Chapter Four: Invitation, Refusal, a Confuzzlement *~* Yami POV *~*

The next month passed relatively quickly, though my nights were filled with a certain jewel-eyed angel. Even my waking thoughts were consumed by him, taking my mind to a world of courtship, tender moments, and a possible wedding, though it was almost as if 'he' knew when I needed to concentrate and receded for trials and important meetings. Other than that my angel stayed at the forefront of my mind, keeping me company as I went through my day, and took my attention from the others as we relaxed in the lounge.

"Just go get 'em man!" Jou says, knocking me out of my angel induced haze. "If you're that hung up on him do somethin' about it! We're tired of watchin' ya daydream!"

"Sorry," I say, though everyone knows I'm really not. "And it's not like I can just go down to the village and talk to him or have him come here! We're from two different worlds, not that it really matters, but still, not like either one of us could just up and hang out for a day. I'm the Pharaoh and Mahad says that he helps out around the village quite a bit."

"What about the upcoming ball?" Ryou asks, looking up from Bakura, who had his head in Ryou's lap. "Invite him to come for it, and then you can spend time with him. Perhaps you could even begin courting him, if he'd allow you."

"He doesn't need permission to court people," Seto says, rolling his eyes. "He's the Pharaoh, he can court whomever he so wishes."

"Pharaoh or not, not everyone wants to be courted by him," Malik states, Marik nodding in agreement. "No offense, highness."

"None taken," I chuckle, rolling my eyes. "I just… I don't know. What if he doesn't like me enough to come?"

"You'll never know until you try," Mahad tells me, looking up from his scrolls.

"Alright," I say, gathering some courage. "I'll write to him and ask." I walk back to my study and sit before the grand desk, pulling out some papyrus and a writing utensil before starting on my letter. Once finished with it, I ask my fastest messenger to take it into the village, knowing that it will get there that night.

I just hope he accepts, I really have fallen hard.

*~* In the village *~* Time skip (four hours) *~* Yugi POV *~*

It's dusk when someone knocks on my front door, well past the time that everyone would have gone to bed. Seeing as I'm going to be up for a few hours anyway to work on a new clothes order, I figured it wouldn't hurt to let him in. Strolling over to the door, I open it and invite the guy inside, closing the door behind him. He stands in the middle of the room, not bothering to ask for a seat – obviously someone from the palace then – and held out some sort of letter for me.

"It's getting rather late," I say, taking the offered parcel. "Why don't you stay in one of the spare rooms for the night? I have a lot to do before I can read this, and I don't want you to have to stand around all night."

"I… Am not sure if that would be the best idea," he states, hesitant in his answer. "The Pharaoh wishes for a response as soon as possible."

"Well I'm afraid it will take until at least midday tomorrow before I'm able to read the letter, let alone reply to it," I tell him, resuming my earlier task. "So it would be best for all parties involved for you to simply take a bed for the night, allowing me to work without worrying over you, thus allowing me to reply to his majesty's letter sooner."

He hesitates for a moment, shifting his weight from one foot to the other for a few seconds, before nodding. "Very well," he sighs, relaxing his posture. I lay down the completed tunic (the last one of the night, I just wanted him to use a bed) and show him to an empty room, nodding at him before walking back to my room, snagging the letter from the shop on the way.

*~* Messenger POV *~*

Once I conceded to stay in a room for the night, the young boy led me to a room before leaving me to my own devices for the night. I look around the room, noting that it was fair sized for the house; not large in any means but not exactly small either, perhaps cozy. In it are a covered bed with spare blankets and pillows at the foot of it in a medium sized trunk (that was extremely complex in design), a small wardrobe on the right side of the room accompanied by a small desk on the other side, a fair sized bathing chamber attached to the room as well. On the same wall as the bed was a window just at the end of it, allowing the last lights of dusk to filter into the room before the sun set. Sighing, I settle in for the night, hoping that my Pharaoh won't be to mad at the delay in reply.

*~* Yugi POV *~*

After settling in for bed, I unfold the letter that was sent from the palace, running my fingertips over the barely there markers to read it. I sigh as I take in the opening statement, finding it much too formal for my taste. Shame, I kind of liked him.

Dear Mr. Mouto

I would like to invite you to the upcoming ball thrown in honor of the Gods for another year of peace. I would be honored if you would escort me as my date for the evening.

Best wishes,

Pharaoh Yami

I sigh, setting the letter aside, making a note to write my own first thing in the morning. Pulling up my blankets, I drift into a dreamless sleep, and wait for morning.

*~* Yami POV *~*

I awoke the next morning expecting to find the messenger waiting for me, but he wasn't anywhere to be found. I waited until after breakfast to check again and then again after lunch. I was starting to run out of hope that the messenger had even found him when he showed up about an hour later. Bowing, he handed me a response letter, and left upon my dismissal. Sitting in the lounge, I unfold the letter and begin reading, frowning at the introduction.

My dearest Pharaoh,

I'm honored that you would choose me to be your date for the evening, but I must respectfully decline the invitation. I'm afraid that I am not of high enough status to be on the arm of our beloved ruler, especially at such an important event for the upcoming New Year. I'm also afraid that I am not much of a dancer, and could quite easily embarrass you in such a high end party. I'm terribly sorry about any inconvenience, and I hope you can forgive me.

Yours truly,

Yugi Mouto

I must look as disappointed as I feel, because it's Bakura of all people who bring it up.

"What's up Pharaoh, something wrong?" he asks, looking over from his place in Ryou's lap.

"Just, letter from Yugi," I mutter, refolding the thing. I'm about to throw it in the fire when it's snatched from my hands. I look behind me to see Valon reading over it.

"Been formal with him I suppose," Valon asked, though it sounded more like a statement. "Tsk tsk, so not the way to his heart. You know he knows everyone in the village? And he doesn't make any sort of money in what he does, just works or trades for what he needs. Too bad he hates any and all things formal."

"Would've been nice to know," I mutter, snatching and crumpling the note before tossing it into the fire. "Now what will I do…."

"Why don't you invite the village elder to the palace and inquire about him?" Marik suggested.

"Perhaps," I reply, standing. "I'll be retiring for the night." I walk out of the lounge and to my chambers, thinking about what Marik brought up. It really wasn't a bad idea….

Deciding that it really couldn't hurt anything, I write another note, this time for the village elder, and send a messenger with it, not expecting a reply for another day or two. Sighing, I settle into bed and slowly drift into dreams of bright amethyst and a satin voice.

*~* Next morning *~*

I'm awoken the next morning by someone – most likely Bakura – pounding on my door.

"Come on Pharaoh!" Yup, it's Bakura. "Your messenger brought you a letter from the village elder." That has me up in moments, dressed in five minutes, and in the lounge in two more.

"Well, where is it?" I ask, bouncing in front of the Thief.

"Someone's eager to read this," he chuckles, handing over the letter. "Go on, read it."

Dearest Pharaoh,

It would be an honor to have you in our home for a meeting. I'm afraid that my wife and I would be unable to make it to the palace due to our current age and health, so I hope you will not mind coming to our village.

Village Elder

"Great," I smile. "I'll be leaving immediately then, so I'll see you all later." I walk out of the lounge without waiting for a reply and out to the stables. I tack my horse and swing up, goading the beast into a canter, wanting to get to the village quickly, but not tiring out the horse.

After no more than twenty minutes, I'm standing in front of the elder's door, raising my hand to knock. Tapping the door three times, I stand back and wait for someone to answer it. It's the wife that answers the door; a greying woman with smile lines wrinkling her pale blue eyes, her tunic a simple cream color with dark blue edging but made intricate and extraordinary by the golden thread patterning the cuffs of the sleeves. She gives a slight bow, most likely unable to go any further without hurting her back.

"Please, come in, Pharaoh," she says, stepping back. I step inside, smiling at her before taking a seat.

"What is it you wished to talk about, my Pharaoh?" the man asks, pouring tea.

"I wished to discuss young Yugi, Elder," I say, taking the offered drink. "He came to the palace about a month ago concerning a sick healer, and then left without a word. I've tried inviting him to the upcoming festival, but he declined. I'm quite taken with him and wish to get to know him better."

"Please, call me grandpa, everybody does." I nod, asking silently for him to continue.

"First, I should tell you that Yugi is seventeen, eighteen in a few weeks," he starts. "And that Yugi hates anything formal. But he does exquisite work on tunics and pottery. He's kind to everyone and knows everyone, does things without ever asking for anything in return."

"I assume he made your clothes then?" I ask. The elder's clothes were the same as his wife's in almost every way, only the edging was different as a dark green.

"Yes," he nods. "You'd never know that the boy was blind if you didn't know him." I choke on my tea as he talks, not expecting his reply.

AN: Sorry for the delay in the chapter and the shortness of it. I have too many stories and have just recently started school, and can no longer keep up. I will be taking down a few of my stories in order to better focus my attention of just a select few.

My dearest apologies,

InuFan21497