Chapter: 8

Previously: Why do I feel like…I can do anything? Tiara thought. 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…

- -

"Tiara." Atem whispered. "Wake up. We must be going now."

She groaned slightly but woke up. She handed him his cape back. "Thanks." She said. She smiled brightly.

Atem blushed as he took it. "You're welcome, Tiara." He replied. He threw it over his shoulders, feeling the warmth from her body.

Tiara picked up her staff, stretched, and went straight for the brown stallion. She tied her staff to the bags she had on its back, all the while saying that he was a good boy and petting his mane. When she was finished, she mounted, and grabbed the reins.

Atem mounted behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Tiara," he said, "are you certain you are up to this? If memory serves, you are not used to the heat."

Tiara smiled. "If I start drifting, you're here." She pointed out without worry in her voice. "I'll be fine. We just got to worry about getting you home." She dug her heels into the brown stallion's sides and they rode off with Mahado and the battalion following.

The sun was in the middle of the sky when they finally reached the palace.

Tiara had nodded off due to the heat and Atem had the reins for the rest of the journey. A boy, obviously taller than Atem stood waiting and he looked pissed.

"Seto." Mahado said. "What in Ra's name are you doing here?"

Seto scoffed, "What do you think Mahado?"

Tiara woke up abruptly and the back of her head connected with Atem's face.

Seto glared at her with his piercing pure blue eyes. "Obviously the Pharaoh picked up a street rat." He hissed.

"Street rat?!" Tiara shouted. "Who the hell are you calling a street rat, you moody son of a bitch?!"

Surprise crossed Seto's face.

Atem placed both hands on her shoulders. "Tiara," he whispered, "please, he's my cousin."

Tiara snorted. "That doesn't mean he has the right to call me a street rat." She mumbled.

A girl with dark green hair and dark blue eyes walked out. Her cheekbones were high and sharp. Her belly was swollen showing that she was pregnant. She wore a lovely dress and she was a lighter color than the average Egyptian from what Tiara could tell.

Tiara judged her to be about ready to give birth any moment.

The girl smiled happily. "Welcome back, your Majesty." She said.

"Thank you Natsume." Replied Atem. He climbed off the brown stallion.

Tiara hopped off the horse. She's pretty. She thought.

Natsume leaned forward slightly.

Seto took her hand and placed the other on her back. "Are you alright, darling?" He asked.

Darling?! Thought Tiara with surprise. Is he saying that they're married?! She married that jerk?!

Natsume nodded slowly. "I will be alright, husband." She answered.

Tiara's eyes were as wide as saucers. She married that ass and they're expecting a child. She thought. Whoa. He must be a big softy underneath it all.

"You should lie down and rest." Said Seto to his wife.

Natsume shook her head. "I will be all right." She protested.

"If you don't rest," said Tiara sharply, "you might have some problems when the baby's born."

All eyes turned to her.

Tiara shrugged. "It's something my mother taught me." She explained. "Also, have you tried lying on your side, it sometimes helps better than lying on your back when yer sleeping."

Natsume looked at Atem. "Who is this girl?" She asked.

"Her name is Tiara." Atem answered.

"She is strange." Seto muttered.

"My mother is a doctor." Tiara snapped at him. "Don't test me."

Atem placed his hand on her shoulder. "Tiara," he whispered, "please, calm down. I know you're upset, but please try to calm down."

She took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine." She mumbled. "But doesn't mean I'm going to like it."

Mahado sighed and tried not to laugh. She is strange. He thought. But she does not like it when people mention things that she finds insulting and she lets everyone know of it.

Everyone went into the palace. The brown stallion was having a little trouble going to the stables, but Tiara managed to walk with him to keep him calm.

- - - - - - - -

Tiara hurried into the palace and bumped into Natsume. "Oops." She muttered. "Sorry 'bout that."

Natsume looked at Tiara and smiled. "It is all right, Lady Tiara." She replied.

She shook her head. "Just Tiara." She said. "I don't like having titles attached to my name." She made a bright, wide smile. "I think it's best to get you to bed so you can rest. Being almost ready to give birth, you shouldn't be moving very much. Especially in a place as large as this."

Natsume blushed. "Thank you La—err…Tiara." She replied. She and Tiara went to her bedroom. She told Tiara where to go and she was helped into bed.

Tiara threw the covers over her and sighed. "You try and get plenty of rest."

Natsume nodded and closed her eyes. "You are kind." She murmured and drifted to sleep.

Tiara chuckled. She straightened and turned. She felt her heart drop to her stomach.

Seto stood in the doorway, with his arms folded over his chest. He held the Millennium Rod in his hand.

"I was just helping her to bed." Tiara protested softly, not to wake Natsume. "Since when was there a rule that a stranger can't help a very pregnant and married woman?"

Seto sneered. "I didn't say anything." He said softly. He held the Millennium Rod in front of him.

Tiara felt a strange tingling and then a jolt that seemed to set her mind on fire. She felt something entering her mind. She managed to shut it out and knock the Rod out of Seto's hand, sending it to the floor. She stared at him with angry blue eyes that seemed to spill out venom. "Don't, you ever do that again." She hissed.

Seto's eyes were as wide as saucers. How did she manage to break through the powers of the Millennium Rod? He thought. This girl maybe powerful, but she is still a street rat.

Tiara snarled. "I promise you," she hissed, "the next time you do that to me, I won't be so gentle." She stormed off past him. To cool off, she wandered aimlessly throughout the palace. She found the garden and wandered there for a while.

Finding an open area where the plants would not be damaged, Tiara began to practice her martial arts. She moved slowly and elegantly.

Atem walked out and watched her.

Mahado walked out with Isis with him. "She moves with elegance and beauty." Said Isis to Atem and Mahado. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Tiara." Atem said. "She saved my life."

Mahado nodded. "She speaks when she desires." He added. "Also, she speaks her mind and is strong in battle."

"She may produce strong children." Isis muttered, making Atem blush with the thought.

"Pharaoh," said Mahado, "are you fond of that girl?"

Atem nodded slowly.

Tiara saw them and stopped abruptly. She blushed with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry!" She cried. "I-I just…I just needed some time to myself and I wandered out here!"

Mahado, Isis, and Atem laughed. "Do not apologize, Tiara." Said Atem. "You were perfectly alright with what you were doing."

Tiara smiled shyly. "Uh…th-thank you."

Mahado and Isis left. Atem was about to leave also when Tiara asked him to stay and watch. He looked at her. "How come?" He said.

Tiara blushed a bright pink. "I…I…well I…" She took a deep breath to relax her nerves. "I haven't had very many people stay and watch while I practice…and well…I was wondering if you would watch me."

Atem smiled and nodded. "All right. I will stay and watch."

Tiara smiled brightly. "Thank you, Atem." She turned and began to practice her martial arts again.

Atem blushed as he watched her. She moves with elegance and grace. He thought. It is like she is dancing.

When Tiara finished, she turned to him, and said, "You wanna try?"

"I do not know if I am able."

Tiara giggled. "I'll teach you." She walked up to Atem, took his hand, and had him stand next to her. She took his cape off and laid it onto the ground. She moved with him, making sure that he was following closely.

Atem was nervous at first, but it quickly vanished. He was soon moving in the similar way she was and he enjoyed it.

Tiara wanted to be closer to him, body, soul, and mind. However, she knew she shouldn't be that close to him, no matter how much she wanted it.


Character Chat

dragonchild247: Awe! Cute! ^^

Tiara: Thanks a lot…I guess.

Atem: *blush* I want to be closer to her too.

dragonchild247: *pats Atem's head* I know, big boy. I know.

Tiara: Please tell me we don't have sex before I get home.

dragonchild247: If I told you that, then there will be no fun for the rest of the whole thing. ;) Trust me.

Atem & Tiara: *blush* dragonchild247!

dragonchild247: *laughs evilly*