.

"Which way could he have gone?" He looked back and forth again down either ends of the hall. Time was running out if he wanted to find the prince before he got into trouble. "Right or left? Which way is the prince's bedroom?"

To the left would overlook the Nile where its shores glimmered nearby beyond the palace walls, to the right would overlook the cool desert landscape beyond the lush palace surroundings. Which one would be more appropriate for a prince?

"Left." With a nod of affirmation to himself he took off down the open hall, praying to the gods and goddesses he remembered that his senseless decision would not lead him down the wrong path. The boy lifted his tunic and started to run down the all, trying to keep as quiet as possible without losing speed, lest his footsteps bring him unwanted attention.

Above the softened echoes of the slowing party a contented sigh came just so faintly to Yuugi's ears, very near by. Yuugi stopped short and stood still, his tunic in his sweaty palms and his nostrils flaring as he tried to regain his breath.

"Such a night," the bodiless voice spoke, emanating from behind a giant stone column that cleverly concealed its companion.

And who was this person speaking to? Had Yuugi perhaps unwittingly stumbled upon his master while he was enjoying someone's company? If that was the case, would it be best to stay away?

A life previously devoted to avoiding his master at all costs had given Yuugi little preparation for such circumstances and, in his panic, the words of Kahotep had all but disintegrated entirely in his mind.

"Hm, I suppose I should have left that last glass of wine alone," the words ran together a little, ending with a gentle chuckle.

The slur was new, but Yuugi was certain he recognized the voice, sure that he had heard it several times this evening. Especially when he had bowed before it and been accepted as its owner's gift.

Without another's words to join his it seemed safe to assume the prince was indeed alone, but still the servant-child did not move. With his tunic still in his clutches Yuugi hesitated there, his mind drowning in questions.

Should he move forward and let the prince know that his servant had faithfully followed him? But the prince had obviously tried to slip away unnoticed. Was he supposed to stay back in case the prince did not want him to follow? But in that case how would the prince know that he was here in case he was needed?

The sound of leather soles rubbing against the stone and another short, contented sigh came to Yuugi's ears. One royal foot made an appearance just at the edge of his sight of the stone column, illuminated by the moonlight as it poured in the open space.

An idea came cautiously to mind; he could be sly and sneaky, perhaps. Maybe he could act so that it would be possible to avoid any chance of punishment and disfavor by being neither seen nor unseen.

Well then, it was decided, that was what he would do. He would edge forward just enough for the prince to be able to see him in the moonlight if he wanted to, but far away and unobtrusive enough to be ignored as well.

Yuugi raised one foot and stepped forward only to find his feet faltering again. All at once the words of Ahknadin rang in his ears; his stupid, foolish, clumsy nature was going to be the end of him. In only a moment he would fall gracelessly, obtrusively at the feet of his master and ruin any good impression and good fortune he had left. Any esteem by his master would be lost, all of Kahotep's good words and deeds would be completely negated.

No, he would not let it! He would not disappoint Kahotep or the prince!

Yuugi caught himself from tumbling to the ground only to land several loud, slapping steps on the stone floor, piercing the calm of this outdoor sanctuary. No sooner did his feet fall then there was the sound of slippers quickly moving and a weapon being unsheathed.

"Who is there?" The voice had lost its softness, replaced by the hard, commanding voice that came with regal lineage.

Too soon for Yuugi to bow he found himself being stared down by the future pharaoh of all Kehmet, his shoulders back and a short curved blade that gleamed as it caught the moonlight in his firm grip, his features hidden by the glow of the moon behind him.

"Come into the light."

His call left no alternative. Yuugi stepped forward into the moonlight and toward the illuminated prince with his head bowed. He could only pray the gesture would be enough to make up for his folly.

"Oh, it is just you then." Once again the voice was softer, nonchalant, and subtly laced with the symptoms of overindulgence. The sound of the blade being put back in its scabbard rang in the night and Yuugi nearly sighed aloud with relief. "I suppose I will have to become used to you following me then, since Father thinks it a good idea." There was a lazy pause. "Hm, come here."

Yuugi took tiny steps forward, bowing more and more with each step until he was almost bent out at the waist. When the prince's slippers met his eyes not more than three steps from where he stood he stopped and waited.

"So, you were one of Uncle's servants."

Yuugi kept himself bowed and silent. It was difficult to tell if he was actually being asked; luckily his new master seemed to be talking more to himself than his attendant and did not demand an answer. Out of the corner of his eye Yuugi saw the long shadow of the prince, his fists on his hips.

"Lift your head."

Very slowly Yuugi did as he was told, his lower lip still caught in his teeth, clenched so tightly he thought it might break and bleed at any moment. Hesitantly he rose all the way up, pausing as he lifted his head, keeping his chin tucked and eyes cast down. Without warning something warm and rough held Yuugi's jaw.

"Come on, I said 'lift your head'. I want to see you."

Yuugi let his chin be pulled up and kept his eyes to the left, avoiding the prince's face and trying to remain calm. So rarely had he been so close to any man, and past experience had taught him very well that such intimate touches from a master did not lead to pleasant outcomes. His heart continued to beat painfully in his constricted chest.

The prince, however, was either unaware or uncaring of his impact on the young servant. He moved his face close enough for Yuugi to smell the food and wine on his breath. He turned Yuugi's head in both directions under the light of the half moon. "How strange," he commented lowly. "Look at me."

With the utmost reluctance Yuugi moved his gaze slowly to the prince, not daring to disobey. First his eyes touched on the man's calloused hand, then his muscled arm, then his strong jaw and pointed chin and slender nose, and then finally, at last, into those eyes he dreaded seeing again.

In that moment Yuugi thanked his good fortune and the will of the gods that the prince had thoroughly enjoyed his birthday celebration; though his slightly squinted eyes were still powerful, they now danced about here and there, slightly murky and out of focus while he studied Yuugi. It might, however, been this same factor that vexed his new master, for after a few moments of, attempted, intense study the prince moved his hand back with a grunt of dissatisfaction.

"I swore..." the prince muttered. With a shake he raised his head with a smile. "You are quite a strange looking, boy. So pale, and your eyes...how can you see in the sun with such wide eyes?" This time the prince continued to watch him silently, waiting for the answer.

This was not a moment Yuugi had been prepared for. "Y-your Highness, I-"

All words were stolen from Yuugi's breath when the prince lifted his hands in his own and pulled them further under the moonlight, taking Yuugi a few steps back with him.

"Well I suppose you do not see much sun," he laughed and dropped his servant's hands, his poor servant who was trying with all his might not to let the stutters he was barely suppressing echo from his mouth. "Father said your name was Yuugi, right? An odd name...it suits you. You must be a subject of my father's generosity. Father has an open heart when it comes to oddities; that is why he has Kahotep."

The prince turned back to the ledge just beyond the row of stone columns, faltering once in his steps as he called aloud. "Father says the gods and goddesses created peculiarities in order to make us wiser, and each one provides us with the opportunity of a new lesson. Nothing at all like Uncle, Uncle Ahknadin thinks that anything strange is dangerous." He lowered his voice, but not low enough for Yuugi to miss, "Of course those words come from him of all people."

With one hand on the ledge he turned back and captured Yuugi's stare. "He must have hated you." The prince's voice was vaguely solemn and dimly contemplative.

A wind reached where they stood and Yuugi shivered in his tunic. He looked up to watch the prince, who stood like a statue against the breeze, calm and powerful as his wild hair and clothes were ruffled under the moonlight.

"Come here."

Without a thought Yuugi's legs carried him to the ledge, his master's words like a temptress's song. Yuugi stopped two steps behind the prince, who, seeing his stalled servant, pat the ledge with his hand, where the rings on his fingers made as hard clack against the surface.

"Up here Yuugi. It is just us, I will not hurt you."

Flames rose in Yuugi's fair face and he looked to his feet as he stepped up next to his master. Had he dared to he would have shook at their proximity, taken a step away to soothe the heartbeat pulsing in his ears and the trembling creeping under his skin, but he did not. He even forced himself to refrain from pulling his lip between his teeth, keeping them pursed tightly together instead.

This was most certainly far closer than he should be allowed to stand next to a master of any kind, let alone a prince. Regardless of what his orders had been Yuugi was sure that Kahotep would not have approved of the situation in the slightest.

"Look." Reluctantly Yuugi did just as he had been told.

The prince swept a hand along the dark landscape, illuminated only by the light of a half moon.

"Do you see that Yuugi?" he murmured reverently, "Everything you can see is our domain. Everywhere your eyes can touch is Kehmet."

Yuugi looked across the vast stretch of land from the right where the moonlight turned the desert sands into dunes of blue and white, to the left where he could see the glimmering waters of the Nile and its lush valley as it crept up to the palace walls.

He supposed he should say something, but what? What could he say that would be sufficient for the prince's adoration of his homeland? Would he offend him if he did not offer a proper response?

At his sides Yuugi's fists curled within the long sleeves of his robes. "It-, Y-your Highness, I-," despite his efforts to keep his body from shaking, his voice did nothing to hide his fear.

Two strong, hot hands closed fast around Yuugi's forearms and raised them so that he could see his hands before his face; with sleeves pooling above the hands that held him tight his own shaking hands were revealed in the night, pure white under the moon.

"Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you."

It must have been all the drink and food in his master's body, but when Yuugi felt his eyes move from his hands to the voice that spoke to him he saw something unbelievable. The prince's eyes were as dark as the wine he had drunk, not piercing but like deceptively shallow shores, tempting him with entry to unexpectedly land him in deep waters. The prince's grip tightened, his fingers pressing against the marks made before by his own uncle. Yuugi flinched under the pressure against the sensitive flesh.

Disbelief and fear must have been what the prince mistook for his pain, because his hands bore on the servant more fervently, and he pulled Yuugi so that their bodies were almost touching, their faces very close to one another as he loomed a few inches above his servant.

They stood so close that when the prince spoke their breath mingled. "I will not hurt you. Believe me."

It was not a request, but a flat command. Something beyond his sworn oath of duty and allegiance to this new master compelled Yuugi to obey. A riptide of red was enveloping his senses; had he had even a drop of wine he would have sworn it was the drink clouding his mind, and not the mere glance of a man, a man he called "Master. Yes Your Highness, I believe you."

The prince dropped his hands and stepped back; he turned and rested against the ledge, looking out over the dark Kehmet horizon, as though Yuugi were not there and the last few moments had been but a passing dream. Yuugi himself watched the prince in a stupor, questioning himself as to whether what had just happened had been an instance of delirium, his mind addled by too much excitement on too little food and sleep. He nearly opened his mouth to pose the question aloud and then snapped it shut.

Truly he must be delirious to almost address his master with such a question. It would be better to focus his attention on keeping his voice silent and his eyes down before he risked himself any further trouble.

Then through the night a voice loudly called out. From the sound Yuugi could only guess they were just exiting the great hall as he had done to follow the prince.

"Where do you think His Highness has gone?" One man asked.

"Perhaps we could ask a guard, or a member of Pharaoh's council," another slurred.

"Yes, Ahmose," a third man laughed. "A truly splendid idea. It is so brilliant though, that you should do it alone and take the credit. Masud and I will have to devise another way to find him, no need to give our names."

The prince stood suddenly and cursed. "I have been Vizier since supper and already they follow me like a bitch's whelps." He looked back to Yuugi. "Follow close to my side; if they see you we are both caught. And be quiet."

The prince took off further left, keeping along the ledge behind the camouflage of stone columns. As silently as he could manage Yuugi came hastily behind him, the folds of his tunic once again clasped in his fingers. Yuugi followed the prince all the way down the ledge until they reached a corner, and turned a sharp left. The prince's scurry progressed to a full run, forcing his servant to follow suit. Yuugi scrambled after, his breath sharp and painful. They ran long after the bemused voices of the prince's attempted audience had faded in the night air.

Yuugi followed the prince's few twists and turns, aware only of the young man he watched sprinting down hallways, a dim figure in the darkness that was disrupted only by the sporadic flicker of torchlight. When finally Yuugi heard the faint sound of the prince's slowing steps he was long out of breath and quiet tired; sweat was fairly dripping down his head as well as within his tunic. Yuugi slowed too as he approached the prince, stopping a body's length away from him.

A low, mirthful laugh was emanating from the prince, his own breathing slightly labored. "That was fun; I am glad you kept up, I would hate to lose you so quickly." The prince placed his hand on the wall beside them, on a set of doors Yuugi had not realized was there; he pushed one door ajar slightly, the glow of lit lamps pouring into the dark hallway and onto his face, lit with his excitement.

The prince looked over to Yuugi, a cocky smile illuminated in the darkness. "Well servant, you have done well on your first evening. You are dismissed for tonight." And with only a vague wave of his hand the prince sauntered into his room and closed the door behind him, leaving Yuugi alone in the darkness.

Yuugi turned around and slowly retraced his steps back the way they had run. It was late and cooler now; no one stood in the open path and in the banquet hall only servants remained, cleaning the remnants of the festivities.

Yuugi passed them quietly, following the exact path he had walked this morning all the way to the servants quarters, where his equally exhausted counterparts silently moved about or soundly slept the late hours away.

Yuugi kept his head down as he made his way to the space he had cleared for himself, a task strangely made easier without the prince in his presence. He found his bedding undisturbed behind the twin vats, safe from any prying eyes.

He laid down on the ground and slipped into his bedding. No sooner had his head come to rest than the precious numbness that had guarded his mind was sucked out of him; without it he was left shivering in spite of the heat he felt crawling from his heart to every finger and toe, leaving his head strangely empty for all the thoughts that flew about it.

In one night, just one night, how many rules had he already broken? How many of Kahotep's words had been disregarded? How many things had he done already that warranted punishment?

And what about the prince? How had he been like anything Yuugi had been prepared to expect?...Though he did suspect that wine had had more than a little to do with the night's events. And so another question entreated his worrying mind; what was the prince really like? Was that his true personality he had seen tonight or would a clearer head drastically change him?

If the latter was the case, would the prince be angry with him for what had happened tonight?

And how could he be expected to survive any of the prince's stares when they became focused again?

Restlessly Yuugi rolled onto his side and in the darkness he saw the prince's smile. A small one to match it grew on his own face. Underneath the arrogance he had seen kindness there, gentleness; despite whatever may happen tomorrow he would not forget the good-nature that he had witnessed in his master. Even if the following morning brought him pain or punishment tonight had been far more pleasing than he could have imagined.

"You have done well tonight."

His first praise. The very thought of those freely given words again stoked the heat in his chest to a small flame. He would do what it took to earn more kind words, more smiles. Against the darkness his eyes slid shut as he drifted off, imagining his master asleep in bed, a content smile resting beautifully on his sharp features.

Far from the fantasy of his attendant, in another place close by but a world away, another boy laid in his own bed tangled in his soft bedding, struggling in the long, lonely night hours while his servant peacefully slumbered.

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