(Hehe, Yami's going back to Kemet to see his father. Hmmm… this is the chap that describes his leaving. This should be quite interesting…Oh, BTW, contains lemon. Still PG-13, just thought I'd warn you.)
Light the Flame
Chapter Eleven
Abdication
The next day, Teana inquired Jono and the partially healthy Tiet about the departure.
"Why does he have to go now?" she asked, throwing her arms into the air. Jono just shook his head at her.
"His father's dying, Teana. His father isn't going to wait to die when Yami's good an' ready to leave. He has to go back."
"Why? He's been disowned!" Teana exclaimed.
"No he 'asn't," Tiet said, coming up behind the two. He had Zvallah in his arms. He had gotten better overnight from the herbal medicine that Annuay made so well. "Believe it or not, Teana dear, Yami's father neveh disowned him. He's still 'is son, no matter what. Yami knows that his father prolly wants to see him once more before he goes to the Afterlife." Teana sighed and sat on the ground. Tiet bent down with the toddler in his arms.
"I believe 'dis is yers?" he said, smiling as Teana took the child from his arms. Zvallah seemed very happy to be in his mother's lap, and latched on immediately to her shoulders. Teana closed her eyes and sighed.
"He doesn't want us to go with him," Teana said, defeated. "I want to… he says with his father dying, it could be dangerous."
"Yeah, I 'eard that, too," Tiet agreed, turning to Jono. "We better get back before he 'ies."
"Yeah, I know," Jono said, scratching the back of his head. "We're leaving tomorrow, Teana. Be sure you know that." With that, the two walked away, discussing how they would get back. Teana frowned and stroked Zvallah's head absentmindedly.
"I just wish he would stay…" she whispered, Zvallah's little hand on her cheek.
That night, Yami was sitting on their bed, Zvallah in his lap.
"Hey, Zvallah. I have something important to tell you," he said, smiling. Zvallah just blinked.
"Da?" he asked. Yami laughed.
"Heh… Zvallah, tomorrow I'm leaving. I'm taking a trip somewhere, Zvallah!" he said, tickling Zvallah's stomach to distract him. Teana was watching this array of activity from across the floor, sitting in the sand that made up their floor. Zvallah giggled and opened his large, amethyst eyes in contentment.
"Where goin'?" he asked.
"Someplace I haven't been in a long time, Zvallah," Yami explained. "But don't worry. In a little while, I'll come back, okay?"
" 'Kay," Zvallah agreed, holding onto his father's hands. Yami sighed.
"We're leaving before sunup," he explained. Teana nodded and stood up. She began walking over when she stopped.
Her husband and her son were before her. All the love she could ever want came in two great energies, both hers. And hers alone.
…Why did he have to go back now?
"Jono wants to see him one more time before you leave tomorrow," Teana said softly. Yami rolled his eyes.
"He's in love with the kid, isn't he?" Teana giggled.
Jono walked in at that moment. Zvallah, instantly recognizing his new playmate, giggled and cheered in delight.
"Hey, Zvallah!" Jono said, bounding over to the little boy. He scooped the toddler into his arms and stopped in the doorway.
"I just want to hang out with him again before we go back," he explained. "He'll be back soon, don't worry."
"Jono, he's one year old!" Teana exclaimed, laughing.
"He's a good companion!" Jono said, smiling and leaving with Zvallah in his arms. Both Yami and Teana laughed.
"I never realized how much I missed Jono until now," Yami said, standing up. Teana laughed.
"He's always been the same since I first met him. Full of life." Yami smiled and walked over to Teana.
"Teana, I know you object to me going back so suddenly. But you have to understand – I love my family. Both of them. The one I was born into and the one I created." He took Teana's hands into his own. "And if someone in my family is hurt, I want to be there. My father is dying; I have to go home. Only for a little while. I promise I'll come back. And if, for some reason, I have to stay, I'll send for you, and you and Zvallah and – and everyone! – can come down to Kemet. And we'll live there if we have to." Teana smiled at Yami and sighed.
"I know you love them, it's… just…" Teana's arms were shaking. Yami stared down at her in surprise.
"Teana…?" Unexpectedly, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his body.
"I don't want to lose you again!" she cried, much to Yami's surprise.
"Wha…? Lose me? What do you mean?" he asked. Teana sniffled.
"It's a dangerous route from here to Kemet – and what if something happens while you're down there? What if I never see you again!" She cried, burying her face into his chest. Her shoulders heaved as she cried heavily into his shirt, shaking. Yami was in shock.
He never really realized how much Teana loved him until this moment. She just held him there, making him unable to move.
"I love you," she whispered. "I don't want to see you die. Not again." She just lay there, against him, not letting him go. Yami wrapped his arms around her and held her gently.
"Nothing's going to happen. I promise," he whispered to her. She just lay against him, not breathing quite as heavy anymore. They stood in silence for awhile, her head resting on his chest. She lifted her head to face him, just about level with his face.
She leaned in and kissed him. Yami was surprised at first, but allowed her to kiss him. He knew she would miss him when he left…
With his arms tightening around her body, he let her kiss him again, finding he was enjoying it very much. He pulled away from her, smiling at her. He knew what she wanted.
He slid his arms under her legs and picked her up, twirling her around. Teana laughed and held onto his neck so she wouldn't slide from his grip.
"Whoa… What're you doing?" she asked, giggling. Yami, still holding her, shrugged.
"I have no idea," he said in a low voice to her. He spun around again, except this time, without knowing it, he moved. And tripped.
And both of them went toppling. Yami landed on the ground while Teana landed on their bed. She was lying on her back, laughing, Yami standing up.
"Oww…" he groaned. "Gods, that was painful. Ehh…" Teana rolled onto her side and sat up, grinning at him. Yami stared at her.
"…what?" he asked, smiling at her. Teana reached out her arms and said nothing. Yami walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, with a completely blank expression on his face.
"Uhh, Teana?" he asked, blinking. Teana couldn't contain herself. She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and completely pushed him down. She was on his side and kissed the side of his mouth, closing her eyes.
"I love you, so much…" she whispered, leaning over him and kissing him. He closed his eyes and said nothing. She reached down and slid her hand into his, interlocking her fingers. Her other hand held onto the back of his neck. She pulled away, breathing hard. She leaned her head on his chest, his chin on the top of her head. She shivered gently.
Yami reached down and pulled the beautiful woven tapestry made by her mother and tossed it over their bodies. Teana laid the side of her face against his chest, running her free hand inside of his tunic top. She tightened her grip on his other hand, and just lay there, breathing deeply.
She kissed his neck, pulling the top of his tunic off. She moved back to his lips, allowing him to remove her clothing, too. She kissed his neck again, a small moan emitting from his lips.
As their love became more intimate and passionate, their hands never let go.
They were bound forever.
"Psst, Yami. Wake up." Yami could hear the voice above him. He didn't want to wake up. He was tired, Goddamnit.
But he had to. He didn't answer.
"Yami, did you die? If you did, I'm not bringing you back." He placed his hand on Yami's shoulder, and Yami's eyes flickered open.
"Gah, Jono… Why'd we hafta leave so early in the morning?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. This was earlier then he normally got up, and he woke up pretty early. After his vision adjusted, he rolled onto his other side and saw Jono bending over him. He had his hands on his waist with a wide grin on his face. Yami chuckled. He sat up slowly, so he wouldn't wake Teana.
She was right next to him, lying on her side. Her arms were folded underneath her head. Yami had been sleeping right next to her, his arm around her waist. Her face was peaceful and she was in a deep sleep, breathing slowly. Jono straightened up.
"Put some clothes on, lover-boy. Zvallah is with, umm, that girl… Savannah. I gave him to her because she forced us to go to sleep early, and said she'd drop him home. But she came back a few minutes later and just tucked him in without a word, then like… died." Yami laughed as he tied his tunic belt. He grabbed his cloak from the edge of the bed and put it on. It was a little chilly.
"Well, let's get moving, then," Jono said as Yami fastened a carry-bag to Angel's flank. Jono hopped onto his own horse, as did Tiet, whom they met outside. Kenneth was also mounting a horse.
"Kenneth? Are you coming, too?" Yami asked in surprise. Kenneth shook his head.
"You were unconscious when we traveled this road three years ago. And this one was sick, and that one wasn't paying attention when we rescued them," he explained, motioning to Jono and Tiet. "So none of you know about half the way… I'll show you, then let you go from there."
"Thank you, Kenneth," Jono said, grinning. Yami looked back at his home wistfully. His heart was pounding and his head was aching. He already missed this place.
"Wait," he said, just as Kenneth was about to ride off. "I'll be right back." He dismounted the horse and ran through the sand, falling every few steps. He gently pushed back the curtain to his home and knelt down next to Teana. She had turned over onto her back, sleeping peacefully.
Yami placed a hand on her cheek.
"Teana… Sennaniakah," he whispered. "I love you, and I always will. I'll come back, you'll see…" and with that, he placed a peck on her lips, then stood up. He left the tent without looking back. Because he knew if he did, he would run back and refuse to leave.
"You ready now?" Kenneth asked the heartbroken man. Yami sighed.
"Y-yes."
They rode off, Yami never looking back.
"Oh, I thought something horrible had happened," Teana said in relief. It was later in the morning, and she had woken up alone, with Yami gone and Zvallah nowhere to be found. She was sitting with Savannah, the girl who had watched Zvallah that night.
Zvallah was in his mother's lap, leaning against her and holding her hands in his tiny ones. He had one hand in his, playing with her long fingers and placing his small hand into her palm. Teana hugged the toddler gently, a great feeling of relief washing over her.
"Why did he stay here? Why didn't you bring him back?" Teana asked of her friend. "When I couldn't find him, I thought he had died." Savannah giggled a bit. Her sisters were in the area, as well as some of Teana's sisters. They were sitting outside, the older women giving the younger women weaving lessons.
"Well… You see…" Savannah giggled again. "Jono was gonna bring him back, but I told him he needed rest since he was leaving so early, so I volunteered to bring him back. However… Umm… When I got there, you two seemed rather…. 'busy'… So I brought him back to stay here for the night." And then she laughed.
Teana's cheeks noticeably turned bright, bright red, and in turn, smiled and faced Zvallah, kissing the top of his head. "…Yeah, well… I might not see him again for months…"
"Uh-huh," Savannah said, unable to suppress her laughter.
"Oh – Shut up, Savannah, you're married too, y'know." Savannah just laughed. Teana just, instead, held her son, watching him explore her hands. She plopped him onto the ground and patted his head. Zvallah turned and looked up at Teana.
"Momma?" he asked. Teana smiled down at him. Savannah stopped what she was doing to watch. Zvallah looked from his mother to Savannah and back again with his large, childish eyes.
"Yes, Zvallah?" Teana asked. Zvallah looked around and then looked up.
"Where Da?" he asked, leaning forwards. Teana gasped and looked down at her lap. How could she explain to a little child that his father left? He had good intentions, and she knew he didn't really want to go…
But…
"You're daddy's going away for a little while, honey," Savannah explained, leaning over the little child. She smiled softly and warmly at him. "He'll come back real soon, okay?"
"A-are you okay with that, Zvallah?" Teana asked, smiling at the baby. Zvallah blinked up at his mother and beamed.
"Yes, Momma," he said, smiling brightly. He lifted his arms in the air, suggesting he wanted to be lifted up. Teana bent over and lifted her son into her lap, gently running her hand through his dark brown hair. Zvallah held her arm and leaned against her, closing his eyes.
Teana had never realized before now how tiny Zvallah was. He was a small child for his age, and thin, too. He was very small when he was born…
Something wet landed on Zvallah's head.
"Everything will alright, Sennaniakah," Savannah whispered to her childhood friend. Teana hugged her child tighter.
"I wish I could believe you, Savannah…"
(Well, anyway. So, was that good? Huh huh huh? I hope so n.n I'm so happy with this chap I could die. xD;; Moving on… The next chap, they arrive back in Kemet. And everyone's more then a little surprised to see how Yami's changed… and Yami's a little more then a lot surprised at how much his family changed… xD That's not a real phrase, is it? Oh well xP Next chap: "He Returned".(
Oh, on another note, I started a new ficcy (along with 'Aftermath') called 'Mad World'. It's a little… odd… n.n;; People kinda… go insane… but… that hasn't happened yet, so it's all good. n.n I would appreciate it if you took a read! Please? Thanks!
Shibby-One
