Well, now we're back to Egypt, ne? Hmm, I wonder how Aklia feels... Gah, I have 'Ordinary Day' stuck in me head... BTW, since shcool is starting, I won't be updating as frequently T.T because I get home at 5. When soccer season ends, though, I'll have a lot more time to write, so don't worry, I'm not gone forever. n.n

Light the Flame

Chapter Five

What Could Have Been

The mitsukai were in full bloom, their long, white petals stretching towards the sky. One broke off from the tree and fluttered down into the lap of the girl sitting beneath the tree. Aklia stared at it for a moment, then held it in her hand.

With a sigh, she pulled a petal off and crumpled it, letting the flower fall onto the ground. She then leaned back and closed her eyes, taking deep, shuddering breaths.

"Yami..." she whispered mournfully. "...Are you dead...?" For the Pharaoh had called a memorial service for him. The worry of searching for him had dragged the entire city down, and now... It was time to put his memory to rest and place the past behind them.

Aklia's arms shook heavily as she lifted her knees and cried into them. Her heart pained her; the person she loved had left, left her in the background... to go off with some foriegn servant...

He never loved me, Aklia thought. It was a one-way feeling... She laid her head back and thought about that day when he kissed her... She had thought everything was perfect, that he loved her as she loved him...

She could still hear his voice, speaking softly, explaining the color scheme of the very garden she was in...

She glanced at red, orange and yellow flowers, blooming with long, large petals and a bright decor.

"Those were planted when my sister, Asenath, was born. She was born at dusk, when the sun is red."

...And the bushes, trees, little pink flowers...

"Those were planted for Sekhem, because he was born a weakling, and those trees represent strength."

Aklia was sitting amongst the tall blue and purple flowers, laying back against the mitsukai with the delicate flowers around her. She touched one, a drop of dew sliding off a petal.

"...And those were planted when I was born, because I was born at night during the spring rains..."

"Atem," she whispered, "you are no longer a part of this garden..." She stood up, her arms shaking. Why was she wasting time mourning over someone who probably wasn't even dead? She stalked away instead.

As she walked through the palace, she didn't pay attention to where she was going--

WHAM.

She collided with Asenath in a hallway, both of them reeling back, looking at each other with surprise.

"Oh, Aklia, hi," Asenath said, but Aklia angrily stormed by her. All she did was take a glance and leave. Asenath, knowing that Aklia was hurting from Yami's departure, didn't scold her for not apologizing to a royal for walking into her.

Aklia shut her eyes in case any more people in Yami's family showed up. She walked this way until she reached the empty hall that her room was located in, and ran in, slamming the door behind her.

Tears were in her eyes; her thoughts were all jumbled angrily, and she fell onto her bed, crying.

The reason she couldn't look at Asenath was because Asenath and Yami resemble each other. It pained her to see any trace of him, even if it was his sister. Her entire body felt numb and useless.

Why did you do it? You knew I loved you! You, you... bastard! I hate you! How could I ever have loved you? How could I? No! I couldn't have! Not a lying, cheating bastard!

Her thoughts continued like this for awhile, lying on her stomach, crying as hard as she knew how. Eventually, her arms and her bedcovers were soaked through with salty tears. She breathed deeply, her eyes dry of anymore tears. She was hurting too much to care.

"You... made me... feel... so... useless..." she whispered in fragments. "It's... as if... I'm... nothing..." She took another deep, shuddering breath. "I hate you... And... I still love you!" With this thought, a new wave of tears came, and she laid her head on her arms, sobbing into them without a thought. "I hope you die, dammit! Die!"


A few more days past. Aklia's family were coming to Egypt, to see if they could do anything. They were going to wait just a little longer... Surely, he would come home when his sentence was gone...

"Anku," Anna said one night as they retreated to the upper reaches of the palace, "his sentence won't be lifted until a year has passed. Do you think they will actually wait an entire year?" Ankumanukanon sighed and closed his eyes.

"I don't know, Anna. I truly don't know." He leaned against the wall. "All we can hope for now is that he returns at some point…" his voice sounded strained and tired, as if this were something he knew was to be expected. Anna caught onto the ploy this time.

"…You really do believe him to have died, don't you?" she said softly, taking his hand. Ankumanukanon didn't answer. "It's alright, you know, if he has died. Who knows; maybe this life just wasn't right for him."

"It doesn't matter if it wasn't right for him," Ankumanukanon said with a new colder edge. "He was the first born son; he was chosen by the Sennen Puzzle. It's his duty to do this." He closed his eyes. "And for that, I can't forgive him. Alive… or dead."

With that, he walked away, leaving Anna stunned and silent in the hallway.


Meh, short, but I can't wait to type the next chappy n.n! I'm so exciiiiiited… Guess what? The next chappy is YAMI AND TEANAS WEDDING:happy dance: Yaaaaay! They're gettin' maaaarriiiiied… Weeee! Next chap: A White Wedding Ooohh I can't waaaaait! Oh, but ya'll gonna hafta wait quite awhile, I'm not updating again until after school starts:wags finger at everyone: Nyah nyah! September 1st, yo:Dances:

Shibby-One