Disclaimer: For probably the thousandth time, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Nor do I own the song lyrics referenced below.
A/N: So! Here's that random Vaseshipping fic. This is one-shot turned ficlet (since I can't seem to keep Vaseshipping as one-shots). I've got a lot of AtemxMana fics running around my head screaming write me, write me! And I keep yelling at them to calm down, 'cause really, I'll get around to every single one of them, but they're like two-year olds!
Ally: AAAANEVAAAY.
Anevay: Gotta hurry! Ally will be here to interrupt any second!
This is based on Enya's song Wild Child, which is good for Mana. So the lyrics are below in case you're interested.
Enya: Wild Child
Ever close your eyes
Ever stop and listen
Ever feel alive
And you've nothing missing
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on
Let the rain fall down
Everywhere around you
Give into it now
Let the day surround you
You don't need a reason
Let the rain go on and on
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to a wild child
Only take the time
From the helter skelter
Every day you find
Everything's in kilter
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on
Every summer sun
Every winter evening
Every spring to come
Every autumn leaving
You don't need a reason
Let it all go on and on
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to a wild child
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to a wild child
Da-da da da da da, da da da da da da
da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da
What a day, what a day to take to
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
Da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
What a way, what a way to make it through
What a day, what a day to take to
What a day, what a day to take to a wild child
What a day, what a day to take to
What a day, what a day to take to a wild child
Now when and where does this take place? Allow me to tell you: (canon) Ancient Egypt, a few weeks after Atem's coronation as Pharaoh. Roughly. It's also not entirely accurate story-arc-wise (Mana uses his name a lot), but whatever.
READ!
Wild Child
Mana huffed to herself. Pernickety Priests—that was what they were.
Especially Master Mahad.
And she wasn't standing for another minute of it. She hadn't seen Atem in, what, a week? Two? Far too long. Especially being best friends and all, you'd think he would be able to take a break to spend time with her.
Nope.
As she had said, it was all the Priests' fault. Those Guardians—that Sacred Court. Sure, they were great, being his protectors and all, but honestly, the Pharaoh got all the crappy work handed to him. Paperwork, complaints and whiney villagers, more paperwork – blah, blah, blah. She was sick of it all. The Pharaoh should still be able to have some free time, right?
She tried Mahad first.
"Master Mahad," she said sadly, putting on the act and abruptly interrupting one of his lessons. "Why can't I play with the Pharaoh?"
Mahad made a face. "Mana, he is the Pharaoh now, not just the prince anymore. You have to understand—"
"That he has duties to fulfill and lots of responsibility, the entity of a living god, ruler of all Egypt, blah, blah," she waved it away, "Don't you think he might be stressed? Don't you think he deserves a break? Not just as a king, ruler, pharaoh, god, whatever—but as a friend?"
Her question got Mahad thinking. He sighed. "Yes, I agree that he deserves a break, but Egypt needs him, Mana. And besides, it is not up to me."
"Then who is it up to?" she demanded.
"Him, I suppose," her master shrugged. "I do not see why one day off would make any difference, and I am sure that the rest of the court would agree."
A bright, rather devious smile slid across her lips. Before Mahad could protest, she leapt from her seat and was flying from the room singing: "Bye, Master Mahad!"
Mahad sighed and shook his head, gathering his papers together and pilling them on top of his spell books. "I suppose that means there will not be any lessons for the next week…" Mahad muttered grumpily.
Mana, meanwhile, was hanging from the window outside of the room where Atem sat, resignedly going through papers and reports, making various notes and generally doing boring and uninteresting tasks. That would have to change, of course.
His attention was focused on some report, so maybe this time she would…
He spoke without looking up: "Aren't you supposed to be in lessons, Mana?"
Mana laughed. "How do you do that?"
He looked up. He was smiling, but there was a wary look in his eye accompanying the joy of seeing her. Probably because he knew what she had in mind, and he also knew that he had a lot of work—like always. He didn't have time to play, no matter how much he wanted to.
He stood and stretched. Mana immediately sprung forward, wrapping him in her signature flying leap hug. She beamed, and he beamed back. She was the only one who could ever make him smile like that.
She gave him her best puppy-dog expression, their faces barely inches apart. "Please play with me today?"
His too-old eyes drifted to the paperwork on his desk. He hesitated to abandon it, even for a day, as it would pile up ridiculously high by the afternoon. Mana held her breath, lips pursed, gazing hopefully at him. She could see the hesitancy, the sense of duty battling with his desire to abandon all work and play with his best friend. What would his father say?
He sighed, looking down.
Mana sighed, too.
"I'm sorry, Mana," he said quietly, "I just…" he looked away, his face twisted angrily. "I can't abandon my duties, Mana, I'm the Pharaoh now. I can't just…"
Mana sagged, her legs slipping down his body as she removed them from around him. Atem wasn't sure her full-body hugs were appropriate anymore; they made him blush, his mind wandering to place it shouldn't. Once his hands were free, he helped her down by placing his hands gingerly on her trim waist. Once she was down, her hands on his shoulders, he gently disengaged, stepping away and dismissing the feelings in his gut. He couldn't waste time anymore—he had too much to do. Responsibility took the fun out of everything.
She cast her eyes downward. It sent a pang to his heart to see her, normally so cheerful, now so sad. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "Sorry to bother you…" she drifted toward the door.
He bit his lip, but his hand flashed out and seized her hand. "Mana…" he tried.
She turned to him. Her aquamarine gaze was heartbreaking. "I just… miss you," she said softly, "All the time. I don't like it."
"I don't either, Mana," he assured her, still retaining her hand. "I… give me a few days, alright? I'll spend the day with you, just give me some time to sort out the details." Egypt won't run itself, he thought.
Her smile returned, and his heart lifted. It was incredible how influential she was on his mood. She grasped both of his hands. "Really?" she exclaimed. "Yes!" she cried, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I can't wait! I wonder if Master Mahad has a spell I can use to make time go by faster. Or make me hibernate for a few days," she pondered this. Her beaming smile returned and she spun gracefully from the room with a laugh of delight.
He turned away, chuckling, but twisted around and called quickly, "No experimenting, Mana!" He stared after her worriedly, but all he got in response was another laugh. He shook his head. Mana.
Now back to paperwork.
I have the next part already written, so I'll be posting it tomorrow night! I'm trying to keep ahead of myself (posting/writing-wise) so I'm on time and not scrabbling to get it finished and perfected before posting it. That's never fun.
Anyway, R&R! I love feedback!
~Anevay