Chapter: 7

Previously: The soldiers roared…

- -

The battalion, Mahado, Atem, and Tiara charged at Bakura's battalion. Tiara was able to keep up pace with the soldiers, which surprised Mahado and impressed Atem. Tiara struck a foot soldier from Bakura's battalion with her staff and struck him again, snapping his neck and sending him down.

Other men on horseback attacked Mahado and Atem, but each time the men were struck down instead of Mahado or Atem.

Bakura charged, on horseback, at Atem while his back was turned. He raised his sword above his head.

Tiara ran at Bakura, leapt into the air as high as she could, and toppled him off his horse breaking his arm against the ground. She struck his face with her staff, knocking him out. "This time, stay down." She snapped. She hit other foot soldiers from Bakura's battalion with her staff.

Atem looked at her and watched.

Tiara fought with accuracy, style, and elegance. She wielded her staff like an expert—better than she wielded a reaper back at Grandfather's field. She turned to him and her eyes and face showed the wildness of that of a lion. It was like, fighting was her element, or she took on a whole different personality of an animal.

Atem attacked others of Bakura's battalion. Blood splattered everywhere with each slash of his blade.

Tiara ran—knocking down any enemy that tried to intercept her—she leapt into the air, flipped like a gymnast over the brown stallion and Atem, landed on her feet, and struck down several men at once with her staff.

Bakura's battalion had diminished and the remaining group fled with Bakura leading them.

Tiara was panting as she watched them run away. "Doesn't that bastard Bakura stay down for anything?" She hissed under her breath. She suddenly felt a slight sting on her arm. She looked down and saw that she had a cut on her upper arm. She didn't even notice that she was hit.

The soldiers treated their wounds as Mahado dealt with Tiara's injury, even though she wasn't going to stay still long enough for him to bandage it. "It's just a graze." Tiara protested. "I'll live. I didn't even feel it."

"Which is why we should treat it now." Atem told her. "Only Ra knows how long you've had that during the battle."

Tiara scoffed, "Keh. I've had worse cuts than this." She grabbed her staff, stood up from the rock she was sitting on, and walked away.

"She certainly has a temper." Mahado pointed out. "And she used that staff like it was an extension of herself."

Atem nodded. "I don't think anyone could match her in a fight." He agreed. Then he smiled. "But I would like to try."

"Pharaoh," Mahado protested, "you mustn't. I do not know what may happen if you do."

Atem chuckled as he walked away. "Anything is worth a try, is it not?" He said over his shoulder.

Mahado sighed in defeat. "If you wish." He muttered.

- - - - - - - -

It was night now and Tiara was treating a soldier's wound when Atem walked up to her. "I'm certain it can wait for a little bit." She said, without looking up from what she was doing. "Is that better?"

"Yes Lady Tiara." The soldier answered. "Thank you."

Tiara picked up the crimson stained cloths she had used to clean the soldier's injury. She placed them in a pouch and looked at Atem. "Ok," she sighed, "I'm all ears."

"I was wondering if you had any strength left over for a sparring match." Atem replied.

Tiara's blue eyes lit up with wild delight as a smile crossed her rosy lips. "What kind of sparring do you propose?" She asked.

"You with your staff against me with my sword." Atem answered with a smile.

Tiara picked up her staff, twirled it with one hand, and rammed one end into the ground. "I'm game." She announced. "Let's do it."

The news of the sparring match between the pharaoh and a strange girl spread quickly and Mahado eventually caught wind of it. The match was taking place around a fire that was built before the sun completely set.

Tiara held the staff at her side with her right hand as she stood across from Atem.

The fire's light danced across them like a ritual, casting their ghostly shadows to the ground.

"Do not expect me to go easy on you just because you saved my life." Atem said as he drew his sword.

Tiara lifted her staff up to her left hand, grasped it, and stood battle ready. "It wouldn't be any fun if you did." She told him.

A small gust of wind blew, sending the rising smoke between them. There was a tense silence throughout the crowd. When the gust dissipated and the smoke started rising upwards Atem and Tiara charged each other.

Atem swung his sword and Tiara parried with her staff. The two seemed to move with equal speed, skill, and elegance. One attacked, dodged, and parried the other. They seemed like they were dancing around the fire as they fought. They would be very close for a moment, shove each other back, attacked, and ended in the same position they were before.

In the end, Tiara had her staff at Atem's neck and he had his sword at hers. They were panting with exhaustion as sweat beads trickled down their faces and necks. Tiara smiled. "Looks like it's a tie." She muttered. "Wow. I never met someone who was as good as me."

"Neither have I." Atem agreed. He sheathed his sword and Tiara held her staff at her right side. He smiled. "We all best get some rest."

Tiara nodded in agreement. She left and stood just at the edge of the campsite. She finally flopped into the cooling sand and laid her staff next to her. She was staring up at the stars.

They seemed to be winking and smiling at her.

"They look so close." She said as she reached up towards the sky. "It's almost like I can touch 'em." She smiled brightly and lied down. She laced her fingers together behind her head. "I kinda enjoyed sparring with Atem. He almost bested me." She felt a sudden jolt, sat up abruptly, and looked over her shoulder.

Atem stood behind her, wearing the clothes of a pharaoh and jewelry of a pharaoh. He had a soft smile on his face.

Tiara blushed and looked away. "Hey." She muttered. "What are you doing here?"

Atem sat down next to her. "I came here to tell you that it's dangerous to be by yourself." He answered calmly. "You never know when jackals will come to claim your life."

"Ha!" Laughed Tiara. "Only if I'm very close to death, which I am not." She let out a gasp when Atem knocked her onto her back and pinned her, leaving her blushing. "Ah…A-Atem."

"I'm sorry." He apologized. "For whatever reason, it seems I cannot keep myself away from you. Tiara, there is no one in this world I can be myself around. I have never wanted to be around anyone the way I want to be around you. You still treat me like a person, instead of a pharaoh of Egypt, even though you know."

Tiara slowly batted her coal black eyelashes. "What are saying?" She muttered.

"I'm in love with you, Tiara." Atem replied, which concluded his speech.

Tiara felt her heart flutter like a bird. "Atem." She breathed. She reached up and held his face in her hands. "But…I'm from a different time."

Atem moved her hands away and pinned them to the ground. "Does that matter?"

Tiara closed her eyes and smiled shyly. "For what it's worth…I love you too, Atem."

He kissed her full on the mouth. He probed his hands down her arms to her waist.

Tiara felt a fiery passion beat against her body. And she shoved him back and panted. "Atem. Wait. We shouldn't. I mean…I'm not ready for this. It's just…" She blushed beet red. "You see…my parents taught me not to do things like this until after I'm married."

"I understand. I'm sorry." Atem started to sit up.

"No. Wait." Tiara smashed her lips against his and wrapped her arms around his neck. She surprised him at first. When she released his lips she whispered, "That didn't mean you had to stop kissing me."

Atem chuckled and massaged her lips again. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

Tiara felt his tongue pleading entrance to her mouth. She wasn't shy but still rather unsure. However, she parted her lips and felt his tongue slide through. She let out a moan.

To Atem, she tasted sweeter than any wine. Oh Ra, he thought, she tastes so exquisite. He mapped his way through her mouth, tasting every inch and enjoying every moment.

Tiara was nervous about having her tongue in his mouth, but she did it anyway. She was surprised to find that he tasted as sweet as he smelled. She heard him moan. She rolled so she was on top of him. Her mind blanked for a moment. Next thing she knew, she was on her back again and she heard a scream. It took her a moment to realize that it belonged to her.

Atem pulled away, saying, "Oh Ra, I'm sorry."

Tiara panted and her thoughts were jumbled. She felt like her body was burning as her skin glistened with sweat. When she finally regained her thoughts she looked at Atem. She was confused and tried to figure out he was apologizing for.

Atem's violet eyes showed worry. His bronze colored skin was covered in sweat. He shot off of her and she slowly sat up.

Tiara finally understood what he meant when he apologized. She covered herself, even though she was still wearing her tank top. She fixed her shorts.

"Tiara—" said Atem.

"Don't." She interrupted. "This time I got carried away." She shivered from the cold.

Atem took off his cape and draped it over her shoulders as he sat down next to her.

Tiara pulled the cape closer to her and snuggled up to him. She couldn't help but sneak a whiff from his cape. She knew it was still hazy but she liked being around him. I'm starting to act like a stupid teenager. She thought. Why do I feel like…I can do anything? I keep feeling like I can protect him and save him…and…most of all…I want to love him. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.


Character Chat

Atem: Well…uh… *blush*

Tiara: Ya think?

dragonchild247: Down children. Sorry about the sudden, uncontrollable lust.

Atem: I'm just thankful you cut out a few things.

Tiara: I agree.

dragonchild247: Well, I knew that it was possible for the whole thing to be removed and me banded from . I didn't want you two to have bad names for yourselves either. Just to let you two know, Tiara is still a virgin.

Tiara: YAY! ^_^

Atem: *sigh* What a relief.