EPILOGUE
The clicking of heels against marble echoed off the walls, a suited woman with golden hair and mauve eyes heading towards the door at the end of the hallway. Her knuckles met the dark mahogany door then quickly entered when a voice called for her to enter. "Have you looked at the time lately? If you don't leave now then you'll miss the performance." She leaned against the desk, arms crossing as the man who was intently studying the large floor plans laid out across the desk. "It should be nearly complete by now, after two long years."
He hummed softly. "I made some last minute changes to the base structure." A swipe of his hand caused the large sheets of paper to roll and was quick to place a clip upon it to prevent the sheets from unraveling. "I received the call last night that the last of the furnishings were moved in and the security system is now live."
"Just in time too." She stepped back as he stood. Her motions halted when he paused in front of the large window that overlooked the repaired loch gate as a ship entered, giving a glance to the glittering ocean outside for a brief moment.
The amount of work he had put forth in the reconstruction as well as the secret projects he had kept under wraps had taken a toll on the young Seto Kaiba but she had honestly never seen him as happy. He had learned several things about his younger sister during their reconnection and shared healing, including her love of the ocean and its inhabitants, so he had put forth extra effort to assist in the still recovering northern coastline that had never bounced back from the so called "natural disaster" that had nearly take a bite off the mainland. Today was the day he revealed his surprise to her.
"Do you regret it?"
"Not a chance." His sapphire eyes drifted from the glass window to meet calm mauve as he took strides to cross the office space. "What are you waiting for, an invitation?"
. . . .
Nervous butterflies fluttered within her stomach as she stared out the limousine window. Six hours and fourteen minutes until it was time. The unease grew with each passing second but she managed to swallow it down as the vehicle came to a stop in front of the large building. For now all she could do was focus upon the private rehearsal and hope that she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of the staff. It had been her method back then, to familiarize herself with the stage with a warm up first so that she could get a feel for the space, now was the time to see if she still had it. A pair of sunglasses was pulled out from the purse she slung over her shoulder, taking care to keep her head down while exiting as the door was opened. "Thank you so much for the ride, I really appreciate how speedy you got me here, despite the several 'shortcuts' you took. My brother said he wouldn't dare to miss this performance so I'll be sure to hitch a ride with him after."
"Are you sure, miss?" Striking green eyes took a sweep over the busy sidewalk. Thankfully there wasn't a lot of foot traffic so hardly anyone paid them any mind. "What about your meal plans? Shall I come by to pick you up about sixish?"
"Down, boy. You've been trying to take me out ever since you were hired so I suggest you keep those flirt hormones to yourself." She glanced over her shoulder to the driver as he closed the door, lips rising into a smirk when he held up his hands in a mock surrender. They had surprisingly clicked shortly after he came on as an employee of Kaiba Corp, which was odd considering she usually despised people who were full of themselves, but this young man seemed to know just how far to push before it was too much. He was one who would discover boundaries then back off and respect them. "I'll be alright, Duke, don't you worry about me. I can fend for myself. If anything you should be concerned about anyone who tries to mess with me when I have Moki by my side." The large Newfoundland gave a woof as it pressed its nose against the glass, nearly causing her driver to flinch back in surprise and quickly opened the door to allow the large animal passage. Moki instantly sat as she hurried to clasp the leash to his yellow collar when a few people exclaimed in surprise about his size. "I better get going. Thanks again!"
"Take care now, miss." He bowed his head slightly, moving around the car to sit back behind the wheel.
It wasn't until the vehicle was out of sight that she turned to face the magnificent building. The columns were polished to perfection, practically glowing from the care they had been shown as she stepped through the archway. Her hand made quick work of finding the key in her pocket but a soft curse slipped from between her lips when it fell to the ground. Bending at the waist, her fingers swiped up the fallen key and was straightened when her breath caught.
Somewhere behind her she could feel eyes staring at her back. Curiosity swirled with the need to know where the unseen gaze was coming from and against her better judgement she slowly turned her head until her gaze slipped over the busy street. The hand not holding the key rose to clasp the necklace she wore as a figure on the opposite end of the street came to a halt, their dark tanned skin causing her breath to hitch, but it was their eyes that made her heart stutter. She knew those eyes…no matter how much time passed or where she went she could feel those amethyst eyes following her every move. None too surprising the person they belonged to was not him though as they continued on their way; a man about twenty, blonde hair with bleached tips, looked to be over six foot. "Let's go," she whispered to Moki as the lock clicked and they swiftly entered the aquarium's back entrance that would lead directly to the performance arena.
It was completely empty on the inside, not even the cleaning staff were here yet, and that meant that she would have to find the stage controls herself. Her footfalls were magnified as she ascended the bleacher-like seats, the cold metal clanging slightly when her sneaker snagged and attempted to trip her. A shrug of her shoulders shed the pink jacket she wore and draped it over the banister as she tightly secured the leash to one of the aisles. Most arenas she had encountered like this one would be up a staircase hidden along the backside so that might be her best bet. That was proven more difficult than she imagined though while using the weak light of her cellphone. The domed ceiling could retract, so that the sky above was visible, but without it open it was pitch black. Maybe she should have taken Seto up on that offer to update her little device that was now eight years old. She exhaled in relief when she found the correct door and climbed the staircase two at a time. It wasn't steep or long by any means so she reached the top in no time but her entire being froze as she opened the door.
"…Aurea claro illo splendore forensi quasi stellae…" A large jade coral was in the center of an extravagant underwater garden, the currents gentle pulls and sways causing the vegetation to appear as though they were dancing. It was cool within the arena but now if felt as though she was wrapped within one of those highly expensive CoolFlexWeightedBlankets that she'd seen commercials for recently. "…Currit et celeri cor unum et suavis mine connect dilectione mea…Oceanum sal et celat se a lacrimis lacrimas habet mei…" This was something entirely different though. She was all too familiar with the feel of the ocean and the reflection of the one whose vision she was somehow sharing revealed them as they entered what seemed to be a small suite. Multiple nights she had been lulled to sleep by the soft voice that surrounded her now, the song now committed to memory and had been chosen as the piece for the upcoming performance. "Dic mihi, dilecte mi, tu non sentis mihi et nunc inter vos?" They sat before the mirror that reflected back not her image but that of the merman that she missed so dearly that her heart cried out as Atem stared back at her.
The spell was broken as she reached out, the water and beauty vanishing, leaving her kneeling in the center of the control room. This has been happening frequently over the last few years whenever she kept a too long of hold upon the scale that hung from a golden chain around her neck. It didn't hurt as bad now, if anything she found encouragement that strengthened her resolve. No tears came as she stood. Though her fingers were shaking she still managed to flip the lights on. "I'm keeping my promise," she whispered, cerulean eyes gaining focus and her chin rising in conviction. "I will dance again."
. . . .
Silence filled the air as the final notes of the number faded away, the sweat beading across her skin mixing with the lingering saltwater dripping from her hair to trickle down her trembling figure, hopefully going unnoticed as the spotlight above nearly burned her skin. Her body felt like an electrical cable left unprotected, sparks flittering across her being and leaving it tingling.
The hands placing the harness upon her form paused as she trembled, her arms rising to wrap around herself. "Miss?" She barely heard him over the loud pounding of blood in her ears. It wasn't until their much larger hands had grasped her own that she finally snapped out of the panic that had clouded her mind and found herself staring up into a pair of imperial violet eyes. "There, there, now, you will be just fine." His appearance struck her as slightly odd, a bit on the formal side but then again this might be the announcer that the aquarium used so thought nothing more about his odd fashion, but there was something about this older man that seemed familiar. Wrinkled lips lifted into a wry smile. "I believe this show may be your best. You could say that my grandsons are huge fans of yours so they will probably go bonkers when I tell them that I assisted the great Anzu Mazaki."
"I can one up you." She asked if he had a cell phone, which he did indeed, and with a press of the button she snapped a photo while smiling, her cheek lightly brushing against his own.
His eyes widened, practically glittering as he surveyed the photo. "Why, thank you, miss! They were truly worried about you when they heard about the accident. Are you doing alright now?"
"I am, thank you," she smiled genuinely. He hadn't been the first to inquire if she was fully recovered from the accident. Several people had swarmed the tiny aquarium joined to the ocean just to see if she truly was back to full strength and ready to pursue the career that had been interrupted. "Tell those grandsons of yours that I appreciate their support."
"They will be out there in the audience somewhere. Nothing could stop them from seeing your show." They looked upwards as the lights dimmed for a moment, throwing her a wink as he moved towards the curtain with a strange smile lifting his weathered lips.
The second she had stepped out onto that dark stage was the moment her mind went blank, phantom fear seizing her legs and making it near impossible for her to reach the mark that was the starting point. What felt like a hand brushed over her eyelashes, causing her to reflexively close them for a few seconds, and took a deep inhale through her nose. And then the music had started.
She was almost startled as thundering applause nearly deafened her, the people that she could barely see standing from their seats with their hands high in the air. Two whole years of therapy for the mind and body it had taken to get to this point. A smile raised her lips as her gaze drifted across the rows upon rows of cheering people as flowers were thrown upon the platform and surrounding water. Her hand rose in a wave but it found itself frozen as her eyes locked upon a pair of figures up in the very right hand corner next to the entrance. They were just barely illuminated by the growing lights to reveal wild hair that stood upright and amethyst eyes that shone brightly with awe with a slightly shorter mirror image who was whistling shrilly. Be that they were an illusion or just her mind wishing they was here, she still bowed her head lowly, for a moment the applause drifting to silence as the taller of the two's head bobbed in a nod.
Seto was readily waiting for her backstage when the curtains finally closed and the lights back to full strength so the crowds could exit safely, quickly ushering her to the waiting limo before the media could corner her. "You did well tonight, Anzu." His arm wrapped around her shoulders as her head, which had hung low during their brisk walk to the vehicle, rose to reveal her glistening blue eyes. "There's that spark," he whispered, hugging her tightly for a moment. "I'm so proud of you." His dark eyes softened, holding perfectly still as she snuggled close and drifted off into slumber. They had grown closer in the past year thanks to everything that had happened. Nearly dying tended to do things like that to you. Thankfully her performance had been in Alexandria, close enough to their family's spare home in Ismailia so the drive wouldn't take too long but it would be enough for her to recuperate some strength back.
His sharp eyes had drifted down to the water as they drove past the shoreline, noticing a familiar shadow lurking beneath its surface. He made sure that she was within the trusty hands of her personal attendants when they arrived at the sandstone dominated structure intermixed with marble and gold before he slipped out to address it. A small water spout rose with a figure appearing within its core that earned a frown from the human whose arms were crossed. "You've got some nerve showing your face to me."
"Come now, you never thought beings like me were real to begin with and it's not like the subject just comes up in common conversation."
"Keeping secrets, even this one, from your employer does not put you in the greatest of lights."
"How else were you going to accomplish what you had in mind? The US Navy Seals are spoken for and every other submarine in the world is currently employed already with missions." Mai raised a questioning eyebrow. "You want to search the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, what better service could I provide than this? Of course it's going to take longer than an hour, I am but one mermaid."
"I'm not referring to that."
"If you think I've been frolicking in the ocean for the last four hours then you are sorely mistaken. I made sure everything was ready before I stepped foot into the water; the caterers are nearly finished setting up, the DJ is finished with his lights, and the guests will be arriving shortly. One of those should be arriving shortly but I couldn't find the other." Her manicured fingernail lightly poked his chest as the rose hued fin split, elegantly stepping out from the water spout to stand upon the sandy beach next to him. "I believe you owe me big time for this one, but I might forgive you under one condition."
"I'm not raising your salary again, I've already done so four times in the last year."
She waved a hand. "Not that, silly, I'm already practically robbing you as it is."
"How about this instead?" Mauve eyes blinked in surprise as he pulled a folded sheet of paper from inside his suit pocket, accepting it with a tilt of her head, and gasped as she read the contents of the page. Heat dusted his cheeks as she looked up at him with awe filled eyes. "Anytime you want, I think Anzu would like it if you joined a few of her performances. I've seen how you were coaching and helping her during rehab, you even went out of your way to prepare her for this performance, so instead of hiring her old coach I'm sure she would be happier if you were there by her side instead." He stiffened as she suddenly threw her arms around him. "Mind you, you'll still have to juggle it with your other duties, but—"
"I'd love to." She smiled, pulling back and winking as she strolled past to head for the waiting mansion as cars began pulling into the mile long driveway. "Now let's get going, it's rude for a host not to be present when the guests arrive."
. . . .
"Run that by me again?!" She shrieked, pausing in the middle of cleaning off the heavy stage makeup to stare at Mai through the mirror. "Seto's throwing a giant New Year's Party tonight?! This is my brother we are talking about, right?"
"He wanted to congratulate you on your performance and thought that you'd like to let off a little steam."
The suds were washed from her fair skin and then vigorously rubbed dry by a towel, her cerulean eyes cracking open slightly when she thought that the last part spoken sounded a bit strange. They narrowed as she turned her head to stare at the blonde woman who was currently engrossed with her nails. "I'm guessing several of his business partners will be coming?"
"Naturally." A smirk raised her scarlet lips. "There will be a few guests here for you as well."
"I don't want to be setup with anyone!" Her palm met the marble countertop. Tears burned in the backs of her eyes as she clenched them shut, the skin that had met the immovable rock already turning red as she raked it through her hair. Pain seared across her chest as she reached up to clasp the scale that hung around her neck. "I'm sorry, Mai, I didn't mean to shout, but I can't…I won't…"
The older woman stepped forward, her arms encircling Anzu. "Hun, no one is going to force you to be with anyone else. We understand how special he was to you and know that no one could even come close to replacing him." She pulled away after a few second, her fingers gently cleaning the young woman's face of tears. "Now let's put on a little sparkle on your eyelids, a bit of mascara, and then we can pick out your outfit."
"No, no, no!" The double doors burst open, causing Anzu to clutch her towel even closer to her being as Pegasus marched though the doorway. "Comment osez-vous me trahir, madame! I am the only one qualified to properly dress and present Miss Anzu!"
. . . .
Her hands fluttered nervously, the very feminine chiffon dress the color of sea foam hugging her figure almost too tightly for her liking around her chest as she slipped out of the main parlor to stand upon the banister overlooking the sea. Though their home was bustling with music and people her heart gave a twinge of loneliness. A quick glance around confirmed that everyone were too focused upon each other, or the music, and slipped down the staircase that lead to a secret path she had taken may times. The fancy platforms that had been paired with her outfit were shed as she stepped out onto the sand, her finger looping through the ankle straps so she could carry them with ease. She giggled softly as the water tickled her toes then sighed as its cool temperature soothed her heated skin. "That feels so good…"
"I know what you mean. The ocean is my favorite place."
She jumped violently with a shriek when a voice came from above.
The source, a man a few inches taller than herself quickly slid from the rock he was sitting upon when she stumbled and was quick to steady her before she crashed down into the sand. He was lean, that much she could tell just from how easily he placed her back on her feet, making sure that she was stable, then took a step back. "Blimey, sorry about that," he bowed his head slightly. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"No, it's my fault for thinking I was the only one who wanted a moment of peace and quiet." She quickly straightened, donning the polite smile reserved for those who could be some of Seto's business partners. The blood in her veins froze when she took in his appearance and immediately stepped back in alarm. "What are you doing here?"
His head tilted to the left as if he were confused by her action. "Sorry?"
Her suspicion gave way to shock as his calm brown eyes watched her curiously. Was she mistaken? No, there was no mistaking the bright white hair or the body build but that British accent was a twist. This was in fact the crazy octopus-hybrid…right? "Aren't you Bakura?"
"Oh, so we have met!" His hand rose, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, I was in a sort of accident few years back so I'm afraid I don't recognize you."
Now she was even more curious. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"I was found practically in the middle of the ocean. No one knows what exactly happened but it's not just me," his finger rose to scratch at his cheek absentmindedly. "There were several others out there as well."
Her jaw hit the sand as he went on to explain that none of those who had been discovered with him held memory of why they were there in the first place or how they got there but it made her stomach twist in knots. Was Aquarius, the Goddess of the Sea, responsible?
"Bakura, why did you wander off like that?" A slender petite woman came running down the stairs, her arms wrapping around his torso when their beings collided. "You had me worried sick!"
Now Anzu knew she was dreaming. That woman was clearly the eel-siren that had tried to kidnap her! None of this was making any sense and she had to look away when they shared a kiss, her cheeks dusting with heat in embarrassment. So long as he wasn't a raging psychotic hybrid monster out to destroy the world then maybe she could look away this time. She slowly blinked as they excused themselves, the blush growing darker when the woman blatantly begged for some "attention" on their way back to the hotel. "What an odd pair."
"Love comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, I guess," a voice called, drawing her attention towards the rock that should have been vacated but found another figure sitting upon it. The young woman slid down the smooth worn stone and slung an arm around her shoulders, smiling. "I wouldn't worry about them though." She suddenly grew serious, causing Anzu to swallow nervously when the woman's onyx eyes drifted across her being. "Well, don't you look pretty tonight. Trying to meet someone?"
The young dancer slipped out from her grasp, shaking her head. "Not that it's any of your business, but, no." Panic filled her when she found that the weight of the scale around her neck was gone. Wide cerulean eyes narrowed slightly when she found it dangling from the woman's fingers. "I'd like that back please."
"Looks expensive," the woman cooed, raising it so she could study it intently. "Think I might keep it."
Her patience was already thin enough from the exhaustion of the performance so it was no surprise that Anzu felt her temper reach its boiling point. All of the physical rehabilitation and practices had made her regain the muscle she had lost so it was mildly surprising when the woman barely managed to move the necklace just out of her reach as she reached for it. "I won't ask again," she growled lowly in warning, cerulean darkening to sapphire with anger as her gaze met the stranger's.
An unreadable emotion entered the woman's eyes. "Sure thing, just tell me if the rumors are true."
"What rumors?"
"That the reason you didn't return to the dancing world right after you were given a clean bill of health was because you were nursing a broken heart."
Anzu's breath caught. They had been super careful about the media ever since the "natural disaster" that had completely swept away their home back in Japan, which she was glad that this must be reporter hadn't brought it, but it felt as though this woman was picking the scab on her heart that was still fragile. The shadow of her bangs fell over her eyes. "If this is how you get your kicks and stories, then I feel sorry for you. What do you honestly have to gain by asking me a question like that? A hundred hits, possibly a thousand?"
"Try millions."
"You want a story that badly that you would prey upon me like this?"
"You're not denying it." The woman's lips lifted into a sneer. "So who was it? Several people are guessing it is the young dashing heir from China but others are claiming that it was some low class farm hand who has no pedigree. I'm honestly hoping you were hooking up with the hunky Norwegian prince-"
Her hand lashed out so quick that the woman couldn't move fast enough to dodge, the necklace now safely back within Anzu's hold while the other impacted the right side of her face with the resounding sound of skin against skin ringing through the air. "Oopsie, looks like my hand slipped," she whispered, the hand that was still raised trembling as her cerulean eyes flared brightly in warning. "I'm only going to tell you this once: get out."
"Are you sure you want to throw me out?" The woman spat, a few droplets of blood sprinkling across the sand.
"I will not stand here and allow you to disrespect the one I cared for so much that it still hurts to think of them even now." The chain was secured around her slender neck once more with a click of the clasp, her fingers fondly caressing the scale before tucking it within the neckline of her dress as she turned away from the woman. "He is more than you or anyone else can understand how much he means to me." It wasn't until the woman's retreating footsteps had faded into silence that she allowed the suppressed emotions to slip up her throat in the form of a sob, leaning heavily against the rock as she curled into a tight ball.
Unbeknownst to her, a figure was watching closely from the mansion's balcony with sapphire eyes that shone with concern but he remained where he was as a figure stepped up beside him. "Why don't you go to her?" He glanced at them from the corner of his eye. "She deserves to know."
The shorter young man sighed. "Even if I did it wouldn't make her feel any better." His hands shoved themselves into the pockets of his charcoal colored pants. "What could be taking him so long?"
The music was loud, reaching her easily as she rocked herself back and forth slowly. She climbed up on the rock as a slower instrumental song began to play, one that she had favored as a child that most of the guests were probably requesting it be changed to something more suitable to the party atmosphere, and closed her eyes when it remained uninterrupted. Just because the song itself had no lyrics or words it didn't mean that she couldn't add them. "Golden sands that glitter like stars… Hearts beating as one withstand even the mightiest of storms…" her voice was soft, nearly choked off by the lump of emotions within her throat, but she pressed on as a salty breeze caressed her face. "Currents both swift and gentle connect mine heart to the one I love… Salt of the ocean hides the tears that my heart has wept… Tell me, my beloved, can you feel me there beside you even now?…" Seems like those Latin lessons were paying off, the translation of the lullaby he had been singing to her felt as natural as if she were speaking English. She didn't bother raising her head when footsteps approached, not even caring in the slightest when they leaned against the rock she sat upon.
"Such a beautiful song, yet its sounds so sad when you sing it," they whispered, voice softer than the cotton dress she wore. "I am curious to know who it is you sing it for."
Her hands rose to her hair as if to comb her chocolate locks but then held her hands out when she felt the curls. She wouldn't dare to alter or destroy Pegasus's hard work for fear of his wrath. There wasn't any pressure coming from the man as they both simply gazed out across the water, meaning they weren't going to force her to answer, and she was grateful. "Someone very special to me who I may never see again."
A shrill shriek filled the air before a resounding explosion filled the night sky with bright color, bathing everything upon the beach in tiger orange for a split second then was replaced by pale white moonlight once again. That must mean that the firework show would be starting soon, signaling the end of another year and the beginning of the next.
"I sense great sadness within you, young girl, your heart still weeps for the one you sing for even now." She was so surprised by this that her gaze finally moved from the horizon and felt herself staring into a pair of alexandrite eyes that were shifting with so many colors she was sure they were trying to put her under a spell. This stranger had skin as dark as her hair, was taller than any man she'd ever seen, and has an air about him that made every thought within her mind go numb. Though she wanted to look away as another firework lit up the night sky it was as if every ounce of strength had been sucked out of her being. "I too have felt the agony of heartbreak, a very long time ago when my own beloved and I were separated." His hand rose, tucking a few of her brown tresses behind her ear. "You must miss them terribly."
Tears spilled of their own accord down her cheeks as his hand rose, gently cupping her chin. "I…" her quivering lips stuttered, voice cracking from the immense emotional pressure within her chest. "…I miss him so much… Even though its been two years it still hurts this much…" A sob wracked her being as she lost her balance, bracing as the sandy beach rose to meet her, and gasped when she instead found herself within the stranger's embrace.
"I hear it is a custom in some places to make a wish upon the midnight hour." His voice, much deeper than any she's heard, washed over her like a soothing rain that rendered her pleasantly numb as he slowly placed her back upon the rock. With his height and build it must have been child's play since his breathing remained steady even with her added weight. "Please, if you don't mind, I would like to tell you my name in exchange for your wish?"
What an odd request, she thought, but her head bobbed of its own accord.
His lips lifted into a smile. "My name, young Anzu, is Levi…" Her eyelids drifted closed as his hand bent her head downward, his lips brushing lighter than a feather against the skin of her forehead. "…and I hope you accept my gift as a token of my gratitude for returning my beloved to me…"
Anzu woke with a start as another firework went off, sweat trickling down her forehead as she sat upright. The familiar earthy tones of her bedroom slowly came into focus then back out as warm droplets trickled down her face. How had she ended up here, in her bed, dressed within her favorite pajamas that consisted of a lose fitting crop top the color of charcoal and a pair of running shorts? Her hand rose to cling to the golden scale that was hanging from the delicate chain around her neck when she noticed a piece of paper on the bedside table.
"A guest brought you up to the house after the firework show. He said you had fainted upon the beach and wanted us to let you know that he hopes your New Year's wish comes true."
She recognized the handwriting immediately as Mai's, internally hoping that her brother hadn't been notified of the strange occurrence, and exhaled in relief when she checked her cellphone, finding it devoid of messages. The softest of sounds made her breath catch and she slowly turned to face the open window facing the horizon as the sky was lightened by the coming sunrise. "Come on, Anzu, you've been through this a million times," she sighed, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "You're up anyway so might as well do your morning workout."
The mansion was quiet as she slipped on a pair of waterproof shoes, earbuds snuggled within her ears as she pressed play upon her cell that was strapped to her back, and with the rolled mat tucked under her arm she headed straight for the beach. First a stretch, testing and pushing every muscle to loosen enough so she could use her full strength in the next series of exercises, and now it was time to swim. She shed the jacket and sweatpants until she was left only in a violet sports bra that matched with the incredibly tight compression shorts that were decorated with multicolored stripes of gold and crimson. A shiver wracked her body as she took the first step into the water. It was much colder than it had been yesterday but then again the sun had yet to rise and warm it.
A crazy thought entered her mind as she tread, the sand beneath her feet disappearing as she entered the deeper water. The globe that had caught his attention back in the library…hadn't his finger come to a stop near where they were now? "The supposed natural disaster, the fight between Lazulli and Bakura, occurred on the coast of Alexandria… but that doesn't mean that the kingdom where they lived was there…" Cerulean widened as she looked to the far north where a canal connected this otherwise land locked body of water to the Mediterranean Sea and then looked to the south, where another canal connected to the Gulf of Suez that was a part of the Red Sea. Hope blazed like an inferno as her heart thundered in her ears. Could it be possible? She filled her lungs with oxygen and dove.
Mauve eyes watched calmly from the upper balcony, a half finished mimosa within her hand that had droplets of condensation dripping down its pristine crystal container. "No human has ever reached the bottom," she whispered, eyes closing for a moment when the young girl surfaced and the air was filled with telltale sounds of her frustration before she dove again. "Even submarines and echo location devices are useless." Standing, she held up the drink in her hand to the coming sunrise. "Remember the wish you made last night, Anzu, now would be the perfect time."
She was accustomed to water pressure greater than this so why was she struggling so much?! Faster, she demanded of her legs, I have to reach the bottom! His face appeared within her mind's eye as she caught sight of a rock formation and desperately clung to it when the air in her lungs threatened to send her back to the surface. Her chest was burning for relief but she wasn't going to give up. She could practically see the underwater shelf that lay not even four feet down from where she was now that disappeared into the distance. Just a little farther! Spots filled her vision as the screaming of her body deafened her, the brightly colored fish seeming to curiously circle her blurred into a single mass.
"Would your wish be for him to be returned to you?"
Her head shook. "I would never take him away from his loved ones," she sniffled, the brightly colored fireworks in the sky above should have been so loud that their words had to have been shouted for them to be heard by the other person but no. "I know how much he cares for them, he would never leave them unless he was absolutely sure that his family and subjects were taken care of, that they were free of danger from the sirens and capable of living any way they choose…" The hot tears spilling down her cheeks grew tenfold. "He's so selfless and humble like that… he tries so hard for those around him with little to no praise for his efforts… his kindness and gentleness are qualities that we humans barely recognize anymore when we come across it… he hides what he's feeling if it means that he can spare the feelings of the other person but I don't want him to live with that mask anymore." A hand lifted her chin so that her blurred gaze was no longer upon the sand but instead looking back up at Levi. "I want him to be honest with himself, to live as he wants even if I never see him again…"
Her eyes cracked open as a warm breeze blew past her ear, her form slightly jostling as if she were walking but her legs were bent. Was she…being carried? The beach was coming closer with each step they took, the ear pressed against her "rescuer's" chest filled with the sound of a strong heartbeat that lay underneath. Alarm bells rang loudly when the arms cradling her tightened their hold as a wave rose, as if trying to swipe her away, but she couldn't muster up the strength to push them away as their hold slackened. She must have almost drowned just now and yet she couldn't bring herself to be mad at this person. They had guards set up all over the place so one of them probably had dove after her. "I…"
They paused.
"I can walk…on my own…" She weakly pressed a hand against against their chest. "Thank you, for doing your job, but I can make it back to the mansion on my own. I'll be sure to let Seto know that you should receive a raise for you actions this morning." Her eyes widened when she caught sight of their right hand as she was placed upon her feet. "You're hurt and were carrying me to shore?" A sigh slipped between her lips as she lightly grasped their wrist to closely examine it. "We'll definitely have to clean it to prevent an infection but it should heal up without scaring in the next few days or so…" The words had died on her lips as her gaze slowly traveled up their arm.
Within the golden rays of the rising sun, the person's profile was revealed little by little with the growing light coming from the horizon. First was the wild hair with crimson tips, broad shoulders that looked as though they could support the world, golden bands decorating his lean arms, built torso that was hugged by a tunic that reached their knees- Wait, knees?! Her hands flew to her mouth while taking several staggering steps backward, the cape attached to his shoulders billowing in the wind that skimmed the water's surface as he took a step towards her.
This had to be some kind of trick, illusion, nightmare! She shook her head while taking another step back, the water lapping at her calves failing to steady her now quaking legs as he took another step. Words failed her as tears filled her eyes. How cruel to tease and toy with her heart like this! Was a higher power punishing her for something by making her delusional into thinking or believing he was truly standing here right in front of her?! "Don't!" Her sudden cry echoed through the air, carrying with it the full pain that now poured from her wounded heart, but her eyes blazed with brightly in a manner that threatened to burn if he came another step. "Whatever this spell is, whoever is behind this, you truly are cruel…" Her being wracked with sobs. "Haven't I suffered enough? How dare you show him to me like this?… I can't…" she fell to her knees with a high pitched wail, the water now reaching her waist as she fervently dunked her head. "Wake up, this isn't real!"
"Anzu."
Everything grew still, even time, as he called out her name. She didn't fight as his arms wrapped around her and lifted her trembling figure from the water, both of his arms secured under her so that their foreheads met as he stood to his full height. He made to shift her so as to free one of his arms but remained still as her bent legs suddenly wrapped around his upper torso. If he moved now it would disrupt the balance of their weights and they would both tumble to the water so he kept his elbows locked and a gentle hold upon the underside of her thighs as those wide eyes of hers stared into his own. "Are you really here?…" she whimpered.
"Anzu," he began, voice soft and warm. It was the same voice that had ensnared her in the very beginning back on the cruise liner she was performing on. "When I gave you this scale that was above my heart, as something to remember me by as you live your life, I never imagined that it would accomplish what I had thought was impossible. It somehow made it possible for me to see you. Over the last two years I have witnessed the many trials you have gone through; each of your practices were long, those people that you sought counsel with, I even felt every one of your tears that you secretly shed when you were alone." His head bent so that it was buried within her shoulder. "I wanted nothing more than to wipe them away and assure you that I was still with you. Every passing day felt as an eternity as I could only watch as you struggled."
Her eyes widened as warm droplets met her skin, her arms rising to wrap around his head as the arms supporting her trembled. So she hadn't imagined those times where her surroundings were replaced by underwater scenery. The heart in her chest grew warm as he clung to her in response when her face buried within his hair. "Golden sands that glitter like stars… Hearts beating as one withstand even the mightiest of storms…" her voice was soft, she hoped that he could hear her though, and was filled with relief when one of his arms rose up her back so as to nearly crush her against his being. "Currents both swift and gentle connect mine heart to the one I love…"
"Salt of the ocean hides the tears that my heart has wept… Tell me, my beloved, can you feel me there beside you even now?…" The heart in his chest felt as though it was running a sea dragon race as she soothed him softly when a sob attempted to wrestle up his throat.
"I heard you too…" she whispered. "…you sang to me almost every night…"
His amethyst eyes bore into her own as he raised his head, those gems she adored straining to hod back tears as she caressed his face with gentle fingers. "I can't apologize enough for the pain that you endured, Anzu, please forgive me though I do not deserve it."
"Don't talk like that, please, I can't stand hearing it from you." She sniffled, the tears falling from her eyes dripping down onto his tanned skin to mix with his own. "I don't regret meeting you, never did, and I never will." The heavy weight that had been dragging her heart through the mud ever since their separation gave a tug as she slipped from his grasp, earning a gasp from between his lips as fear entered his amethyst eyes. Her hands grasped his own tightly so as to put it to rest and raised her oceanic eyes to meet Her lips lifted into a small smile when she commended his hard work and tilted her head when she confessed that he had been the driving force behind her dancing. "When words aren't enough, then it's best to speak through a different medium. Some people use art or music, but not me." She playfully grinned, extending her hand to him after wiping her face clean of the tears. "Care to be my dancing partner?"
His amethyst eyes widened slightly at her words, causing a stir within his chest. There was no hesitation as he deftly grasped her hand, bringing their bodies together. He blinked as she removed a white device from her ear, holding it out to him as if offering it, and bent so that she herself could place it within his own. Soft piano notes seeped into his very core as she stepped back, keeping their fingers entwined. The gentle music carried them both across the beach, lazily circling each other as if they were performing a similar dance that the butterflies they had seen within the gardens back in Japan had. Every time a lower note was reached they would pause, their upper torsos gently brushing against the other's with their breaths fanning the other's face, then the lighter notes carried them back out to arms length to take back up the circular path.
It was as the notes faded into silence that he suddenly enclosed her within his arms, one hand buried within her chocolate hair while the other pressed against her lower back. She didn't try to fight off the emotions anymore as he broke down, both falling to their knees as the golden sunlight bathed them in its warmth. They clung to each other as their breaths and soft cries harmonized, bearing truth to their earlier spoken words. The warm waves reached high enough to tickle their thighs but they couldn't care less as they gazed upon each other. Their shared sorrow had dissipated with each passing move that they had taken together and left only the immense longing that they had each swallowed during their time apart.
Before him was a goddess, a woman that never ceased to amaze him with her strong will and the commendable courage that he had witnessed not just during the battle against Bakura but also in her strength to continue to follow her love of dancing while healing her heart and body at the same time. The strength she had gained was immeasurable. He softly hummed when she rested her head against his chest, his eyes closing as the soft scent of peaches and marshmallow filled his nose. Atem had missed her dearly; from the soothing warmth she exhumed to the captivating way her eyes would clearly display whatever emotion she was feeling.
The heart that was beneath her ear whispered the things she had longed to hear, their soft swaying back and forth threatening to lull her to sleep if she wasn't careful. She had thought for sure that her tears had been used up during the past year but a few managed to gather within the corners of her eyes as she felt his solidity. He wasn't a figment of his imagination, he truly was dancing with her upon the beach. A shiver passed down her spine when his muscles moved fluidly from underneath the tunic he wore, one of his tanned hands gently brushing her cheek and finding the tears she had attempted to hide by burying her face within the strange cloth and relished in the deep scent of sandalwood that caused her heart to quicken.
Their eyes met as his fingers gently cupped her chin. "Anzu, say the word and I will remain by your side forever more." His hands cupped her face as she made to protest, most likely to say that she couldn't even think to take him away from his family, his home, but she was quieted by the fierce seriousness in his voice when he stopped her. He had already thought this decision through and she could tell that he was fully prepared to act. "I do not wish to be away from you but I must know if you wish the same."
She leaned backwards as last night's fireworks filled her ears and she took back the earbud and shoved them both into her pockets while swiping her hand across the screen of the device strapped to her arm. Her expression filled with awe as the stranger's smile filled her mind's eye. "There was a man, a stranger, that asked what my New Years wish was…" her fingers rose to brush her chin as his hands fell to her shoulders. "…he asked if I wanted him to bring you back but I said no."
Amethyst bore into cerulean. "What did you wish for?"
"I wanted you to live how you wanted." Her shoulders rose in an embarrassed shrug. "Even if we couldn't meet again I would have been happy to know that you were doing the things you wanted, to be honest and true to yourself."
He blinked, mildly surprised but also deeply touched. "That was a very unselfish wish, Anzu. You could have wished for anything yet you spent it on someone else."
"Atem, you are truly the most selfless man I know." Her lips quivered, hands rising to rest upon his shoulders as she searched for words, her gaze wandering down his form to the sturdy legs he now sported. "You had to make a deal with the devil for that first pair of legs and now I'm afraid to ask what you had to do for those." Her brows furrowed when a chuckle rumbled within his chest, those devilish lips of his rising into a smirk.
"Then allow me to show you what I wished for when Levi visited me."
"Wait, what are you-!"A slight scream slipped between her lips as he suddenly pulled her flush against his being and they fell backwards into deeper water. Her body instinctively clung to his as they tread water for a split second then dove once securing his arms around her. The bubbles from her clothing obscured her vision as he released her a few strokes down, her eyes clenching tightly when a flash of gold threatened to blind her.
A quick breath calmed his adrenaline filled heart and he slowly released his hold on her so that she was suspended at arms length. "Anzu, open your eyes." He pulled her forward, brushing his lips against each of her closed eyelids. So shocked was she that they flew open and were immediately spotted the gorgeous tail that rose to wrap its fin around her waist. Each scale now had a gradient beginning with glittering gold where it met his skin, turning into a dark violet, then a similar band of crimson along each tip that matched his hair. "No more deals or contracts," he smiled, bringing her back to the surface with a powerful thrust of his tail and brushed the hair out of her face as she regained her breath. "My wish, Anzu, was that I could never be separated from you again."
"But what about your subjects back in Atlantis? What about Mahad, Mana, and Yugi?"
"Aw, did you hear that, everyone? She's actually worried about us!"
She shrieked, arms wrapping around his neck as Yugi surfaced next to them. His lavender eyes sparkled as she stared at him as if he were a ghost for several seconds then grinned as her finger deftly flicked his forehead. Her hand quickly retracted when more shadows moved beneath the water's surface, barely hearing the assuring words they both spoke as more heads began to pop up. The expression of shock and fear gave way to awe as Mahad and Mana appeared, even the supposed stoic adviser cracking a smile as she waved to him. "But…" Her hand fell to rest upon the merman who held her shoulder. "I don't understand."
"Then perhaps I can answer that for you." Every head bowed lowly as a water spout formed, from within it appearing a figure who exhumed a pressure that would have surely crushed anything thinner than a piece of paper just by his shifting gaze as he focused upon her. "My name is Levi, when I am in this form, but perhaps you better know me as Leviathan." His lips lifted into an amused smile when her jaw dropped. "You, though unknowingly, released our children from their innate curse. For so long as she harbored her hatred for what happened they would forever be adversaries and the cycle of transformations would forever occur unless one were spared by the other. Sirens lost all sense of themselves and left only pure instinct and hunger. It was only when one such denizen was spared by both merfolk and human that it could be interrupted, but you," he swept out his hand, more appearing around them than she could count. "You went farther and completed her song by singing the forgotten verse and had even countered her summoning song. Child of Man, within your heart once beat the scale of my daughter, the other half of the child known as Bakura, but now the vicious cycle of hatred has been broken there will no longer be any need for the rest of our children to conceal themselves within the oceans."
Anzu's cerulean eyes widened as several of the merfolk headed for land, a light bathing each in turn and gasped as they disappeared upon the beach. Her gaze fell to his arms that were wrapped tightly around her. "Does this mean that they will be human from now on?" she turned back to Levi.
"Only when they wish it, can their tails reform," he nodded. "For that is the wish that was made." His finger rose to tap his nose as he winked. "For now, this is farewell, and I wish you all well as you pursue your dreams to their fullest!" In a sweep of his arm, the water formed a twister and then he was gone.
"I think her brain might have exploded," Yugi poked her cheek lightly, waving a hand in front of her unblinking eyes when she remained silent even when they had made their way back on land and were currently seated upon the worn down rocks. "Maybe it was a bit to much for her."
Atem's hand gently tilted her face towards him, away from where it had been locked upon the spot Levi had appeared, so that he could see her eyes. He had to fight back the urge to chuckle when she blinked for several seconds as if waking from a daydream. "Anzu?" Worry grew when she remained passive, almost like a doll, even when Yugi poked her cheek again. They nearly jumped when her fingers clasped his hand, which was raised to repeat the motion for the third time.
"How long?"
Yugi instantly pulled his hand away and excused himself, disappearing across the beach as if he were being chased. Traitor, Atem scowled in his direction before refocusing upon the young woman in his lap. Her back was to his front, making it impossible for him to see her face and tell what she was thinking. He had seen her angry towards others during his time on land but it had never been directed to him personally and it made him weary of how his next choice of words should be considered with extra care. "I suppose the first of the sirens who were altered was nearly two years ago, which would include Bakura and his precious merwoman, the eel."
Her entire being gave a violent flinch that would have sent her falling off the rock if not for his quick catch. She shivered violently, relishing as his warmth enveloped her from behind when he tightly embraced her. "They were here, at the party last night."
"Did they harm you?" His voice came out as a low hiss.
"Surprisingly," she shook her head. "Neither of them even recognized me." Her hand rose, lightly patting his arms that were around her shoulders so that she could sit up. It was the second that his hold had nearly fully released her when she suddenly pivoted, hands upon his shoulders and pinning them to the rock he was leaning against. Cerulean bore into amethyst, as if searching for answers to the questions she wished to voice but was almost too afraid of the possible answers that he would give to say them aloud. He didn't fight her off though, merely looking up at her in patient suspension to see or hear what was plaguing her. "You're turn. How long has it been for you?"
His head hung slightly. "Two months."
Betrayal threatened to stab her heart light a bee's stinger but she swatted it away with a mental shake. "Oh…" she sniffled, the tears returning as he begged for her forgiveness. "No, I'm sure you had other important things to worry about. I mean you had Yugi to worry about and all of your subjects needed to be taken care of so I don't blame you for fulfilling your duties to them."
"Anzu, don't think for a moment that I didn't want to come see you. Believe me, I wanted to the second I stepped out on land," his hands cupped her cheeks, fingers attempting to wipe away the tears staining her cheeks. "But I had to take care of a few things first. I couldn't just show up out of the blue, it would have-"
"What, upset me like I am right now?!" She slipped off the rock, feet landing within the sand with a heavy impact. "Atem, two years to an immortal like you must feel like the blink of an eye, but I went through seven hundred and thirty pain filled days! I thought I would never see you again!"
He remained where he was as she stomped and paced in circles upon the sand, his amethyst eyes never leaving her even when she walked several paces away all the while raging and throwing her hands in every direction. There were several valid points that she was making, each causing him to feel worse and worse, but he too had his own that he was more than ready to share if she would listen. To his surprise a figure came up behind her that was capable of causing her to halt and turn her anger upon someone he honestly had not expected to see.
"That's enough out of you." Seto wrapped an arm around her torso, lifting her from the sand and completely ignoring the thumps she delivered to his back. "A bit to the right, Anzu, that area's been bothering me for weeks."
"Put me down now!"
He took a seat upon one of the other rocks, still managing to prevent her release or opportunity to free herself, and locked his sapphire eyes upwards as she swore loudly. Sapphire met amethyst when she finally fell silent after a full minute. "I'm guessing that the Egyptian Museum Cairo has accepted your application?"
She froze. Seto, her own older brother, had known? Curiosity got the best of her though and her anger simmered then was extinguished.
Atem nodded, instantly noticing the raging aura around Anzu flicker then disperse. "I sincerely appreciate you allowing myself and a few of my subjects the home you have there as well while we grow to understand this new world. The acceptance letter came just the other day, requiring me to physically be present for the opening semester ceremony to announce the newest exhibit." His gaze dropped to his attire. "They had offered me formal attire but then one of the older architects objected, saying that this would be more ethnic since one of the ancient pharaoh's they had studied looked similar to my appearance. I suppose this looks strange to you, but I honestly feel most at ease while wearing this. It is similar to the dress style of my father."
"Are you going to seriously be wearing that during tours and meetings?" Seto scoffed.
Amethyst narrowed. "Of course not. Even I would not be capable of tolerating the possible jests if I did."
"And the partnership contract?"
"Mai has already received it. The terms you stated were acceptable so I had little to object." His brows furrowed. "Though I am curious, why did you pick the name 'Millennium Keeper' for the appraisal chain?"
"Gee, I wonder." The business tycoon's head tilted, giving Anzu a light pat on the hip. "You get all that?" He placed her back on the sand when she nodded, her head hanging low in shame from the embarrassing display, and recoiled when he pinched her nose. "That's what you get for not letting someone finish speaking."
"Ow ow ow! That hurts!" She swatted his hand away with a glower, her gaze shifting to Atem when he chuckled. Her cheeks flushed brightly when Seto nudged her with his foot towards the patient prince who watched with interest as she slowly took steps until she was next to the rock he was sitting on.
Not a word was spoken between the trio as they simply watched the sun rise higher into the sky, it grew heavy though when Seto departed for the mansion claiming that he had a virtual meeting to attend, and then it was just them upon the beach. A swipe of her finger upon the device attached to her arm shattered the silence with a familiar tune he had heard several times through the last two years. She had often payed it when she was unsure of what to do next, as if searching its lyrics for what she should do, and kept his eyes trained on her from the corner of his eye as she moved away. "If I never knew you, If I never felt this love, I would have no inkling of how precious life can be…"
A breeze suddenly swept by, causing her hair to unravel from the high ponytail she had tied it up in as she closed her eyes. She honestly had not expected him to sing the lyrics, or know them enough to, but she was internally ecstatic. Dancing was her forte but under Mai's instruction she had also begun vocal lessons she had a newfound love. His voice to her was like a storm; low in range that rumbled like thunder, a few breaths of wind here and there that would cause the rain to increase or wane, the occasional fork of lightning that were his emotions giving power and color. Her now longer chocolate hair held bronze highlights as it reached the center of her back, swaying gently in the wind as she relished in his voice surrounding her.
He slid off the rock as she came to a halt and turned his back. There was no indication that she wanted him to stop as he glanced over his shoulder only once to ensure she had not walked off. Seeing her there with the sun's rays bathing her nearly took his breath away and for him to lose his place in the song but he regained his focus and closed his eyes. "And if I never held you, I would never have a clue haw at last I find in you the missing part of me…" The tide had risen, now reaching their ankles, but neither cared. Her anger had been justified but so were his reasons. A middle ground had now been established so now it was time to build a bridge that would connect them both. The sand crunched subtly as he took the first step backwards.
She heard his step but paid it no mind. "If I never knew you, I'd be safe, but half as real, never knowing I could feel a love so strong and true…." On its own, her left foot rose just enough to shift across the sand and move backwards a few inches. "And I'm so grateful to you…I'd have lived my whole life through, lost forever…If I never knew you…"
This was no spell they were casting, they were only singing for the person they longed to reach.
High above them, lounging upon the balcony and watching with interest sat a blonde woman who had her arm slung over the shoulder of her youngest cousin. They had been catching up when the song's first notes reached them, despite the volume not being very high, but they were curious nonetheless to see what the pair would do next. They pouted as a tall figure appeared from behind and ushered them inside.
Their steps came to a halt as their backs met, the harmony filled verse that had robed them both of breath giving way to the slow and tear jerking finale that caused tears to stream down both of their faces. "We turn the darkness into light and still my heart is saying we were right," their voices grew soft as they slowly turned to face the other, their foreheads resting against the other's. "And If I never knew you, I'd have lived my whole life through…empty as the sky, never knowing why…lost forever…if I never knew you…"
Amethyst and cerulean; one a pair of gemstones more precious than she could ever imagine, the other fathomless with endless mystery he would never tire of exploring. There was no lingering anger within her body language or in her tone when she inquired about the museum. Warmth dusted his cheeks as he looked to the sand beneath their feet, a hand rising to scratch the back of his head. "I confess, the explanation of how this human world worked left me and several others slightly blindsided but he was patient and properly coached us until we reached an understanding."
"By why a museum?"
Pride welled within his chest as he took a step back, chin rising with confidence. "I have studied the sunken ships that bore hieroglyphs that date back several thousand years, Anzu, and I do not require a translator when reading ancient texts."
"Is that so?" She raised an teasing eyebrow as her eyes became hooded. They widened in panic when he suddenly doubled over, falling onto his side into the sand as she hurried to his side. "Hey! Talk to me! What's wrong?"
He groaned after a few seconds, rolling onto his back to reveal his playful grin that was hidden by the hand he used to cover his eyes. "Your doubt wounds me, maiden, I cannot hope to regain the shattered pieces of my confidence." He grasped her wrist when she playfully smacked his arm, deftly rolling while unclipping the cape from his shoulders to pin her to the ground. "I think I deserve some sort of compensation in exchange."
She blinked in surprise when he lifted her from the sand, carefully brushing off the grains that stuck to her skin, and it was as he faced the water that she noticed something glittering within his hand that was moving backwards. Realization crashed down upon her like a ton of bricks and she launched herself forward in time to snatch it back, the chain straining since he managed to keep a finger wrapped around it. "What are you doing?!" Her temper spiked when his head tilted, a look of innocence crossing his features. "Don't give me that! Why were you about to throw it?!"
"A scale once plucked may never return to its rightful place. Now that I am here, I do not see you requiring it any longer." He spoke with such gentleness that she was left speechless as he carefully removed it from her trembling fingers. It had been her anchor these last two years, connecting them over miles and miles, but it was time to let it go. "Besides," his amethyst eyes met hers as he took her hand within his own and led her into the water. "It is the price I am more than willing to pay for my wish to be granted." A tug caused her to lose her balance and fall into him, the waves quickly sweeping them out to deep waters.
She made to rise to the surface almost immediately but he kept a hold upon her hand even when she attempted to pull free when his tail appeared. Cerulean widened when he made for the underwater shelf she had attempted to reach earlier and doubled her efforts. What was he trying to do, drown her?! The water pressure caused her ears to pop painfully as he came to a stop, spinning around so quickly that she didn't have the chance to move out of his way as his hand, still holding the scale, met her chest.
His arms wrapped around her as she thrashed, eyes clenched shut as her nails raked across his skin, putting every bit of faith within the words Levi had spoken to him.
"Your wish, Atem, eldest prince of Atlantis, what is it that your heart desires?"
His eyes drifted from the roaring crowds that surrounded he and Yugi, whose attention was stiff focused upon the stage, to rest upon the legendary being who also watched with interest. "My subjects and family are now living how they chose, mighty Leviathan, it would be rude of me to ask for more."
The taller man chuckled lowly. "I though you would say as much. The wish does not have to be for yourself. Surely you could use it for the one you cherish most?" Amethyst widened for a moment as he recalled a secret he had been told. Atem blinked when the man turned as the curtains slid closed, his hand briefly resting upon his shoulder as he bent his head so that only the prince could hear him. "Your scale, the one she wears even now, it came from the cluster above your heart. It is embedded with such power that it could be harnessed and transform someone."
His hand moved from her chest as the scale disappeared in a flurry of golden dust that seeped into her skin, retreating until he was arms length from her as she slowly fell to lay sprawled upon the sandy floor. He called her name softly, earning a turn of her head as she crossed her arms. No matter how much he called to her she acted as though she couldn't hear him. So this was the silent treatment…interesting. "Then I supposed you don't want to know that we, the merfolk, only have enough magic to transform and nothing else?" Her brows twitched. At least she was listening though it was surprising that she hadn't noticed it yet. "There was something else that had to be offered up for the equivalent exchange though. Any guesses?"
She slowly sat up, her eyes wide open and glittering brightly with worry. "Swear to me that you didn't have to bet your soul."
"Of course not, Anzu," his hand cupped her cheek. "Now our lifespans are no longer than that of a regular human's."
The seconds ticked by as she blinked once…twice… "You gave up your immortality?!" She recoiled violently, arms flailing as she fell backwards and stiffened when her back met rock.
A flex of his tail carried him up and over so that their gazes could meet. "Did you honestly think that we lived forever by consuming the life force of the marine population or those of the humans who fell victim to the ocean?" His fingertip brushed her nose. "Shame on you, Anzu, for making assumptions, but yes, we did have longer lifespans from the magic within our veins but we no longer contain that kind of power." His lips lifted into a soft smile as her eyes flitted in every direction before halting upon his own.
"We don't have to be separated anymore?"
"Never again."
Hope shone brightly within those cerulean pools that were her eyes. "And you still want to be with me?"
His hands brought her up against his chest, enfolded her within himself. "There's no place I would rather be, Anzu."
They drifted upwards as she wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face within his chest as overwhelming joy filled her. She cried unhindered, strengthening her hold as he rubbed her back soothingly. He truly was here to stay! Bewilderment filled her though as they drifted back downward to meet the sand. "Why is it so hard to move my legs?" He wisely moved away the second her hold had loosened enough, but wasn't capable of hiding his amused smile when she looked down on herself. Her hands first rose to cover her mouth, then up to tangle within her hair, reaching out to touch the glittering tail that was now connected to her torso, and came to a halt inches before her fingertips could touch the azure scales. "WHAT IS THAT?!" Her wide eyes rose to lock upon him as he fell into a fit of laughter as she examined it from every angle then slapped her hands over her mouth as tiny bubbles came from between her lips. His amusement vanished when she paled as she hugged herself. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"
Sensing that she was close to a mental limit, he quickly drew her against his chest and rose to the surface with a powerful thrust of his tail. She was trembling in his hold as he helped her onto land, quickly reverting his tail back into legs so that he could better maneuver them towards the rocks that would shield them from the now blazing sun high in the sky. "Anzu, focus on my voice," he whispered lowly into her ear while holding her to his chest, her heart pressed against the spot where his heart was beating. "Level your breathing to match mine." Her hold upon him only increased as the pulse he felt within her neck quickened instead of slowing, filling him with worry as her breathing became gaspy. "Remember that secret you told me, when we were up almost all night playing a board game of fake money and little tokens? What did you tell me then?"
Her body gave a twitch. "I…I said…that I often imagined…myself…" The heart beating against her ear was as slow as the voice in her ear, combining to form a strange harmony that eased her down from the high of adrenaline and shock and would have come crashing back to earth if not for his warmth that cushioned her fall.
"As a mermaid…" he finished for her gently. "That was my wish, Anzu, I wished that you could experience what it was like to be one. I wanted your dream to come true of being a denizen of the ocean." Relief filled him when her form grew still, relaxing into his hold fully as she snuggled into the crook of his neck as the tight grip she had upon his clothing was released. "I apologize, I should have found a better way than-" His words were cutoff by a pair of lips meeting his own. It had been brief, less than a second, but it was enough to convey her thanks. Her eyes were now clear as she gazed up at him in awe as he pressed his lips against a cluster of scales that were on the inside of her wrist.
Against her fair skin, the azure scales shone brightly like sapphires as she experimentally twisted her arm this way and that. The clusters were in various places from a few on her biceps to some upon her shoulders, some that formed a strange neckline effect across her chest that was visible thanks to the sports bra she wore… Embarrassment flooded her then as she realized the minimal clothing, eyes finding the bag she had brought that contained the jacket she had worn earlier peeking out of its cinched top, and attempted to hide the skin still visible when he suddenly pressed her to the rock. "W-what are you doing?! I'm still in my workout wear! Let me go put my jacket back on!" Her body froze as something brushed the tail that had been thrashing against the sand. The culprit, his hand, was lazily drifting across the scales in slow drawn out strokes, causing her being to shiver as electrical currents coursed through her veins. They stole her breath away as his fingers took a moment to tease the junction of skin that disappeared into the scales.
"I have been curious as to what color your scales would be," he whispered lowly, earning a shiver from the young woman as his breath tickled her ear. "Tell me, Anzu, now do you understand just how sensitive mine were when you did the same?"
The entire vocabulary that she knew failed her as his lips lowered to her shoulder, a soft cry coming from between her parted lips as they found a cluster of the scales hidden within her hairline. Near unbearable heat flooded her as she clung to him, the embarrassed flush within her cheeks burning brightly as he feathered kisses across her skin. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, hoping to any higher power that would listen, that this bliss, this ecstasy would never stop. "A…Atem…"
His hooded eyes flared brilliantly. This was the first time she had called out his name since their reunion, the shivers of her body against his throwing gasoline upon the flames he had kept locked up tight for the last two years blazing as she writhed from his ministrations. "Again."
So husky was his voice that her heart felt as though it was about to burst forth from her chest as it swooned heavily. Her answer was lost in a drawn out moan as he moved her from the rock to sit upon his lap, those velvet lips of his meeting the scales forming an illusion sweetheart neckline and causing her head to fall back as a wave of passion overwhelmed her, her arms wrapping tightly around his head that pinned him there as he lowered her to the sand. A coil wound tightly within her abdomen as his hand fell to rest against her curves, causing her back to arc off the sand to press her upper torso flush against his own as he found another cluster of scales. His hips brushed against her own, causing lightning to shoot up her spine, and with a firm tug upon his hair to bring him upwards her lips crashed against his own as her tail wrapped itself around his right leg. Carnal desire was now replacing the blood in her veins as she rolled them, growling lowly when his hand brushed within the crook that would have been her knees that caused her tail to shiver violently enough that its grasp slipped and found herself back upon the sand with his body pinning her own.
"If this is too much," he huskily whispered. "Just tell me to stop."
A scream would have erupted from between her lips as his hand slipped between their grinding forms, those nimble fingers of his finding a spot that caused her body to feel as though a volcano had erupted within her core, but it was devoured by his lips that had quickly covered her own as she first grew stiff as a board then slowly relaxed as the waves of bliss ebbed away, leaving her feeling like a puddle of mush. "O…oops…" she gasped, breathing heavily as he smirked down at her. "Point made, I get it now."
His smirk only grew as she lightly swatted his chest, lowering himself to the sand and readily welcoming her into his embrace as she snuggled close. "I am glad to hear it."
"What was that racket?" The voice that called down caused her cheeks to burn brightly as he shimmied until they were hidden within the rock structure's shadow, the smirk becoming tainted with mischief as Seto's call came again. "Fireawn, do not make me come down there!"
Cerulean widened first in fear then excitement. "Atem, why are we hiding? And what's with that name?"
"Well," his finger, which was absentmindedly tracing patterns across her skin that raised the fine hairs across her body, paused when it reached her chin. "If he demanded that I leave now then he would attempt to limit the time we have together anytime I came to visit you. The name 'Fireawn' is the Arabic translation of 'pharaoh' and I quite like it better than the one Yugi and grandfather chose."
"Which is?"
"Mutuo."
Her cheeks puffed out in a suppressed laugh. "That's an interesting one, I'll give them that much."
"Indeed," he chuckled, nuzzling her hair fondly, voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "And I wanted something much more special for when the day comes that you share it with me."
Her head tilted in curiosity, unable to hear what he had said, but let it slide as Seto called out to them again. "He's my brother, not my father," she chided, leaning out of the shadow far enough that she could spot him up on the balcony staring down on her with narrowed sapphire eyes, then slowly retreated backwards as he chuckled lightly. "Then again we shouldn't press out luck." An idea crossed her mind and she grinned while grabbing hold of his hands. "I think I know a way that we will be spared." His lips lifted into a grin as she rolled across the sand so that she was fully visible to the one who was watching from above.
Seto's eyes narrowed when she waved up at him. What was that glittering behind her? Sapphire widened. "Anzu Kaiba, what is that tail doing where you're legs are supposed to be?!"
"Sorry, can't hear you!" She called back, swiping the cinch bag then rolling so that the water could help her off the sand. "I'll be back later! We're going for a swim!"
Atem was quick to follow once his own tail had reformed and sent a smirk over his shoulder towards the fuming human who shouted for her to "come back or else". "Do not fret, Kaiba, I will be sure to have her home before midnight tonight." His hand extended towards Anzu as she floundered slightly, getting used to treading water with her new tail, and held her close until she was capable of moving with confidence. Amethyst glittered when her cerulean shone brightly in excitement.
Seto's anger died as the her lips lifted into the most brilliant smile he had only seen upon her once. His hands shoved themselves into his pocket as Moki whined softly, gazing up at him with wide eyes. "She finally found it," he whispered, kneeling and patting the large dog's head. "Anzu found that spark and love of the world again thanks to him." His brow twitched as their figures disappeared within the water, the sunlight flashing brightly off their tails for a moment. "Looks like my wish for her to find true happiness came true but did it have to be that guy?"
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL FOR READING!
This concludes "The Little Merman" but be sure to check out my other works!
The song they sang was "If I Never Knew You" from Pocahontas.