Union through Separation
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!… and maybe that's for the best.
The place that Tea ended up taking Yami was the fast food restaurant where Tea had once worked. Since it was working at that job that ultimately led to her first encounter with Yami, it seemed appropriate. (A.N. Is that how it went in the original anime? I can't remember.) She ordered for the both of them two hamburgers, two fries, and two chocolate milkshakes. Tea was enjoying her meal well enough; however, Yami didn't seem to have much of an appetite. (A.N. And after thousands of years inside a puzzle, you'd think he'd be famished!)
"What's wrong Yami?" Tea asked. "You don't like burgers and fries?"
"I neither like nor dislike them," Yami replied. "I'm simply not accustomed to eating fast food. There are many things about this century that I'm still learning to adapt to."
"Yeah… I guess the world has changed quite a bit since the last time you were alive. I can't imagine how difficult that must be for you."
"No, it hasn't been easy at all, adjusting to a world that is so different from the one I grew up in…" He sighed. "Forgive me, Tea. I'm afraid I'm not very good at socialising."
"I understand, Yami. After all, you were stuck in the Millennium Puzzle for such a long time and you only ever really came out when it was time to duel."
"True," Yami said. "But I've always had problems interacting with others, particularly when it comes to… members of the opposite sex."
"Oh…" Tea thought for a moment on how she was going to word her next question. "That reminds me, Yami. There's something I've always wondered about you."
"Yes?"
"Back in Ancient Egypt, did you, um, well… were you ever involved with anybody?"
"Sadly, no," Yami replied. "I was a very atypical pharaoh. I never did have a queen, or any kind of lover. My priests were insistent that I marry and continue the royal bloodline. There were plenty of suitors to be sure, but I could never bring myself to choose one."
"Because you don't know how to interact with women?"
"That, and I didn't like the idea of being forced into marriage."
"Well who would? I certainly wouldn't. If you're gonna marry, it should be for love."
"I agree. The only problem with that philosophy is that I never found love. Except…" He paused for a moment.
"Except what?" Tea asked.
"There was this one girl I felt a certain attraction to. She was a servant girl. Her name was Anzu. (A.N. That name sounds suspiciously familiar, doesn't it? Stop me before I plug again!) She was shy, but very kind and very beautiful—a lot like you, actually."
Tea blushed slightly. "Really?"
Yami felt a little embarrassed. "Well, almost like you. For one thing, she didn't have your blue eyes."
"Blue eyes weren't very common in Egypt, were they?"
"No, they weren't. In fact, blue eyes were often associated with evil spirits… Not that I'm accusing you of being an evil spirit, mind you."
"Oh, no, of course not. So, uh, whatever happened between you and this Anzu girl?" Tea said, trying to return to the original topic.
"Nothing. She never knew how I felt. She died before I ever got the chance to tell her."
"That's so sad."
"Well, I doubt it would have worked out anyway. She was a servant, I was a pharaoh. I would never have been allowed. My choice of potential mates was limited to those of noble birth. But within those boundaries I never found love. Thus, the royal bloodline met with a rather unceremonious end."
"I'm sorry… but you know, in some ways you're kind of lucky."
"How so?"
"You've been given a second chance at life, and therefore a second chance to find love."
Yami thought about that. "That's true…"
"And since you're not really a pharaoh anymore, there aren't any restrictions this time; you can be with whoever you want."
"Yes… you're right." Yami slowly reached over and placed his hand on top of Tea's. "I can be with… whoever I want."
Tea's blush intensified. "Are you sure you have problems interacting with women?" At that moment she found it hard to believe that he could possibly have such difficulties. But it was then that she noticed that his palm was a tad sweaty—just like hers.
Yami smiled. "I suppose I am trying to make more of an effort. But believe me Tea, I can be extremely awkward when it comes to matters of the heart."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I can be somewhat awkward too."
"In that case, why don't we both be awkward—together."
Tea smiled back. "That sounds like a great idea to me!"
With that, Yami took a bite out of his burger. "You know what… this stuff isn't actually that bad!"
TO BE CONTINUED
So how was this chapter? Good? Bad? Be sure to let me know!