[chapter seven. Now we have all the Sennen Items Nah, jk. Oh, Seto might show up this chap... looks around speaking of Items... I havent mentioned them once, have i? Note: this is the last re-uploaded chap. I love the QuickEdit! squeal]
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Dance the Forbidden Dance
Chapter Seven
One of the Forbidden Dances
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Unfortunately, Yami didn't escape to see Teana for a couple of days, giving Teana time to dwell over her true feelings. She was still unsure of how she really felt about him, and she constantly wondered where he was all the time. It was getting harder for him to sneak out, however.
Unfortunately, someone noticed the little kiss he gave to Aklia. Who in turn, told Anna, who told Ankumanukanon.
Great.
When he had been confronted about it, he had said it's "just a little kiss" ("That wasn't exactly little, though," Ala, the eldest daughter of Iani, had said, smirking.) So they all figured that Yami was actually starting to like Aklia a bit more, and expected him to spend more time with her. She did as well.
Also, Ankumanukanon started wondering where his son really went during the day... He said he was with the militia, but...
He had asked Jono if that is where he truly was. Jono, being the friend that he was, said it was true. After that he was nearly kicking himself because he lied to the Pharaoh. Being in his position was not a good one, trust me. Ankumanukanon also noticed that Yami wore his ring [1] less and less. The reason: if Teana saw it, then she would know he was some kind of royal, which meant he wasn't a servant as he claimed.
When Yami had taken off that day from his room without wearing it, the Pharaoh asked why. Yami faltered.
"Well, ummm... I...." Yami racked his brain for an excuse.
What can I say?! He thought. He wrung his hands.
"I... didn't want to get it dirty," he said, grinning. Ankumanukanon raised his eyebrows.
"I've noticed that you haven't worn it in awhile," he remarked. "Surely you can't get it that dirty while you're down there....?" Yami, his face turning red, threw up his hands.
"You know what? You're right," he said, turning around. He bowed to his father. "I'll go, er... retrieve it."
"Alright," Ankumanukanon said, smiling. Yami took off up the hall, sighing in relief. He had dodged the bullet this time...
But how long could he keep up this ploy? Especially with Aklia...
He found himself thinking about her a lot lately. Was it just because he was a teenager? Or was it because he was actually starting to really like Aklia? Especially in the way he loved Teana... But then, he did kiss Aklia... and his father obviously noticed....
He was so confused. He was sitting with his back to a wall, staring out a window in the east corridor, not really focused. His feelings seemed to be changing course; his heart was torn in two.
Could he really learn to.... Love Aklia?
This is way too much for his mind right now. But, with every passing second, he thought more about it, and the more it preyed on his thoughts. In only a few minutes he found himself once again thinking about Aklia, and he also noticed how much he really wanted to be with Teana.
Why me? he thought. At this rate, he would get neither woman.
Oh, gods.
Yami left the palace after his studies were done for the day, wandering around the city in peasant clothing. He had to time his wanders much more precisely now, especially with the guards on higher alert. He also had to return much earlier, because he was to spend the evening with Aklia. Nearly everyone in the palace was eager to see if he kissed her again.
"C'mon, I know she works around here..." he walked briskly towards her master's home, noticing how large the building truly was. It was a tall building, built mostly with brick and stone. It was painted white and had three levels, balconies and terraces, almost, a vast garden and pool behind it, with the Nile flowing hardly fifty feet away.
He could see how a girl as beautiful as Teana would come to work here.... He stepped forwards, peering through curtains and plants to the back. No one was there.
"Hmmm," he muttered, looking over at the stables. The horses were all sitting in their stalls, either asleep or eating. It was a bit past midday... Maybe she went down to the Nile's banks with her master's daughters again...
He wandered away from the house, weaving in and out of the crowds, heading towards a more uninhabited portion of the city. It was more where the fields were planted and harvested, canals were built and ships were docked by the Nile. He managed to move past all the fuss and come to a very lovely portion of the river, where it flowed slowly and calmly, coming up onto the sand, surrounded by long reeds and little water flowers. It was a popular place among young girls and women; he had seen Asenath here plenty of times.
As he crept forward through the reeds, he saw no one in the water or on it's banks. The Nile was a cool, indigo blue with a green tint, making it sparkle with a taste of majesty and mystery. The Nile had always fascinated him, with it's great strength to flood every summer, and the wealth it brought to Kemet.
He was, however, terrified of the dark, fast-moving waters in which people played dangerous games of life and death, where ships came in and out. Hell, he was afraid of all water that was more then three feet deep.
He couldn't swim.
He stopped, making sure no one was there, and was about to leave, when he saw her.
Teana.
She was kneeling at the water's edge, bending over, her hair spread at her back. It fell onto her shoulder blades in sheaves, the water shining from it's strands.
"Teana," Yami hissed, stepping forwards. Teana straightened up, since she didn't hear him. She was splashing water onto her face and arms and humming to herself, rubbing her arms with the cool waters. Yami fell to his knees and gaped at her as she partially turned.
Her hair was sopping wet, sticking to her shoulders and her back, glinting with the sun. Her clothes were dry, and very simple, a simple long-bodied tunic that reached her ankles tied with a dark sash around her waist. Yami blushed as he realized that her collarbone and her arms were all completely bare. As a matter of fact, the tunic was hardly drawn over her breasts. Her arms glistened with the shimmering wetness of water, and she stretched her shoulders, stretching out her arms.
Yami gulped, his cheeks going darker. Teana knelt down in the sand, leaning onto her heels, then laying down on her back in the sand dunes. She closed her eyes and let the sun shine over her long body. She continued humming to herself, playing with her fingers as she did so.
"Te... Teana?" he stammered, leaning forwards. Teana blinked, sitting up quickly. She drew her shawl around her shoulders tightly, looking around suspiciously.
"Who's there?!" she called, shaking from the sudden encounter. Yami crawled out of the reeds, kneeling in the sand beside her. Teana sighed in relief as she saw who it was.
"Oh... Yami, oh Ra... Don't do that!!" she cried, drawing the shawl tighter around her shoulders. Yami smiled and laughed.
"I'm sorry, Teana," he said, crossing his legs on the ground. Teana smiled and fell onto her hip, spreading out her long legs. The two just sat there, admiring each other and their surroundings. No one spoke for the longest time.
"...Where have you been.... If it permits me to speak," she reminded herself of saying. She was so completely smitten with Yami, she forgot he was male and of higher class [2] then she. Yami shook his head.
"Don't worry about it... As you well know, the Prince is to marry at the start of spring."
"That is very soon," Teana noted, blinking in surprise.
"Yes, it is, and he's been very... stressed," he told her. "He's told me many secrets that I can share with no one. I'm the only one he trusts."
"Then you should be there for him if he needs you," Teana suggested, smiling. Yami blushed once more.
What's wrong with me?! he wondered. I'm acting like a lovesick fool!
...Technically, you are one.... a voice said in his mind.
That just made him blush darker.
Teana, however, didn't notice. She stood up, dropping her shawl to the sand. She stretched her arms once more and placed her hands on her hips, closing her eyes. Yami raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Teana...?" The girl took a step forwards, then twirled, then took another step...
Yami watched her do out an intricate, foreign dance. Her skirt blew out, her hair whipped at the sky, her movements were graceful and timed well. She stepped into the gently lapping water once or twice, kicking her legs and sending driplets of water in all directions. Yami couldn't help but watch in wonder. A few more minutes, and it ended.
"...Oh.... Holy...." Yami breathed, unable to speak. Panting, Teana sat down in the sand again, her face flushed.
"That dance is so hard..." she whispered. "It's my favorite, though." Yami turned his head to the side and looked straight at her.
"Does it symbolize something?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, it does," Teana said, pointing to the sand. She reached out and drew a pointed figure in the sand. A triangle with it's base missing.
"This is the mountain I'm from," she said, pointing. She drew many other 'mountains' beside the first. "This is the entire mountain range." Yami nodded, not quite sure where this story was going.
"Many, many years ago, before even the eldest of my village were even conceived, there was a young woman who was treated badly by the men of the village. She used to run and hide from them, but they would come upon her and beat her and rape her. She was a very lonely girl, one who wished her life could end as soon as possible." Teana drew a stick figure hiding at the bottom of the main mountain.
"One day, the Nile River, at it's starting point, grew legs and arms, and formed a body from his river bed. He went to her and said 'Miss, you are a very lovely, kind girl. Through all the torture you have been submitted to, you haven't wished any ill to the men, or have you ever cursed a word to them. However, you do wish to end your own life; is that true?' and the girl nodded, although she did not answer. The River smiled to her.
" 'I can give you something that no man can take away from you,' the River told her, making her smile. 'I am giving you the gift of Swiftness; may you sweep away the hearts of young men worthy of you with you swift movements of flight.' " Teana then drew wings on the stick figure. She pulled a flower off of one of the water-dwelling plants, placing it in the sand. Yami just sat there, pulled into this fascinating fairy tale.
"The next day, the girl woke up earlier then the sun, and stood in the center of tents and fire pits. She raised her arms, and danced and danced, sending sand flying everywhere, and delighting the spirits of the plants and animals. Soon, she also delighted the spirits of children, man kind's purest form. The men who abused her were so in awe of her unknown ability, and were so impressed, they attempted to advance on her again.
"However, because she had pleased the sun so, he blinded their eyes from her, and wings grew out of her back. The wings resembled a beautiful flower of the Northern Lands, the white mitsukai. She placed one in her hair and turned away from the men, flapping her giant wings and pretending to fly away." Teana drew multiple lines around the stick figure to indicate movement. She also drew a sun and clouds, and the thin Nile.
"The men were too afraid to attack her after they were blinded. She wished to return to her normal lifestyle, only without the men, but because of her newfound ability of dance, all the people worshipped her. Except one man who believed she was an angel sent to live amongst humans. Even though he believed this in his heart, he told her she was just ordinary. Soon, they were in love and married, ruling over the others in the village. They led the small village with pride, and the villagers praised the girl and her gift." Teana drew stick figures bowing down to the girl stick figure with wings.
"After a time, the girl grew elderly, unable to dance and protect and lead their village with her magic. No one else knew of this great gift from the River, so she taught her eldest daughter, her eldest son, and her husband the graceful movements of the River's spell.
"Soon afterwards, the dance she had taught to her family spread, and everyone knew the dance of the River, the giver of protection. Because he was kindly to one girl, her Gift spread to all the peoples of my homeland. Even now, on the day that the sun lasts the longest, the eldest in each family is taught the sacred dance of the River." Teana reached out and placed the white mitsukai in her hair, looking down at her drawing.
"And that's the dance you were doing...?" Yami asked. "Teana, that story was amazing..." Teana beamed at him and erased the drawing partially.
"That girl is my ancestor," she said slowly. "My family were the leaders of the village. And I was taught that dance because I am the oldest child in my family." She lifted her head to face Yami. Yami sat there, dumbstruck.
"...That's incredible..."
"Would you like to learn the dance?"
"Am I permitted?" Yami asked, amazed she even suggested it. He was so sure that the dance was very sacred; why teach him, a foreigner and an outsider to her magical world?
"Come," she said simply, tugging his hand and pulling him up. The two stood in the sand, Teana with her hands on her hips.
"Now, follow my movements... One, two three, one, two three..." She lifted her arm in the air, pointing her fingers at the sky. She bumped her hip in the same direction, her body curving into a crescent moon. Yami followed her actions, although very sloppily.
"...One, two, three, one, two, three...." She spread her arms out and separated her legs, then kicked out and twirled. Sand flew into the air, rippling the water. Yami followed, although he fell over in his vain attempts to copy her gracefulness.
"...That's okay, you're doing fine. One, two, three, one, two, three...." She arched her arms, twirled in the opposite direction, then drew her arm back, stepping backwards twice, touching her toes to the sand. All of this was done in one single motion.
Yami couldn't do it. He could control kaas well, he could handle the Sennen Puzzle fine, he knew he could, he could inherit all that power once he was Pharaoh...
Yet he couldn't learn a simple dance.
"...One, two, three, one, two, three..." Teana showed him the rest of the dance, restraining herself from laughing as he tripped over himself. Yami fell over, laughing hard, shaking his head.
"Wow, that had the be one of the most difficult things I've ever done," he said, his shoulders heaving. "That was great..." Teana broke into the dance much faster, spinning her body, her feet and legs erect into perfect lines...
She seemed to do it much faster this time, not accenting the moves as much. Yami stood, watching with impressed eyes. She leaped into the air into a twirl, and proceeded to land on her feet.
She moved her foot at the wrong second, and -- flash --
She tripped, sending herself falling backwards into the sand, kicking her legs over her head and doing a backwards roll. Yami heard a sickening crack as she landed on her back, laying completely still.
"T-Teana?" he stammered, running over to her position by the reeds. "Teana?"
She didn't answer.
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Did she break her back? Her neck? Yami thought, dropping to the sand beside her. He leaned over her, pushing reeds out of his way to see her face...
She was laughing. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"Oh--That was-- Ahh!" she cried, turning onto her side and laughing harder still. Yami's face flushed, growing angry.
I thought she was hurt!! he thought angrily. She's just laughing!!
"Teana! I demand to know why you didn't answer me when I asked you to!" he demanded, shaking with anger. He had been so worried... he was ready to carry her all the way back to the palace if need be.
"I-- was-- l-laughing waaaaay too--hard!" she stammered, coughing. She sat up, breathing hard, looking into his face.
It was then that they noticed their faces so dangerously close. Yami, startled, moved back from her, landing on his palms. Teana pushed her hair over her shoulder and looked at the sand.
...It was getting dark, the sun dying behind the horizon... Getting late...
Aklia... was waiting...
Yami felt the passionate, mysterious desire to kiss Teana. His body burned for her, his heart speeding up, his hands sweaty.
He wanted to kiss her so badly... He just wanted to hold her and love her, and never, ever let her get hurt or separated from him... The love he felt was re-established in his heart.
He loved this girl.
Teana gave him a half smile.
"I... Have to watch Sena and Fabri right about now," she said softly. She moved a bit closer to him, as if she would stand. She attempted standing, but soon fell onto her side, laughing a bit.
"Are you alright?" Yami asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, I'm fine... Oh..." Her head fell onto his shoulder as she massaged her ankle a bit.
...She was so close...
Yami gently put his arm around her.
...Do it... his mind was urging him. Kiss her!!
Teana felt the same way. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the reality of the situation. She was a bit afraid, for no one had ever felt this way about her before... and she'd never, ever felt this way before. Yami's grip on her shoulder tightened, and she laid her head beneath his chin.
If I could just stay here, forever... She opened her eyes to look at him. He was staring at the river, apparently lost in thought.
"Yami?" she whispered, leaning against his full body. Yami turned to her. He gently placed his hand on her cheek, stroking it gently. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it. She felt as if she were the most loved girl in all of Egypt, in all the world. That she had everything she ever wanted in her life... Yami drew her face to his, so they were nose-to-nose with each other. Both had their eyes closed, enjoying the other's company.
Soon, both of Yami's hands were on either cheek, caressing her gently. He wanted to kiss her so badly...
Gently, he pulled her closer, bringing his lips to hers... It was almost dusk, the sun setting on them...
...He was so close, seconds away from a kiss...
A sharp whistle sounded, one that probably echoed through all of Egypt.
Yami jerked his head up, searching for the source of the sound. He stood up, his face beet red, wondering if Asenath was calling.
"Yami...?" Teana asked, confused.
...Asenath!! he thought angrily. He looked down at her.
"The Prince was summoned. I... have to go," he said slowly. "I'll see you..."
And he left. Leaving Teana in confused thoughts.
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Prince ring [1]: in that time (The Golden Age), almost every royal had some type of identifiable ring/amulet/anything else made for them that they wore. I've read somewhere that there was a ring created by Thutmose III [Who , if Im right about who Yami's based after, would be Yami's grandfather] passed down in his family until the time of Tut, where it was lost. This is the ring i'm talking about; a green jem in the shape of a scarab. w00t!
Male/higher class [2]: In ancient times in pretty much every culture, women were considered less then men because they weren't as physically strong. that is BULLSHIT today, but still... the only woman men were to bow down to was the goddess Hathor, and the other goddesses. And the Queen and any Princesses that were born, because they were supposed to be 'goddesses on earth'.
[sooo... it went from wondering who he loved to lying straight to the gods to Teana teaching him an ancient dance to... a near kiss? Ooh! So exciting! takes deep breath THIS IS GONNA BE SOOO GOOD!!!!! I CANT WAIT! stops Now I shall conquer the evil homework! Next chap: Secrets of a Kiss]
Shibby-One