Chapter 8
A Past Revealed
and Confessions Told
As Atem led Yugi to somewhere more private, Yugi couldn't help but look at the rest of the mansion he hasn't come across yet, even though he lives there now with Atem and the other Egyptians. When they came outside, Yugi was amazed of the garden as Atem continue to gently pull him to a stone bench next to a beautiful fountain.
Once they were seated next to each other on the bench, Atem gazed into Yugi's eyes as he held the smaller teen's hands in his. As Atem calmed his nerves down and tried to collect his thoughts, Yugi could sense that Atem is about to reveal something to him that he's kept locked up inside his heart. When he looked into the young Prince's eyes again, Atem was ready to reveal his secret to him.
"Yugi, there's something you need to know about me." With Yugi listening with his full attention on him, Atem continued, "I once was a prince myself." Seeing that Yugi was a little surprised to hear those words, Atem continued, "I still am."
Before Yugi could ask him something that had just popped into his head, Atem silenced him by raising his hand up, silently telling him to be quiet. "When I was younger, I lived in a palace in the desert with my parents. My friends and my cousin Seto lived there as well. My father is Pharaoh Aknamkanon. He's very kind yet firm when he rules his kingdom. My father really loved me and he really cared for everyone that lived in the palace and in his kingdom.
"Seto's father and my uncle Aknadin was one of my father's high priests. But while he was a priest in my father's court there was a dark desire that lingered in his eyes. I've always known that Aknadin was jealous of my father and that he wanted to take over the throne, even Bakura, Marik, Malik and Seto could sense that wicked desire.
"Then one night, nine years ago, while everyone was asleep, Aknadin organized an attack on the palace and on my father, my mother and me so that his followers would kill us, making him the next pharaoh. But servants and high priests that were loyal to my family warned my father of the attack before Aknadin and his followers could reach us.
"So in an effort to save us, all of our parents had the five of us flee from the palace. We escaped from the kingdom while our parents and the priests fought back against Aknadin and his followers.
"We had traveled through the desert for five days until we were able to make it to this woods. We were fortunate enough that there was this mansion here in the woods, abandoned for a long time. Deciding that we would live here from now on, the five of us did the best we could to clean this place up and make a home like it used to be before it was abandoned.
"Then, when the mansion was completely restored to its former beauty by the time that we were older by one year since we left the palace, Bakura grew this garden with Malik's help and Marik, Seto and I went back into the desert to try and find something that we could make a profit out of. That was when we found the gold mine that was in the desert but not too far from the woods and mansion.
"And so with this mansion to live in and the gold mine to work at, Seto, Bakura, Malik, Marik and I lived our lives out here, never bringing up our old lives at the palace with our parents. Things stayed happy and better that way. Then when I met you, Yugi and I learned that you are really the young Prince in this part of the land, the memories of my old life returned and they've been taunting me since then. And yet, even with those memories tearing me apart on the inside, you gave me the most comfort I could ever ask for."
Then Yugi felt Atem place one hand on his cheek and caress his soft skin. "When I look at you, your innocent beauty would ease the pain in my heart. I am very glad I met you, Yugi."
Holding the hand caressing his face, Yugi gazed into Atem's desirable crimson eyes and said, "All my life I've been trying to find someone that would free me from a life as a slave to my stepfather. Ever since he took over my home when my parents and grandfather disappeared, he's turned me from a prince to a slave that worked day and night to satisfy his master and yet Dartz was never pleased of how hard I've worked for him.
"Then when we met and you sang your heart out to me, I thought that you were the one to save me from that life. When I found out that Dartz wants me killed, I was scared that if you've ever went back to the castle for me, you wouldn't be able to find me. Then when I learned that you live in the mansion that my spirit friends led me to, I knew that I would be safe."
For Yugi to spill his feelings out to him, Atem cupped Yugi's face with both hands, then with Yugi now holding the two hands that were caressing his face, Atem leaned closer to Yugi's face and then the small prince let the tall Egyptian prince press his lips to his sweet lips. As the kiss continue, Atem moved his hands from Yugi's face down his slender body and Yugi moved his arms to wrap around Atem's neck, pulling his face closer to deepen the kiss.
Neither of them wanted to let go of the other, let alone break the kiss even when they heard the back door of the mansion open and Bakura and Ryou stepped out and noticed them, the two lovers didn't part. Seeing them the way they are, Bakura and Ryou smiled for their friends and walked away in silence. The garden was large, so there were other places that Bakura could show Ryou without disturbing Atem and Yugi's moment.
When they finally did break the kiss was to catch their breaths. Them sharing their very first kiss made them bound together with an unbreakable connection as they gazed into each others eyes as their foreheads touched. Even without saying a single word, both Atem and Yugi thought of the exact same words in their minds; "I love you."
To Atem, he didn't care if he ever does get the chance of returning to the palace he once called home and Yugi didn't care if there was still a man out there that is so jealous of his innocent beauty and wants to kill him. The two of them knew that as long as they are with the one they love, their worries and concerns will just vanish.
