Iato Awakens

Iato was fighting for her life. She was slowly getting better but even now after three weeks of endless coma she still hadn't woken up. Atem assiduously sat by her bed. He had sent the Areos all the Areastos to wait for his word by Raptor who was sitting with Talrim on a perch that he had made for them. Iato's fever was peaking but it wasn't diminishing, Atem would set a cool wet cloth on her forehead to try and cool the fever but within a matter of minutes it was desiccated. She would toss and turn and cry out for Atem but not matter how much he tried he could not do anything to assuage the tremendous suffering she was going through. He sat by her bed, never moving and never sleeping or eating. His skin, even though deeply bronzed looked washed out.

Iato had hit the bottom of the void then kept falling, but now Slifer was flying around her laughing evilly. He would slam her against the walls of the rift. Then suddenly she hit the ground and was struck back into reality. She felt as if every single cut and gash had been branded into her flesh by fire. She arched her back and twisted around attempting to alleviate the immense agony she felt. She cried out, her eyes opening to see a hazy image of the Pharaoh at her bedside.

"Atem." Her raspy voice called to him, her throat was sore from screaming in her oblivion from reality. Atem's chest heaved and he held back a sob as at last his love had awakened. She reached out for him, weakly her hand grasped his, not at all her usual strong grip. He laid his hand on her stomach, a tender look in his eyes.

"Iato, you're awake… I can't believe it." Iato thought he looked thinner and paler than he was supposed to.

"Atem…" Iato rasped again as tears rolled down her face, she flinched as the salt from her tears stung her cuts.

"What is it Iato?" He asked her.

"I… I want to see… see the ocean." Iato said to him softly.

"You… you what?" Atem asked her softly. "You want to see the ocean." He asked and she nodded.

"You… need rest. Sleep… I'll… I'll be fine." Iato told him then drifted back into her void of darkness. Atem nodded.

"I'll give you the ocean if you want." Atem whispered as he closed the curtains to the balcony then walked out, slowly making his way to Malik's room.

"Malik… she's…" He smiled as he saw that both Seto and Bakura were also in Malik's room.

"What's wrong?" Malik asked.

"Where are Rikaya and Dirana?" Atem asked them all and they shook their heads.

"Dirana is with the Areos as is Dirana but there is someone here that she might want to see." Naira walked out of the darkness as Seto said this.

"Who is this?" Atem asked.

"I am Iato's granddaughter." Naira told him and he nodded.

"Iato told me to get some rest so I'm going to sleep before she bites my head off. You can go in but unless she reaches out to you don't touch her please." Atem asked and Naira nodded.

"I understand." The girl said and walked into the Pharaoh's bedroom.

"Atem… Atem where are you… you were just… just here." Iato wheezed slightly reaching out. Naira reached out and caught her grandmother's hand.

"Grandma, it's me Naira. Atem has gone to get some rest." Naira told her and Iato looked at the dim picture of her granddaughter.

"Naira you look just like your mother." Iato smiled at her and Naira nodded.

"My father told me that as well." Naira said to her.

"Naira… will you do me a favor?" Iato rasped.

"Yes… what?"

"Will you bring me that book over there?" Iato pointed at the old ratty papyrus book. "Can you show me the pictures… I'll tell you about them." Iato wheezed.

"Eat something first grandma." Naira said and from the medicine bag she pulled out a petal of the Iato Lotus that Iato had picked months ago.

"Naira… how." Iato said sitting up as she ate the petal.

"You told me a long time ago." Naira told her grandmother and she laughed. They began to look at the book together, Naira curled up by her grandmother, her head on her shoulder and Iato telling her about the pictures.