[Squee!! Something yall've been waiting for is about to happen! Also, I apologize if the plot moves kinda quick!! I'm not good at drawing out stories for a long time:) BTW, this is the second-to-last chapter! The last chap is the one after this one! T.T]
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Dance the Forbidden Dance
Chapter Seventeen
Nighttime
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Yami wasn't expecting the visitor that came to him the next night. He sat by himself in the courtyard, cross-legged, thinking of the mess he got himself into. All of this, because he prayed to the gods he could fall in love for real... He hadn't seen Teana face-to-face in what seemed years. Which were only weeks, but still... He'd only glanced her...
The moon was shining down on him. The flowers seemed to close, as if shielding themselves from the unknown night. It made the magnificent courtyard seem dark and mysterious. He closed his eyes and wondered. How could this have happened? When he was much younger, his father was the strictest father on the face of the planet. Things in Kemet had changed so much.... In just a few short years as well. It seemed only yesterday they were doing their daily sacrifices, tending to temples and going over regulation... But then the war happened... and Teana happened... and somehow... someway... his father became more lenient. Not that he was complaining or anything....
He wished Teana were there. She would force all his questions and worries away... He opened his eyes and stared at the sky.
He figured she simply didn't love him anymore. Or like him, for that matter.
"Teana..." he whispered, feeling his heart beat quicken. He loved her so deeply and so much... He thought he would die without her. And he'd never even kissed her, either. He was so unsure of her feelings for him, whether or not she loved him as passionately as he loved her. Did she?
He didn't know.
He closed his eyes and laid his hands in his lap, bowing his head. He could feel tears coming into his eyes, threatening to fall.
"I love you," he whispered. "P-please... Come to me. I love you, Goddamnit!" He yelled into the air, stretching his arms to the night sky.
"Atem?" came a timid voice from the shadows. Yami turned, disbelief ringing his ears.
Was that...
Teana came into view, wearing her long, simple white tunic, the thick bandage still visibly wrapped around her lower back. She had an indigo shawl pulled tightly around her shoulders. Her long hair fell down her back, and her golden eyes glistened.
Yami was speechless.
"T... Teana," he managed to stammer, his face quickly turning crimson. "What are you doing here?"
"I snuck in," she explained, taking a step forward. Both of them just stayed in their own positions, eyes and faces locked on one another...
Teana broke into a run, tossing her shawl to the side. She dropped to her knees and gratefully accepted Yami's warm embrace, closing her eyes and leaning against him. He kissed her forehead, holding onto her tightly. He wrapped his arms stronger around her, making her feel welcome and wanted.
"Oh, Teana..." Yami muttered. "You came back." Teana pushed away from him, his hands still on her shoulders. She had tears in her eyes, and they were slowly falling to meet the ground with splashes.
"I h-had to," she whispered. "I wanted to see you again. I'm sorry," she added, her lower lip quivering.
"Sorry for what? I should be sorry for making you so mad," Yami said, shaking his head. "It's my fault you were hurt. It's my fault you.... You almost died." Yami finished, his anger rising. He wasn't angry at Teana, however.
He was angry... at himself. Teana shook her head.
"No... I'm sorry for not seeing the truth earlier. You didn't tell me to protect me. I understand that now. I was so sure I had lost my chance when... You.... And..." She opened her eyes to meet his. "I've never seen a sadder person then the way you looked that morning. Because you thought you couldn't have me." Yami gasped.
She had figured him out. Her eyes were kind, and she took a deep, shuddering breath.
"I will never hurt you again," she whispered. "You made me so happy. I've never felt that way before, and I don't want to loose this good feeling...." She leaned against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She cried into his tunic, clutching the cloth for comfort. Yami ran his hand through her hair, his hand settling on her cheek. He lifted her torso slightly, looking into her eyes. She sniffed.
"I've been so lonely since I was very young," she explained in a hushed voice. "I was captured when I was hardly six years old. Please," she whispered, her face right near Yami's, "Don't cast me aside like so many others."
"I couldn't," Yami explained, tightening his grip. They were nose-to-nose now. He took a breath and watched her, waiting to see what emotion would take her next. He wondered, for a moment, where all the guards were... He didn't care...
His own, however, took over first.
"...Teana...?"
"Atem?"
"Don't call me that," Yami whispered. "Call me Yami. Please."
"Alright... Yami," she said with a chuckle. She re-opened her eyes.
"....What did you want to ask me?" she wondered. Both were silent for a moment, Teana wrapped in Yami's embrace. The moon was shining down on the entire courtyard, the sky so dark it looked blue. All sounds of the city and palace seemed to fade with every passing moment.
"...Can I kiss you...?"
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Teana made a small gasp, but smiled. She nodded.
"Yes."
He reached out, her face in his hands, and did just what he said.
He kissed her.
Teana closed her eyes, falling into him once again. They stayed like this for what seemed an eternity, never moving. Neither of them wanted this kiss to end. Eventually, Teana pulled away from him, nose-to-nose with him again.
"...How was that?" Yami whispered, his arms wrapped around her waist. Teana reached out and put her arms around his neck, hovering before him.
"...Wonderful," she whispered, and kissed him once more. This one was very different then the last. She put more passion into this one, wrapping up the taste of his lips on hers, the emotion that she felt right then. She couldn't help but love it, since he tasted so sweet. Just like his manner. He tried to be tough, but truthfully, he was all she could want.
Yami pulled her down so she was beside him, lying on the ground, still wrapped up in their kiss. Yami was the one to end it.
Teana was breathing hard from lack of air, almost giddy. Her entire body seemed to react to him. She wanted to be with him so badly, it almost hurt her. And it had definitely hurt him. She reached out and pushed his spiky, golden bangs out of his face and behind his ear, so the light would bounce of his cheek.
"Why are you risking all this for me?" Teana asked. Yami shook his head, confusing Teana.
"I love you too much," he answered, "To care anymore." He gently touched her cheek, she closing her eyes and allowing him to. He nuzzled her neck, making her giggle. He gently leaned forward, lying beside her on the ground, one arm holding her waist, and pressed his lips to hers once more.
After that one broke, Teana brought on another.
And another one.
Again.
Until they stayed there, kissing under the moon and stars, dead of night, stopping temporarily for Teana to relay one thing.
"I love you, Yami."
Too bad that someone could see them from the upper levels of the Palace...
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Teana tightened her grip on Yami's shoulders, pulling herself closer to him. The night had gotten colder.
Yami had told her it would get cold, but Teana refused to leave Yami's side for even a moment to retrieve her shawl. She stayed wrapped in his arms, nearly sitting in his lap. She inched her arms so they were now around his neck, folding her hands on top of one another. Yami smiled.
"What are you doing?" he asked. She closed her eyes.
"Keeping warm." She laid her head on his shoulder, her eyes still closed. Being so close to him made her warmer, for sure. She kissed his neck gently, trying to sustain her feelings for him that plagued her body. Yami's arms were still wrapped around her back, and he could feel the bandage around her waist.
"Hey, hey," Yami said, nearly laughing. She pulled away.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright?" he asked, pushing away from her a bit. "You still have your bandage on." A devious flash went through Teana's eyes. She put one hand on each of his shoulders, and pushed him so his back was flat on the ground, and she was literally sitting on top of him.
"Ow," Yami said in a comical tone. Teana laughed. "I just hit my head on stone."
"So?" she said innocently, bending down. Yami winced as she pushed on his shoulders. "You should have known there was stone beneath you."
"I did," Yami said, rolling his eyes sarcastically. Teana pretended to scoff and sat back up, crossing her arms.
"You're so not funny," she said, and both bursted into laughter. Yami sat up quickly, wrapped his arms around Teana's body, and pulled her down with him, both of them laughing. Her hair flew about, landing on her shoulder and spread out on the ground. She was now laying beside him again, although their legs were all tangled within each other.
"Okay, that was unexpected," Teana remarked. Neither of them thought of how loud they were being.
"Now we're even," Yami said, pulling her closer to him. He gently kissed her once more, although this time it was different then before. There was something in him that wasn't there when she first arrived. At least, it hadn't been apparent to either.
Now it's apparent to both. Yami pulled away, his hand settled on her bandage.
Teana knew what she wanted. She wanted to be here, with him, forever. But it couldn't be done. Not yet, anyway. There were ways, she knew, of testing the Prince's validity. To see if he was telling the truth or not. She wouldn't risk his honor or his integrity just for herself for one night. No, they could wait until this was figured out.
"Is your wound still there?" he asked in a whisper. "From the raid?" Teana shook her head.
"No..."
"Why don't you take the bandage off, then?" Teana shifted her position.
"I can't untie it," she explained. "I can't reach."
"Let me," Yami offered, and slowly untied the cloth bandage until it fell off. It wasn't even bloody in the least. He could feel the scar on her lower back beneath his fingers. It was now just a long, thin scar, one that no one would see...
Unless, of course, she was ever intimate with someone... Teana placed her hand on his chest.
"Think we'll get caught?" she whispered, leaning over him. Yami shook his head. All thoughts of the hundreds of Imperial Soldiers left his mind.
"Nah. I doubt it."
He was wrong.
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Asenath was walking down the empty, darkened corridor, seeing faint lights come from the city. No one was in this portion of the palace; no one ever was at this time of night.
Except Yami. He often snuck into the courtyard to look up at the sky or listen to the sounds of the surrounding city. Sometimes, Asenath would sit in the dark and watch him, making sure no one came to attack or something. She could easily call the guards...
She wasn't prepared for the visitor that came that night. She had arrived right after Teana had, sitting in the dark and watching - with interest - to see how this monitored romance would play out.
She never thought it would get like it did. At first, they were just sitting and talking, Teana noticeably crying. Then they kissed.
Well, I can deal with that, Asenath thought, crossing her arms and leaned against the dark window. Next thing she knew, Teana had Yami down on his back, leaning half-way over him, asking him something. It seemed they would lie down, then sit upright, then go down again....
She watched as her brother pulled the bandage off Teana.
Understandable... She couldn't reach.
Then it happened.
Teana bent down to kiss him again, still leaning over him. Yami had his arms wrapped around her, and she was nearly on top of him, pushing away and giggling and laughing.
Asenath realized the danger he was in. At least, she considered it danger.
A sharp whistle.
The guards were coming.
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Yami heard the whistle. Teana did not. He pushed away from her quickly, sitting up. Teana, still kneeling, looked up as he stood up.
"What is it?" she asked. Yami shook his head.
"Guards," he muttered. He looked around, then saw his mother's garden. "Quick, Teana, hide under those bushes."
"But -- "
"NOW!" Teana obeyed, crawling away. She dove under the bushes, hiding herself under deep green leaves, shrinking back until her back touched the cold stone wall. Her eyes widened as she saw her shawl, lying in the open, near Yami's feet. She pulled the top of her tunic up, sweating, slowly panicking.
"Yami..." she whispered, but not loud enough to hear. She could hear the loud, raucous footsteps of the guards approaching the yard. She gulped.
Yami looked around, making sure Teana was properly hidden. He took a step, looking around behind him, when he felt the thick cloth of the indigo shawl at his feet.
In a panicked motion, he bent down and quickly put it behind his back as the guards entered the yard.
"We heard Asenath's whistle," one of them said, raising his spear. "Is anyone here?" Yami looked around nervously, his eyes landing momentarily on Teana's hiding spot.
"No..." he muttered. "She must have thought to see someone." The guards didn't look convinced. One whispered to the other and pointed to the wall. Yami gulped. Had they seen someone coming in? Teana?
"Lady Asenath never calls us unless --"
"False alarm," Asenath said, stepping into the yard. The two guards spun around and bent down on one knee, bowing before her.
"Lady Asenath --"
"We thought we heard the whistle--"
"I was testing you," she said, disregarding them. Her eyes settled on Yami's face. He had a straight face, although she could see the guilt hiding in his eyes. "Let me have a word with the Prince."
"Yes--"
"Of course--" The two left immediately, running back to their posts. Asenath put her arms behind her back and circled Yami, noticing the shawl in his hands.
"You think you can hide it?" she said coldly, her eyes narrowed. She came back to his front, seeing his eyes facing the ground. "Do you?"
"Hide what?" he asked with an equally cold tone. Teana's eyes widened. When had he become so cold? Was it something he inherited from his father, like Asenath?
Or was his true nature showing through?
"Teana," Asenath said, her face never changing. To Teana, it didn't seem like Yami moved at all. But Asenath saw the small, inconspicuous movements. His eyes flicked momentarily, his hands tightened, his eyes angered for just a moment.
She had hit a nerve.
"What about Lady Teana?" Yami asked hesitantly. Asenath sighed. She stood before her brother and reached out, putting her hands on his shoulders. He gasped slightly, surprised. She had lost her unforgiving nature.
"Let her go," she said softly into his ear. "I know she's there. The guards have been listening this entire time. There is a hole in the wall near the mitsukai tree; direct her there." Yami, stunned, blinked a couple of times, then ran in Teana's direction. He bent down near the bush, gave whispered instructions, then stood up. Asenath watched the bushes rustle and saw Teana slither away through the narrow hole. She was just small enough to wriggle through.
She was gone.
"Now," Asenath started again. Yami turned to her.
"...What?" he asked slowly. Asenath's features softened. Her voice became gentler as she approached him.
"Brother," she started. "I don't want you to see her anymore." Yami blinked, shocked.
"W-what?"
"Please," she said, shaking her head. "I don't want you to get hurt like I was. I've been watching you since that party. I know everything." Yami's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe it. "You can't get hurt like I was. I... forbid it."
She knew everything? She knew where he went during the day, why he was drunk, why he was so sick....?
Then he remembered.
She wanders around the city during the day because of her extra sensory perception skills. She could probably see him from a distance and watched...
"Why didn't you tell father then?" Yami asked. Asenath sighed.
"I should have. You loved her, I could tell, so.... I didn't want to break you apart so soon. I didn't think she would ever love you, but.... You proved me wrong. Yami," she said, her eyes glistening with tears, "I was once in your same situation. And I was hurt. Badly." Yami realized where this was going.
"....I refuse to submit you to the same pain I once felt..."
"No..."
"...So I'm telling Father the real reason you snuck out all the time."
"You can't!"
"...He won't punish her, because you fell in love first." She turned around and walked away, leaving Yami standing there, the shawl still in his hands.
"It's for your own good," she called, and then left the courtyard, Yami speechless in the background. He shook his head, falling to his knees. He looked at the shawl in his hands, and buried his face in it.
"....What have I done....?"
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Yami knew what was coming. The entire city would probably know by tomorrow, anyway.
He couldn't believe it. Hadn't he already been through enough? In the past months, he had been drunk, fallen in love, broken the law, died, come back from the dead, engaged to marry, fought in a war...
Why did this have to be added on top? He knew it would kill his father to find this out. He had already hurt his parents so much... He knew it was hard on Asenath as well.
Yami flopped down onto his bed, closing his eyes tightly. He felt sweat roll down his face. The days had become noticeably longer and hotter with the oncoming season. Because of the war and his death, the wedding had been planned, cancelled, and then re-planned. Summer was upon them; he would then marry... And possibly lose Teana for good.
Yami's thoughts drifted from his oncoming punishment to the reaction of the people to his death. It was only about a week ago that they had pulled his unconscious body out of the river, and then he had died a little under six hours later from poison.
He couldn't really remember dying; it was flashes of memory, pain and lights, from flickering torches, to his eyesight bubbling in and out... His senses had been fading. That was all he really remembered. He felt as if someone had turned him off, as if they had pulled the plug on all his bodily functions.
He knew that barely two days later he remembered it vividly, but he blocked it out so much... It had faded much to nothing...
He had been asked numerous times about what he remembered after he died; he couldn't remember anything. Just multi-colored lights and a lot of chattering voices. Many people had asked what Imenet was like. No one seemed to get that he hadn't been there yet.
His soul never made it to the afterlife. Had his soul made it, Asenath wouldn't have been able to retrieve it.
Yami rolled onto his side, staring at the dark wall. He lay there silently, his breaths filling the empty space before him. The night was very warm, and he just couldn't become comfortable. Angrily, he turned to his other side, struggling to fall asleep. His mind went blank, just little thoughts drifting in as he slowly fell asleep... The warm air was scented with the smells of incense and flowers from the garden right below his balcony. It was almost rocking him to sleep, these familiar scents of his childhood.
He could vaguely remember a warm embrace, with bundles of blankets and the same haunting, comforting scent of the garden mixed with incense on warm nights. Especially in summer, when the garden was in full-bloom.
It was hardly there anymore; he had been so young at the time his mother would hold him in that garden, gently rocking him to sleep...
Yami's eyes fluttered. His mind cleared of all his heavy thoughts; his body eased into the relaxed, bodily function of sleep. He let his thoughts jumble, memories play before him in bursts...
His eyes snapped open. He sat up, his eyes wide, as he realized something.
"If... I'm engaged to marry now..." he muttered. He turned onto his back, his eyes on the ceiling. "...Does that mean that..."
"So it's true, then," Anna said in a hushed voice, leaning forwards. "You're sure?"
"Yes," Ankumanukanon assured her. "I'm sure. It's exactly what Asenath meant." Anna frowned and stretched her arms on the table, refusing to let her husband see the tears in her eyes.
"...So... That's why you want Yami to marry Aklia next year..." she whispered. Yami blinked in confusion, lowering his ear towards the heavy door of the Conference room. He knew he was eavesdropping, he knew it was wrong... but a meeting so important that the Priests didn't even know?
Besides, he wasn't the only guilty one... Sekhem, clamped onto Yami's hand, was listening also with attentive ears. Seto was crouched down on one knee, Mahaado leaning above him, ear to the door.
Anna closed her eyes and wiped her face.
"So... When will we know... for sure?"
"You know the rules," Ankumanukanon said, his voice wavering. "Exactly twenty-four hours before it happens... She can say..." he trailed off, staring at his hands.
"And it happens... when?"
"The end of spring, beginning of flood season... In about three or four years."
"...three years?" Anna asked in a small voice.
"...Yes."
Yami closed his eyes in pain. He couldn't do this anymore.
With everything that had been going on, how could he add 'Pharaoh' to his already long list of duties? He sighed and dropped his pillow over his face, trying to shut everything out.
"...Why does he have to die...?" he whispered, rolling over and crouching into a small, tanned ball of fear.
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"You can't!" Anna nearly shrieked, her breaths shaky. Ankumanukanon nodded, lowering his head to avoid Anna's eyes.
"It's... the rules, Anna. The gods' rules."
"So?! Can't you defy them for the sake of your son?" Anna cried, gripping the tabletop fiercely.
"Unless Asenath is lying..." Ankumanukanon muttered, glancing over at her. Asenath shook her head sadly.
"Father, I wouldn't lie about something like this... But... Please... can't you...?" Asenath wasn't sure what to say next, so her mouth closed and she lowered her head to the table. Ankumanukanon sighed.
"I... can try..." he said slowly. "I don't want to punish him as much as you do, but he broke the rules. He can't do this while he's Pharaoh!" Ankumanukanon cried, breathing hard. "He pulls a stupid stunt like this, the entire country goes down, too!"
"He doesn't have a choice who he loves, Father!" Asenath yelled in Yami's defense. "I told you because you should know. He--loves--Teana! And you can't change that! You can have her killed and he will still love her!" Everyone in the room was silent for a moment, Anna shaking, Ankumanukanon breathing heavy, Asenath crying. Ankumanukanon looked away.
"Doesn't matter. He..." he trailed off, sighing. "He broke the law. He cannot love someone under him, especially a servant! She's... she's not even Egyptian..." When he said this, he glanced at Anna, then turned, and left the room, leaving Anna and Asenath behind.
Anna, unable to contain herself, fell down onto her stomach on the table, wrapping her arms around her head and sobbing.
Asenath watched her mother cry. She couldn't believe that her father would punish Yami like that. It was... unjust. She stared at the doorway in disbelief.
Who cared if she wasn't Egyptian? She looked at her weeping mother. His own wife, the Queen of Kemet, wasn't fully Egyptian. Yami himself wasn't full Egyptian! Neither was she or Sekhem. They all were part Syrian, as her mother was as well. Maybe not a lot, but it was there.
"...Yami..." Asenath whispered, shaking her head. "Get out of here. Now."
Yami was waaaay ahead of her.
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[again, sorry it moves a little quick!! I'm trying to get to the good parts:) The best part is when-- Wait!! It hasnt happened yet!! Trust me, you'll enjoy the next part of the story much better then right now;) Next chap: Escape! Oh, and please check out "Kora no Misu", which is like a mini-prequel to this story.
::looks around::]
Shibby-One