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He was lost. Utterly so and Yami sighed as he gazed at the new dead-end of the hedge maze he had wandered into. This is what one got, however, for not paying attention to your teacher who had more-or-less forbidden all the students for investigating other properties of the royal castle than those they were allowed to visit.
It also happened because certain fifteen-year-olds were too curious for their own good and too bored out of their mind because they weren’t a fan of art and rather used their time to game. Getting away from the teacher had been the first challenge and Yami still grinned at succeeding, though now his pride refused to call for help. He wouldn’t admit defeat and he would find his way back to the maintained hedges that were actually more his size instead of these forgotten ones that were wild and untamed.
He liked them for it, but hated them because they were ridiculously taller than him and he was starting to get hungry; aside from already being parched and burning up in the hot summer sun whenever he couldn’t stand in the shade.
No doubt his brother Yugi was laughing his ass off by now too and in the silence of the maze, Yami pouted as he gazed at the tall hedges surrounding him. He had walked into another dead end and it made him a little more nervous with the second. The royal castle belonged to a demon, after all, and it was quite possible he had walked into its maw because of his curiosity. If so, then that trait might now prove to be the death of him soon and although he had been bored, Yami hoped that wouldn’t be the case as he still had a full life ahead of him. Not that he’d have a full life if he kept waiting here in the shade of the hedges and with a sigh, Yami walked back the way he had come to find a possible exit.
As he did, a bird flew overhead and their call was gorgeous upon the summer breeze. Enough so to gather his attention and Yami smiled as he gazed at the red and golden feathers gleaming in the sun while the majestic creature circled his position for a moment. As if they were watching him too and it fuelled Yami’s worry even more as considering their size and colours, the creature was definitely a demon’s bird. Probably a pet to the owner of this maze and as the bird beat their wings to lead him in a certain direction, the pale teen knew he was done for now.
Then again, he didn’t have much of a choice as he was currently stuck between the hedges like a criminal who had trespassed upon sacred grounds. He would accept his punishment while the maze was already teaching him a lesson, though he hoped that – with another call of the demonic bird – his punishment wouldn’t be too harsh. There were still many things to be done, after all…
Obviously he would apologise for trespassing. For leaving his study class and for admiring the flowers in the garden beds instead; even if he hadn’t known all of their names. He had just been attracted to their colours as well as the buzzing insects enjoying them all. Tiny homes for bees and butterflies had also been among them which had lured him further and further away from the given lecture by his teacher until he had eventually found himself in the maze.
Would someone believe that? Would the demon this entire place belonged to believe his words? Or was the guiding bird a sign that his end was near?
Nibbling his lip, Yami kept following as the red and golden feathered creature called for him again and soon, he found himself among white flowers gleaming in the hedges. He was made to walk another path and was again more lost than ever before, but there was no one to trust but the sight of the guiding bird who could see more than him. Who eventually brought him back to brighter pathways and part of Yami wished to breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t, however. Not even as he walked into a more open spot among the hedges and found the red and golden creature perched upon the branches of a hollow tree trunk.
Slowly, Yami approached while gazing around himself to see if he could spot any danger, but neither the little magic he was born with or his eyes detected something as he faced the large bird with their black eyes. Magic came from them too as they gazed back and tilted their head slightly with a soft coo. As if saying they meant no harm, though Yami wasn’t sure how much of that he could trust.
“Is your master about to jump me here? Have me for a late lunch among these trees?” the pale teen asked softly as he halted in his steps, closer to the bird than he possible should be – especially as red and golden feathers rose with indignation.
“No?” Yami guessed to which the creature shook their entire body to laid feathers down again. If he could trust that… He may yet live today.
“Thank you for taking pity on me then. I know I was a little foolish when I decided to go exploring on my own… though don’t tell my brother I said that”, Yami teased as he took another step closer and admired the red and golden plumage. They looked so warm and inviting to the touch; even with the sharp beak glistening dangerously in the sun. “May I?” was still his question as he rose his hand, mesmerised to his very core as black eyes continued to watch him.
A slight tilt of the head was given in return and feathers continued to laid flat as Yami carefully pressed the back of two of his fingers against the bird’s breast to stroke it. To feel how soft the feathers were beneath his touch as he smiled with the black eyes watching him some more. They gleamed for a moment as the head was tilted the other way, before the tip of the beak touched his fingers in return. Just a gentle nibble and Yami chuckled softly as he kept still to let the demonic bird do as they pleased – he hadn’t been eaten yet, after all, and he felt strangely safe.
“You’re gorgeous, you know that?” he murmured as he stroked the red and golden breast again while listening to the creature purr and coo in their own way. All the while they relaxed their wings a little more and kept nibbling on his fingers too. A black eye continued to watch him as well and Yami smiled as he did the same in return. Just watching and breathing in the peaceful air among the shade of the trees and hedges with the flowers blooming in their beds.
Until his stomach rumbled in protest and the teen couldn’t help but laugh while feathers rose; as if they were offended by the disturbance, before the demon’s bird shook themselves again. “Sorry… it’s been a while and considering I can always eat… would you show me the way back to the castle? To receive my due detention for escaping my teacher’s attention?” Yami asked with his voice apologetic and again, the bird cooed, before gazing to their left.
Curiously, Yami followed the gaze and hoped it would show an exit. Even though he would hate his detention, the pale teen knew his actions had consequences. Probably worse so than the freedom he had momentarily tasted while he stared at the exit between the hedges and felt the demonic bird move beneath his caresses. Wings were spread as they moved from their perch to glide closely to the grass, prior to lifting themselves up onto a new perch which Yami walked to next.
“Thank you. For letting me live”, were his soft words as he caressed soft feathers again with a smile as his fingers were nibbled on again too. “I’ll take my leave now and won’t disturb you much longer. Got detention to survive through now”, he teased and the demonic bird cooed again with a ruffle of their feathers, before simply watching him leave.
At least, Yami thought the other would, though as he walked away a soft rustling of feathers caught his attention and then a weight settled upon his shoulder with a beak burying itself into his wild tri-coloured hair. His ear was nibbled on too with another rumbling sound as the bird remained seated while he followed the hedges to the exit.
One that led him back to the grand castle with its windows gleaming in the sunlight and people wandering the premises to tour the museum part of it all. It was here, the demonic bird rose their wings again to glide along the grass, before disappearing into a tree while Yami watched them leave with another soft ‘thank you’ from his pale lips. There wasn’t a sound nor a sense of the creature after that, as if they had melted away in the shadows of the tree while behind him, the hedges of the maze seemed to be smaller too.
Not that it mattered, though upon facing his teacher Yami silently wished he could hide within the maze again. Especially so upon his hearing sentence while Yugi was trying his hardest to hold back his laughter; though only after scolding Yami himself. It would have to do, however, as there was no turning back and the demonic bird might not come to save him from the maze another time.
Yami only saw them a final time when their class was about to step into the bus to take them back to school. The red and golden feathers gleamed in the later afternoon sun that continued to shine down upon them and again, the creature was gorgeous. Their call just as beautiful and mesmerising as before while they glided through the sky, before disappearing out of sight in the distance.
The sight alone made Yami smile as he found his seat and he gladly tucked the memory away to think of it fondly on the way back home as well as the years to come. Not knowing if they would see them again, but he carried the images with him happily still like a treasure to be polished every now and then while he’d love it without truly knowing why.
Not even four years later when their call made him smile again like it had done before.