Chapter Ten: Cleansing
The sun rose brightly in the morning, its powerful rays melting the snow, even in the early mist. By midday, large streams of water were flowing through the city and towards the banks of the Nile. Under the receding snow and ice, the tawny shade of sand could be seen. Chariots that had been fitted with skis had their wheels replaced on the axels. The streets were full of celebrating people, dancing and singing in freedom. Everyone was awake and busy rebuilding.
High within the rebuilt palace, one person remained asleep. Yami was barely visible beneath the fluffy blankets that covered his slumbering form. His unique hair had vanished among the numerous pillows.
Feeling he had allowed the young prince to sleep long enough, Set rapped on the door lightly with his knuckles.
"Atemu, it's time to wake. We have much to review before your coronation tomorrow," Set called through the wooden door. He could hear a slight moaning coming from the chambers behind it. And then silence.
This was the prince Set remembered. Atemu would stay up all night studying history or practicing new spells, causing him to sleep until he was woken the next day.
"Atemu, get up!" Set called louder. Another moan and a ruffling noise passed faintly through the wood. A loud thump came from Yami's room. Set grimaced, not wanting to think about how much whatever had happened had hurt.
The door opened to reveal Yami in all his morning glory. His hair was askew and his clothing was rumpled. As he walked out, he was rubbing his forehead unconsciously.
"What happened?" Set asked curiously.
"My foot got caught in the blankets and was the source of an unscheduled meeting with the stone floor," Yami replied, a yawn following his explanations.
Set tried to stifle a burst of laughter, but part of it slipped passed his pursed lips. His little mistake earned him a sharp jab from Yami's elbow into his ribs. The prince was definitely not a morning person.
Two servants greeted them down the long hall from Yami's room. They fell in a formal bow and led Yami into a separate chamber off to the side.
Moist air hit Yami in the face as he entered the room. A large bath was sunk into the ground, creating an indoor oasis; complete with exotic plants lining the walls. Off to the side a tall piece of carved wood formed a private change room.
Bending down, Yami tested the water in the enormous tub. It was a perfect temperature. Ordering the two servants to leave, he removed the simple garments Bakura had dressed him in. He cautiously stepped down into the water.
The warmth completely surrounded him, the bubbly foam rising to his chin. He allowed himself to relax, letting the reality of life float away to the recesses of his mind. Everything around him became clearer. The smell of the scented oils and the glamorous splashing of the numerous fountains took over Yami's attention.
As the thoughts came to the surface, two seemed to dominate. The first was of Bakura, holding his arms open to accept the one he loved. Yami wondered what Bakura was doing at that exact moment. His train of thoughts continued along the desert sand and among the trees of Bakura's oasis. It was interrupted by the other dominating image. Set.
'Why had Set held me like that? And what made him call me beautiful, like I was his?' Yami wondered. His thoughts came to one conclusion; Set wanted Yami as his own.
The notion scared him. Set knew him better than anyone; Set had watched, taught and interacted with Yami since he was a small boy. Could he be using that information to devise a plan to get Yami alone? Or possibly to create a barrier between Bakura and himself?
A creaking noise pushed Yami's attention back to the physical realm. Set had opened the door and was now closing it quietly. Yami suddenly felt very exposed as Set undressed himself and dropped into the water. He walked through the water and sat down beside Yami. Turning to the young prince, he asked a very unusual question.
"May I give you a massage?"
The question startled Yami. A massage? From Set?
"I guess it would be alright," Yami answered. As he let Set lift him onto the priest's lap, Yami felt a nagging knot of regret settle in his stomach. But as Set began to knead his hands into Yami's back, he felt the knot untie and ease away.
Yami was in complete bliss as Set moved his hands to Yami's shoulders. Yami let his head fall forward and his breath deepen.
'So I was wrong,' he mused, enjoying the soothing pressure of Set's fingertips pushing into his sore muscles. The High Priest's hands moved upwards again, to Yami's neck, and the prince's conscience screamed in protest. Before Yami could pull away, Set had rendered him helpless by pressing a nerve in the younger's neck, causing him to lose consciousness.
Bakura's mind jolted for a quick second as he sat by the melting pool, washing the blankets that continued to smell like Yami. He felt a silent scream echo in the back of his head, sending a shiver up his spine. It felt familiar, but Bakura couldn't recognize it. The air of danger followed the scream. Then it hit him, Yami was in trouble.
He rapidly put the still-wet blankets over a few branches and grabbed his cloak from a boulder nearby. Bakura scanned the melting desert of sand and snow and made his decision.
Releasing his signature whistle through the crisp air, he waited patiently as the same horse from before pounced through the slush. He swung himself onto the galloping horse and redirected him in the same course Yami had departed the day before. He didn't reduce his high speed until he came into the sight of Thebes.
Dias: 10! I know, it was short. But Ch. 12 is super long. That's really all I have to say.
Dark Dias: Wish her luck on her geography provincials! Nerd.
Dias: Shut up. I've also been considering a name change. From Dias to Cao. That's what I am at other places, and that's what I'm known by at school. So tell me what you think!
Dark Dias: Time for my usual rant. LEAVE A REVIEW! WE NEED THE SUPPORT!!! Thanks.
Dias: Although this is going up on a Thursday, it's only because tomorrow and Friday are super busy, so I can't post it then. Also, next weeks chapter will be going up probably on Wednesday because of my upcoming holidays. In mentioning that, there will be NO NEW CHAPTERS going up in between April 2 and April 15. Sorry to disappoint, but I'll be on the road.
The sun rose brightly in the morning, its powerful rays melting the snow, even in the early mist. By midday, large streams of water were flowing through the city and towards the banks of the Nile. Under the receding snow and ice, the tawny shade of sand could be seen. Chariots that had been fitted with skis had their wheels replaced on the axels. The streets were full of celebrating people, dancing and singing in freedom. Everyone was awake and busy rebuilding.
High within the rebuilt palace, one person remained asleep. Yami was barely visible beneath the fluffy blankets that covered his slumbering form. His unique hair had vanished among the numerous pillows.
Feeling he had allowed the young prince to sleep long enough, Set rapped on the door lightly with his knuckles.
"Atemu, it's time to wake. We have much to review before your coronation tomorrow," Set called through the wooden door. He could hear a slight moaning coming from the chambers behind it. And then silence.
This was the prince Set remembered. Atemu would stay up all night studying history or practicing new spells, causing him to sleep until he was woken the next day.
"Atemu, get up!" Set called louder. Another moan and a ruffling noise passed faintly through the wood. A loud thump came from Yami's room. Set grimaced, not wanting to think about how much whatever had happened had hurt.
The door opened to reveal Yami in all his morning glory. His hair was askew and his clothing was rumpled. As he walked out, he was rubbing his forehead unconsciously.
"What happened?" Set asked curiously.
"My foot got caught in the blankets and was the source of an unscheduled meeting with the stone floor," Yami replied, a yawn following his explanations.
Set tried to stifle a burst of laughter, but part of it slipped passed his pursed lips. His little mistake earned him a sharp jab from Yami's elbow into his ribs. The prince was definitely not a morning person.
Two servants greeted them down the long hall from Yami's room. They fell in a formal bow and led Yami into a separate chamber off to the side.
Moist air hit Yami in the face as he entered the room. A large bath was sunk into the ground, creating an indoor oasis; complete with exotic plants lining the walls. Off to the side a tall piece of carved wood formed a private change room.
Bending down, Yami tested the water in the enormous tub. It was a perfect temperature. Ordering the two servants to leave, he removed the simple garments Bakura had dressed him in. He cautiously stepped down into the water.
The warmth completely surrounded him, the bubbly foam rising to his chin. He allowed himself to relax, letting the reality of life float away to the recesses of his mind. Everything around him became clearer. The smell of the scented oils and the glamorous splashing of the numerous fountains took over Yami's attention.
As the thoughts came to the surface, two seemed to dominate. The first was of Bakura, holding his arms open to accept the one he loved. Yami wondered what Bakura was doing at that exact moment. His train of thoughts continued along the desert sand and among the trees of Bakura's oasis. It was interrupted by the other dominating image. Set.
'Why had Set held me like that? And what made him call me beautiful, like I was his?' Yami wondered. His thoughts came to one conclusion; Set wanted Yami as his own.
The notion scared him. Set knew him better than anyone; Set had watched, taught and interacted with Yami since he was a small boy. Could he be using that information to devise a plan to get Yami alone? Or possibly to create a barrier between Bakura and himself?
A creaking noise pushed Yami's attention back to the physical realm. Set had opened the door and was now closing it quietly. Yami suddenly felt very exposed as Set undressed himself and dropped into the water. He walked through the water and sat down beside Yami. Turning to the young prince, he asked a very unusual question.
"May I give you a massage?"
The question startled Yami. A massage? From Set?
"I guess it would be alright," Yami answered. As he let Set lift him onto the priest's lap, Yami felt a nagging knot of regret settle in his stomach. But as Set began to knead his hands into Yami's back, he felt the knot untie and ease away.
Yami was in complete bliss as Set moved his hands to Yami's shoulders. Yami let his head fall forward and his breath deepen.
'So I was wrong,' he mused, enjoying the soothing pressure of Set's fingertips pushing into his sore muscles. The High Priest's hands moved upwards again, to Yami's neck, and the prince's conscience screamed in protest. Before Yami could pull away, Set had rendered him helpless by pressing a nerve in the younger's neck, causing him to lose consciousness.
Bakura's mind jolted for a quick second as he sat by the melting pool, washing the blankets that continued to smell like Yami. He felt a silent scream echo in the back of his head, sending a shiver up his spine. It felt familiar, but Bakura couldn't recognize it. The air of danger followed the scream. Then it hit him, Yami was in trouble.
He rapidly put the still-wet blankets over a few branches and grabbed his cloak from a boulder nearby. Bakura scanned the melting desert of sand and snow and made his decision.
Releasing his signature whistle through the crisp air, he waited patiently as the same horse from before pounced through the slush. He swung himself onto the galloping horse and redirected him in the same course Yami had departed the day before. He didn't reduce his high speed until he came into the sight of Thebes.
Dias: 10! I know, it was short. But Ch. 12 is super long. That's really all I have to say.
Dark Dias: Wish her luck on her geography provincials! Nerd.
Dias: Shut up. I've also been considering a name change. From Dias to Cao. That's what I am at other places, and that's what I'm known by at school. So tell me what you think!
Dark Dias: Time for my usual rant. LEAVE A REVIEW! WE NEED THE SUPPORT!!! Thanks.
Dias: Although this is going up on a Thursday, it's only because tomorrow and Friday are super busy, so I can't post it then. Also, next weeks chapter will be going up probably on Wednesday because of my upcoming holidays. In mentioning that, there will be NO NEW CHAPTERS going up in between April 2 and April 15. Sorry to disappoint, but I'll be on the road.