Welcome to Gaia! ::

║Night was quickly approaching, much to his excitement and nervousness. He hadn’t been here long, three days to be precise, and tonight was the night he got away. Usually he wouldn’t have waited so long, but the palace was full of guards and they were on watch all the time. He had to figure out their weakness, something he had finally figured out.

Late at night, when the moon was high above was a changing of the guard. The replacements were coming off their hang over from the night before, and weren’t very attentive. So that’s when he would run, and this time he would get away. He could waist his time washing dishes, and cloths and feet. No he had much more important duties at home.

The golden haired youth stood in his Master’s quarters. The boy couldn’t say he hated the Pharaoh, the man was fair and actually nice to him. His running away had nothing to do with that, it wasn’t a personal vendetta, it hadn’t been with the ones he had before the Pharaoh. Anyhow if he wanted revenge of some kind he’d try to kill the male, not run away from him. The blond hated the formalities though, bowing ones head, averting eye contact, that sort of thing. So he frankly didn’t do them, not even to the Pharaoh. He was a human being, just as much as anyone else.

Rolling his neck, the slender slave looked to the Pharaoh’s personal bath chamber, waiting for him to finish his nightly soak before he himself could be excused to sleep. Not that the amber eyes teen would be sleeping that night.

Hearing the young Pharaoh step into the room, the blond turned his head, extending his arm for the man to take the robe draped over it. “Thank you, Jono. That will be all.“ At the Pharaoh’s order of dismissal, the blond nodded turning without a word and marching out of the room.

The moon wasn’t high enough yet for him to attempt to leave, so Jono went to the kitchen. He had a long journey with guards running after him, he’d need the food. He always wondered why they ever came after him. He was one simple slave, the people he was forced to work for had hundreds of other’s, why bother coming after him?

Running was a crime for a slave, he knew that. One that could be punishable by death, though he had yet to die. It was a curious thing why they hadn’t killed him yet, but he wasn’t about to argue the fact. He couldn’t die when he had unfinished business. But they didn’t know that, and if they did they probably would kill him. That didn’t answer the question as to why they hadn’t yet.

Shoving the thought aside, the blond peeked around the corner, finding the kitchen empty. It was the palace, they weren’t hurting for food, but nonetheless Jono wasn’t going to take much. Just a loaf of bread or two. Something that wouldn’t be missed. It wasn’t like the Pharaoh paid for any of it anyway, tax was a good thing for the rich, they kept their money, and for keeping their money they got more of it or free food.

It was impossible for anyone to get out of the low society because of this. Unless they married into wealth, and no noble men married a commoner. It wasn’t acceptable. Jono personally found it to be stupid. What did it matter how much money someone had if they loved each other? But he had a skewed out look on things apparently. No one tended to see things like that. He had to give credit to his sister, she was the one that made him think like that.

Having gotten his food, the blond leaned out the opening in the wall, reddish brown eyes looking to the moon over head. It was time. With a sigh, the blond ducked his head and a shoulder under his bag’s strap and made sure it didn’t move around his back too much before he stepped into the hallway, quietly making his way towards the lower levels of the castle.

His plan went well too, until he got near the door. Jono didn’t expect to get through the doors, the window was his only escape rout, but he had to get to the first floor to get to an opening he could jump through without breaking something. The blond ducked behind a pillar as two guards walked by. He let out a sigh of relief, when they passed without noticing him. The only problem was he sighed a bit too loudly.

“Hay you!”

”Uh oh.” Jono turned and gave the two a nervous smile. ”Good evening. Uh… how can I help you gentlemen.” He took a few steps back as they glared at him, weapon read in their hands.

“What are you doing out, slave?”

The continued to advance on Jono until he gripped the strap of his bag, ”Running.” The golden blond turned on his heels, making a run down the fire lit corridor. Luckily for him, he wasn’t weighted down by armor. Unfortunately Jono got cocky, and over confident, loosing track of what was a head of him. Skidding to a stop, amber eyes stared at the two guards ahead of him. Why did they have to be in pairs?

“Hay you!”

”s**t.” He spun around only to see the two other’s rounding the corner. ’Oh think. Think.’ Amber eyes scanned the area. There was a window near the top of the wall. Too bad it was a good fifteen feet above of him. With a low growl, the golden blond made a dash for it, gripping onto the fabric tapestry on the wall. He wasn’t the best at climbing, but he had to try. He just had to.

Something grabbed his ankle, ’No!’ Dark eyes fixed on the window, hands reaching up as he felt himself tugged down to the ground. He winced, foot hitting the marble floor with a crack. Jono didn’t get a chance to react, the butt of a sword hitting him in temple sending him into blackness.

He had failed… again…

║Jono was surprisingly no in a lot of pain when he woke up, thought he would have taken that over the four glaring guards looming over him. So they had spared his life… again. The blond didn’t know if he should be surprised or not. He was glade to be alive, yes, but how stupid did these people have to be? He was only going to try again the next time he got the chance. The guard’s mocking looks only made him want to do it more.

“The Pharaoh has given you a new Master, Slave.” Jono hated being called a slave. He couldn’t think of a more offending title. Amber eyes glared at the four, mentally spewing any curse and insult that came to mind. He wasn’t in pain, but he didn’t want to risk jumping up and end up hurting himself… If he were to voice some of his thoughts he had better be able to defend himself. But he needed his strength for later.

“Alright get up!” The same guard grabbed the golden haired teen by the forearm and yanked him up. Jono growled at the contact pulling at his arm, ”I know how to walk you jerk!” It didn’t seem to do much good, one of the others now gasping his other. Guards were a higher status than, they weren’t going to listen to any slave, least of all him. So he was to be dragged in an escort to his new master’s chambers. How did they think they were going to get him to work?

“The High Priest wont be putting up with any of you s**t, slave.” The guard on his right squeezed his arm as the front one started talking.

So, he was moving down in the world, from Pharaoh to his little advisor… Jono would bet silver that the man was short, fat and old. All advisors were fat and old, the fact he was short was just something to amuse the blond as they pulled him down the hallway. Whatever, it’s not like it mattered to him, he’d get home regadless of who wanted to call themselves his ’Master.’ Ra, he just hated this entire thing. It was pointless and unfair. What made him someone’s work horse? He had done nothing to deserve this. Well… other than be born to a drunk.

Ah yes… That jerk who had sold him into slavery so he could have a few more drinks. Jono was just glad his sister had gotten away. Ra knew the man would have sold her too… He prayed to the gods every night that she was safe.

The golden blond couldn’t help but shudder at the memory. The night he was taken, his mother had run with his sister while the men were busy with him. They were draggin him to the slave cage when he first saw it. At first he didn’t think it was real. How could something like that exist? Jono had heard of stories about soul monsters, but he had never seen one. Honestly he had never believed the tales he had heard.

That night has been a nightmare, watching the black beast set fire to everything. People, innocent people, were screaming and trying to save their homes and children. And all Jono could do was watch in horror as his home was destroyed. What was worse, he didn’t know if his sister had gotten out safely. The men continued to pull him towards the res of their group in the outskirts of the city.

He had seen his mother, she was dead, a charred body laying in the streets. The only reason he knew it was her by the blue shawl that was visible around her head. It was a wonder how that hadn’t burned like her body. But there had been no sign of his sibling. Something that gave Jono hope. She would have been by their mother’s side, the only reason she would have left was if she was still alive, and running.

The last thing the blond boy remembered was watching the village he had grown up in burning before everything went black. When he woke up he was in someone else’s home, being cleaned and dressed. He was young, and scared. What was a ten year old supposed to do? He screamed, struggling away from the people’s hands as he called out for his mother.

That was in his first home, they were nice enough and explained to him what had happened and what he was supposed to do. The young Jono couldn’t accept that, not when he didn’t know where his sister was. Then they had told him about the collar, how it was a precaution to keep everyone safe. They explained that anyone who survived the tragedy they were order to wear one. The law couldn’t have that monster burning down another city. He hated it. The blond didn’t see the need for it, he wasn’t a danger. How could he possibly have any connection to that thing that had destroyed his home, and killed his mother.

It was odd though, no matter how much he thought about, or blamed the black beast, he couldn’t hate it. Jono had nightmares about the monster; glowing red eyes watching him from the darkness, and no matter how fast he ran or where he went, they were always peering from the shadows. But even in his dreams he was truly afraid, he didn’t hate the monster. The thing had killed his father, and while he loved both his mother and father, the man hadn’t given him one reason to feel regret for his death.

Jono had stopped trying to understand why he didn’t hate the beast. The blond had stopped long ago. That didn’t matter anymore. There were more important things to do. First he had to gain his freedom at any means, and find his sister. The golden teen had to make sure she was alright. He had to keep her safe. That was his main priority.

His mental reminiscing was ended abruptly as the guards jerked him to a stop in front of two large dark doors. They looked similar to the Pharaoh’s, just a darker shade of stone. His ‘body guards’ laughed before tossing him into the room unceremoniously. Jono let out a growl, spinning around in time to watch the stone doors close. ”Damnit, open this door!” He slammed his fist into the door, standing there for a moment.

With another soft growl, he turned around, brownish red eyes scanning the room, not seeing anyone in it. So the Priest guy was out or something huh? He took another few steps into the room. Slaves weren’t supposed to pry, they were to kneel next to the door and wait for their owner to address them. Well that wasn’t happening. Jono had never done that, he wasn’t about to start now. Anyhow, he wasn’t going to go through anything, he wasn’t a thief.

The breeze caught his attention, and amber eyes snapped to the balcony. Without much thought, the golden blond rushed out to it, leaning over the railing before shooting back. "Ohh that’s high…." Jono took slow steps back until his back hit a pillar. Ra he hated heights. Well, that answered the question if he could climb down or not. He let out a sigh, as he moved around the pillar until he was back safely into the room.

Overall the Priests chambers were rather pretty. It looked much like the Pharaoh’s, just not as red. Blue seemed to be the primary color, which if the blond had to pick was a much better color than red. It was calming to him, and didn’t bring up certain memories. There were more scrolls and potion bottles than in the Pharaoh’s chambers. The bed was hug, and comfortable looking like the Pharaoh’s.

Jono wondered if the old man had a personal slave like the Pharaoh did. Yuugi was like the Pharaoh’s twin, but it was odd seeing as they weren’t related. Worked well for them though, seeing as Yuugi only had eyes for the Pharaoh and it was obvious that the Pharaoh wanted him. It wasn’t any of his business if they were together or not. So the blond didn’t push the subject, he just made observations.

He wondered how long he’d have to wait around until the Priest got back. Shrugging he sat down on the foot of the bed. He was respectful at first and it hadn’t gotten him anywhere. Screw formalities, Jono wasn’t in the mood for them. What was the Priest going to be like anyway? He had his share of ‘Master’s.’ Was he the abusive kind, the fat lazy one, or maybe he was the workaholic that didn’t let him do anything but accused him when things went wrong.

It wouldn’t matter in the long run. He’d be leaving soon enough.

║Patience wasn’t something the golden’ haired slave was good at. Though he had to say, being in a strange room kept his attention for most of the wait. He supposed it was a good thing though, the Priest being gone for so long. If this was how the other’s day went, it gave the blond more chances to escape, not to mention an easy job. How could he attend to someone who wasn’t there?

Jono looked up at the doors, hearing them being pushed open. He straightened his back as he watched the tall man enter the room. He was obviously not a slave, the blond could tell by the other’s attire. So who was this guy? He crossed his arms lightly glaring at the other stopped the guard.

Was this the High Priest? The blond couldn’t say he wasn’t surprised, he looked nothing of the mental image the slave had created in his mind. The other was tall, and thin, not to mention young. Everything was the complete opposite of what he thought. Raising an eyebrow, he watched the other carefully as the head dress was removed. The guy was around his age probably, and a bit taller. Over all Jono wasn’t that impressed. So Egypt was being run by a kid his age, who was advised by a kid his age… ’It’ll be interesting to see how that goes…’

It wasn’t that Jono thought the Pharaoh too young, over the past few days the blond had actually had some slight respect for the young ruler. He knew what people thought of him though, there was a rush of anger when they learned he was taking the throne, so soon after his father’s death. He had never put much thought behind it, he hated politics in general. He didn’t see the point of it when no one paid rules any mind. The wealthy broke them all the time, but far beat it for a lowly slave to disregard them.

If the High Priest thought he was being impressive it wasn’t working, though after a bit of thought the other probably didn’t feel the need to impress anyone. The Priest seemed full of himself. Jono wasn’t surprised he knew about last night. The entire palace probably knew by now.

Amber eyes watched as the brunet pulled some golden stick from his side. So the guy had some kinda weird obsession with gold polls? He supposed it could have been worse. Every one of his Master’s had had some kind of weird thing that set them apart from the rest, this guy carried around a golden stick. It was weird, yes, but Jono could think of weirder things.

It took all he had no to roll his eyes. Of course he was supposed to call the other Master. It’s what all of them said. The line about getting the ’privilege’ to call the other by something else was new though. Jono shrugged it off as something stupid. He wouldn’t be here long enough to call the other much of anything.

Jono let out a growl, feeling the other male grab his arm. ”Don’t touch me.” The blond growled as his knees hit the floor. Stupid Priest. He was seriously starting to hate his new ’Master.’ He was arrogant and full of himself, two things that the shorter teen found annoying. Amber eyes glared up at deep blue, mentally wondering how someone got eyes like that before his anger flared up again. He hadn’t been disrespectful to the Pharaoh at all, the running excluded of course. And that hadn’t been anything personal. It was something he needed to do.

”I’d rather stand.” The golden haired boy grounded out, wincing slightly as he felt the rod pushing down on his shoulder. ”Gah. Get off me.” The other was leaning on him uncomfortably, and the stick thing was pressing down on his shoulder painfully. Jono clenched his teeth, yet remained silent.

So they assumed he was going to be disrespectful just because he ran away and thought himself to be a human being. Well that was just fine, Jono wasn’t afraid of the Priests threats. The blond looked up slightly, enough to glare at sitting Priest. The ego running off him flowed like the Nile, only pissing him off more. He had had plenty of master‘s before, most of them either ignored him or beat him, but he had never had one so down right full of himself.

”Slave” He growled, giving the other a mocking smile, ”Until you earned the right to call me something else, Priest.” It was rude he knew it, and something he usually wouldn’t say… the guy was just pissed him off.

║How was it someone could piss him of so much in such a short period of time? The golden blond slave had to admit he hadn’t been this frustrated with someone. He’d been more pissed off; like at those men that had taken him those years ago. But there was just something about the Priest that pushed his buttons the wrong way.

It was true, the taller male didn’t need his name. It wasn’t like he’d use it anyway. The blond was replicable, just a piece of meat that would be disposed of once he had served his purpose. Slave’s only had names to other slaves, their master’s had no use to name something that wouldn’t last. So there was little point to telling the Priest his name; it was insignificant to the brunet, something that would be forgotten within moments.

Fiery eyes glared back at the other. Jono was used to getting odd looks from people, he didn’t look native to Egypt, his blond hair was unheard of. Though like everything else about the annoying Priest, the look aggravated him a bit more than it should have.

What was the other’s deal anyway? Alright so he hadn’t ‘offended’ him. The blond slave wasn’t trying to offend anyone, simply make it clear that he wasn’t anyone’s property… Even if the laws said otherwise. The laws were stupid though. He shouldn’t have to pay for his father’s idiocy. His old man should be the one working off his debt, not him. And the fact his sister was almost dragged into this life was even more enraging.

That didn’t matter now. He knew, somehow, that she had gotten away. Despite what his past ’Master’s’ had said, he knew she hadn’t died in the fire. Jono couldn’t explain it, he just knew she was alive. And he would find her, there was no question about that.

But first he had to deal with Mr. Stick Obsessed Priest.

The golden haired teen did his best not to roll his eyes. Of course he knew Yuugi, he had worked for the Pharaoh before he was given to the Priest after all. He’d run a few errands with him when he had first started. The little slave was a good kid, sweet and innocent. If Jono considered anyone remotely trustworthy, it would be Yuugi. So being the annoying brunet’s slave had some advantages. Being around the short slave wasn’t bad, and the kid had a good sense of humor. And it certainly beat being around the jerk of a Priest.

Why hadn’t he been punished yet? It was something nagging at the back of his mind. Every Master he had had punished him the moment he showed any ounce of disrespect. Jono wasn’t complaining, a beating free night and food was always a nice thing. But it did leave him wondering what the other was up to, surly the Priest wasn’t that stupid? The blond didn’t think so; the way he held himself screamed arrogance and demanded respect, the Priest had to be up to something. Not that it mattered; he could handle anything the taller could dish out.

Amber eyes followed the other as he stood, he didn’t trust the other one bit. ”Hay!” He yelped, being yanked up by his collar. Jono did his best to hide the slight wince as the back of the metal collar pressed onto his neck. The blond hated the damn thing, he didn’t see the point. They were made of slaves with spirit monsters, something he didn’t have. The only reason he had the stupid thing because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That black beast haunted his nightmares, not his soul. There had been a part of him that had wondered if maybe the monster did dwell in him. The first few households he worked for knew where he had come from, and firmly believed the village burning was his fault…. Of course that lie had come from the men that had taken him. But he was young, he didn’t know better. How could that thing possibly be in him without him knowing? It wasn’t possible…. Right?

Gah! There he was going questioning himself again, now was not the time to be doing that.

Jono growled as the other tugged at his collar ”Let go of me!” He glared up at the Priest, he hated being shorter. It wasn’t a big difference, but still. It gave the other a slight advantage.

The golden blond couldn’t help but roll his eyes this time. He wasn’t that stupid. It would be the most idiotic thing to run with his actual Master there, not to mention everyone would be watching him like a hawk. He had tried just last night, it was foolish to turn around and attempt it again. The threat wasn’t all that intimidating either. He’d been through it before, and while he hated not having food or the sun, he’d manage for a day or two.

Oh now that seemed like a pointless thing to do. He’d been here for three days, he knew his boundaries. He was pretty sure the rules didn’t change if he was the Pharaoh’s slave or the Priest’s. Jono gave the brunet a bored look, right force him. Uh huh, that was going to happen. Whatever, following the Priest around wasn’t that big of a deal, maybe he’d get distracted and he could wander around a bit. It wouldn’t be running, he’d stay in the palace, just somewhere away from the annoying male in front of him.

”Would you stop it!” He snapped as the other jerked the collar again, smirking. Oh he wanted to wipe that smirk off the Priest’s face. So damn annoying. With a frustrated sigh, Jono followed the other out of the bed chambers and into the hall. He gave the glaring guards a cheeky smile as he passed. They annoyed him too.

He followed aimlessly, looking rather bored as he looked at the walls and pillars they past. “Where are we going anyway?“ He asked, still not seeing anything he knew yet. He hadn’t been to the Priests room before, so he wasn’t familiar with this area of the palace, but he recognized some of the paintings on the wall after awhile. So they were going to the Pharaoh’s room? Why? Oh well, it beat standing in the Priests room being bored.

They got to the thick doors of the Pharaoh’s bedroom soon after, the guards nodding and opening it for the Priest and him. Alright, so he’d behave for now, but if they thought he was sitting on the floor they were wrong. Standing worked just fine for him.

Much to the blond’s luck Yuugi was with the Pharaoh. The shorter teen smiled at them as they entered. Jono supposed he could return the gesture, even if it was slight. It didn’t seem like the Priest and the Pharaoh had that many formalities while alone in the privacy of their chambers.

”Good day High Priest Seth.” Yuugi ducked his head, in a bow as they approached.

The Pharaoh smirked, ”Seth.” He nodded at the Priest. Something in the other’s looked screamed amusement, though at what the blond could care less about. Jono remained behind the Priest, he didn’t really want to be here, but he liked the Pharaoh and Yuugi, so he would at least try to put up and be polite.

”It’s good to see you again, Jono.” Yuugi approached him as the Priest and Pharaoh started on about something. ”Are you liking your new position?”

Jono couldn’t help relaxing a bit, things weren’t as up tight as he thought they would be. ”It’s alright.” He shrugged, biting back a comment about the Priest and whatever was stuck up his a**, though he couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ”How are you?” It was a good idea not to focus on his ‘new position.’

Yuugi gave another one of his large smiles, before going on about his day. Like Jono had figured he had spent most of his day with the Pharaoh or on the room. The blond was still a bit confused with the different types of slaves, but he figured the smaller teen was the Pharaoh’s personal slave; Yuugi knew the Pharaoh almost as much as the Pharaoh knew himself; something that probably came in handy when serving the other. He still wasn’t sure what exactly Yuugi did though, it seemed like random tasks and things around the palace, but that could have just been to show Jono the ropes. The taller slave didn’t worry about it too much; he was curious but didn’t overly care.

They continued to talk for awhile, Yuugi giving him a few tips on Seth, who Jono assumed was the Priest. The golden male did his best to pay attention, but it wasn’t like he cared. The burnet was an a**, end of story. ”-He’s fair though, so all you really need to do is do what he asks.” Jono did his best not to snort, that’s what all his other Master’s had said. The Priest could be as fair as he wanted; he’d still be an a**, and Jono would still be making a run for it when he got the chance.

”Jono,” The golden haired teen turned to look at the Pharaoh before lowering his head a bit. He had less of a problem respecting the crimson eyed male than the jerk of a Priest. ”How are you liking your new arrangements?”

Why was everyone so interested? Having a new Master wasn’t anything that different from the last, or the one before that. They all had their tendencies, but in the end they were all pig headed a** holes, the Priest was a prime example. ”Nothing’s changed, just a different person that thinks they own me.” He shrugged, ”At least you aren’t an egotistical a**, Pharaoh.” And it was true, the Priest had an over sized ego.

”Jono.” Yuugi looked up at him a bit shocked. Well he had tried not to be disrespectful, but he wasn’t going to lie.

Atemu let out a chuckle, head shaking slightly. ”Just as out spoken as always.” He turned and said something to the tallest in the room. Jono didn’t try to hear it, instead settled for crossing his arms and looking off to the wall. Was he enjoying his new ’Master?’ Hell no.

║Words could not express the joy the blond slave felt when Yuugi asked if they could go for a walk. Anything to get out and away from the stupid Priest! Since he’d been thrown into the other’s chambers it seemed all they could do was glare at one another. Jono still didn’t understand how he could be so annoyed so much by just one person, but everything about the blue-eyed male just pissed him off.

Without saying anything, the golden blond followed the shorter slave out to the hallway. Yuugi seemed to be a nice guy, so he didn’t really mind getting to know the other. There was something about Yuugi that Jono was just drawn to like they were meant to be friends. It was such an odd sense, he wasn’t sure what to make of it. He didn’t have friends; there were people he liked better than others, but he’d never call them friends because he couldn’t trust them.

But Yuugi…

The small Pharaoh-look-a-like seemed so innocent and friendly. If there was one person in the world who could ever be a true friend, it seemed it would be Yuugi. And that confused Jono. He barely knew the other slave, yet he felt like he could tell the boy everything.

”Thanks for walking with me.” The Pharaoh’s slave smiled at the taller. ”It’s something fun out of the room.” Yuugi rubbed his shoulders. ”I’ve been in there all day, which isn’t a bad thing of anything, but the fresh air is nice.” They started down the hallway, Jono taking in the paintings on the wall. ”Finally we can get to know one another. It will be nice to have someone to talk to again.”

Jono decided against telling Yuugi he still had every intention on leaving. The Priest had only fulled the desire, the arrogant b*****d was just another reason to leave. So he nodded, following the other around a corner and down another hallway.

”You know the common places a normal slave is sent to, I trust?” The blond slave nodded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. ”That’s good, you seem like a quick learner.” Yuugi smiled again. Usually Jono would heav found the comment stupid and annoying. He hated suck-ups, but the other slave didn’t seem like he was trying to falsely complement him. Yuugi seemed like he genuinely meant it and didn’t expect something in return. ”So then… I’ll show you where I usually go. You’re slave to the High Priest, no just that but his personal slave. You still have to show people above you respect, but your first priority is what he orders. He and Atemu work a lot together, so they tend to go to the same places.”

He wanted to jump off the roof of the palace. He was the stupid Priest’s personal slave? And here he had just thought he was only there to be “taught a lesson,” just being an average run of the mill slave that did random jobs around the palace, he just had to report to that egotistical a**… he wouldn’t have to be around the other at all that much. He did not expect to actually wait on the guy’ being his personal slace, he’d be stuck following him around like some kind of pet. It was ridiculous!

Jono didn’t pay much attention to the tour, simply put in a few words here and there so Yuugi would think he was interested. The blond was too busy with his mental fuming to really enjoy anything. They walked by the thrown room, Yuugi said they weren’t allowed in without permission. He shrugged, not really caring he wasn’t allowed in there. They went to the Healers, and the Potions room. They weren’t of much interest; the Healers room being too white and the Potions room smelled funny.

Then they headed back towards the Pharaoh’s chambers. Close to the quarters was a study and next to it the Scroll Room. For some reason that had spiked Jono’s curiosity. ”What kinda scrolls?” He didn’t mean anything by it, a curious question which made him sound interested.

Yuugi shrugged, ”I don’t really know. Past wars and strategies, a list of villages, palace inventory, death lists, Pharaoh rulings, laws? I don’t really pay attention, it’s boring when I have to go.”

Deaths and villages…

Those two things stuck in the blond’s mind. Was his village on one of those scrolls? Amber eyes drifted through the room, eying each scroll. He could know for certain if his sister was still alive. ”Can you read, Yuugi?” Jono couldn’t. Not one of his Master’s believed in educating a slave. He did know what his village name looked like though.

The tri-haired slave nodded slowly, looking a bit nervous. ”Yes, Atemu taught me.” It was a bit amusing, how Yuugi whispered the Pharaoh’s name after looking around to make sure no one heard. The short teen obviously had it bad for the young Pharaoh. The blond wondered briefly if the Pharaoh knew of and returned those feelings.

”Come on.” Jono stepped towards one of the shelfs. ”What’s this one?” He felt a bit stupid, having to ask what something said. It was something he probably should know, but he couldn’t worry about that right now.

”We aren’t allowed to get a scroll unless ordered to.” The golden blond rolled his eyes before looking at the other. He needed to leave about his sister. He needed to find out what it said about his village and the glowing eyed monster that attacked it. He needed to kno; he need3ed peace. It seemed his eyes said enough when Yuugi sighed and hung his head. ”Inventory… I think.”

The taller slaved nodded, eyes looking around a bit frantically. ”Villages. That’s what I’m looking for.” The other boy nodded, walking around the room as he muttered the contents of each shelf. Finally he stopped in front of one. ”Okay… um.. Shen-Tiet.” He hadn’t said that in forever, the name brought a small, almost none existant smile to his face.

Yuugi’s violet eyes followed his finger as he scanned for the scroll that matched what Jono had asked for. He seemed confused fore a moment, going back over one part of the shef before looking up at the blond. ”It’s not here.” Attention shifting back to where the scroll should be, Yuugi shook his head. ”Apparently it doesn’t exist…”

”Doesn’t exists!?” He gave the other an appologietic look for being so loud. ”Are you sure?” The Pharaoh’s slave nodded, giving Jono a small smile as the blond’s shoulder’s fell. Jono supposed technically his village didn’t exist anymore… So he had learned one thing: it hadn’t been rebuilt. Did that mean no one survived? He had, so surely there had to be others… like his sister.

“Hay you two!” Both slaved spun around to see a guard stanced to fight. “What are you doing in here!? The blond’s first thought was to run. He was faster than Yuugi, he could easily get around one guard, who was probably too lazy to deal with him when he could easily grab the shorter boy. Maybe he could even get out of the palace, they wouldn’t be expecting him to try anything twice in a row….Jono didn’t move though. For whatever reason he couldn’t just leave Yuugi hanging.

The short slave bowed his head to the guard, ”We were just returning a scroll for his highness, the Pharaoh.” Brownish red eyes blinked for a moent, before the golden haired teen nodded in agreement. In all honesty Jono highly doubted it would work, the guards were always out to give slaves a hard time. Yuugi was too nice to think that would work. It was so simple, the guard was bound to see through it.

Much to his surprise though the guard relaced and allowed them to pass. ”Good day.” Yuugi bowed again and pulled the blond out of the room and down the hall. It wasn’t until he was sure the guard wasn’t fallowing them that he stopped. ”We could have been in so much trouble. Hopefully he wont check up on our story with Atemu…”

The younger looked a bit nerverous, and Jono couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. The tricolor haired boy didn’t seem like the type that did anything other than what he was told. If he did like Atemu as much as it seemed, if Yuugi got into trouble it would probably be the worst thing to happen to him. The blond ruffled the other’s hair, smiling slightly. ”You didn’t do anything wrong, I told you to do it. The blames on me.” Yuugi didn’t seem to like that idea, but Jono didn’t give the slave a chance to argue. ”We should head back. The last thing I need is that stupid Priest breathing down my neck.”

”I know he’s not the easiest person to get along with, but he has good reason.” Jono rolled his eyes, looking down at Yuugi with a raised eyebrow. Right because every a*****e had some tragic history. If the violet eyed teen wanted drama he’d just love the blond’s life story. The lithe slave scoft at his mental rant. ”He isn’t that bad. You just have to try to know him.”

[darkgoldenrod]”I’ll keep that in mind.” They continued down the hallway, not saying much after that. The blond didn’t want to know the Priest, and he was sure the Priest didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Well that was just fine. If everything went like he wanted it too, he wouldn’t be around long enough anyway.

They were back far too soon in Jono’s oppinion. Standing in that room with the jerk of a Priest again was just not something he got much fun out of. Yuugi smiled as Atemu said something to him, moving to stand next to the Pharaoh. ”I trust you enjoyed the walk, Jono?” The crimson eyes teen gave the blond a sight smile.

There was something about that look that was a bit on the annoying side. The golden haired male nodded, ”It was interesting.” It was the best word to describe it. Fun wasn’t the right word, it was okay but he wouldn’t call it fun… all they had really done was walk around. Now if they had been doing something like a game then maybe, but being shown places he’d have to wait on the pompus b*****d wasn’t what he’d call exhilarating.

The Pharaoh chuckled a bit, ”Well I was just telling my cousin that you and he will be joining us for dinner tonight before our meeting.” Yuugi smiled, looking from Atemu to Jono. The shortest of the group seemed more excited than any of them, though the Priest look as pissed as Jono felt. He didn’t want to eat with his horrid Master; he wanted to go back to the slave area and eat, far away from the blue-eyed male. Eating with Yuugi wouldn’t be that bad though. ”Good. Then I will see you two tonight then.” The crimson eyed man said seeing the blond nod in agreement.

Jono followed next to Yuugi behind the other two as they went to the door. So now he was going to be alone with the damned Priest? God he hoped the other had something he needed to do and would just leave him the hell alone.