Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Ateyda woke up to the sun shining in her eyes. She found herself gripping Yami very tightly. She released him, but kept herself laying her head on his chest. She closed her eyes again never wanting that moment to end. She felt him shift, but did not look up at him. She did not know if she had enough courage to look at him. She heard him yawn, and then got the feeling that he spotted her when he gave a sudden jolt. She waited for a few moments, mentally crossing her fingers. It seemed to last for eternity that he did not move. What was he thinking? She then felt him shift again and felt his fingers caress the hand that had been on his chest. She felt electricity go down her spine, and her heart started to race. She then looked up at his sleepy, but ravishing, violet eyes. She felt her face go red, as he looked back at her. He pulled her up to him and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him wondering if it was too good to be true. They laid, embraced in each other's arms, enveloped in the kiss. The door then flew open, and one of the servants came barging into the room.
"Your majesty, it's Ateyda, she can't be found. Her room. . .," he then stopped catching the sight of Ateyda lying on the Pharaoh. The servant then turned extremely red, and walked out the door mumbling about how he would never enter that room again. Ateyda and Yami looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"It is probably Lorena," she sat up and told Yami still partially laughing, "She probably thought something had happened when she did not see me in my room."
"Is this not your room, now?," Yami asked very seriously. She looked at him not knowing exactly how to answer him. He sat up and pulled her into him. "I have never felt like this with anyone," he told her, "I've never wanted to be with anyone until I met you." She looked into his eyes. He was telling the truth. She could sense it and see it. She pulled herself up toward him, and kissed him. She had never felt so complete with anyone like this before. Every time they kissed it was like it was for the first time. She felt sad when they parted. "I have to go to some meetings this morning, but I believe you have a couple yourself," he said as he got up from the bed.
"I do?," she asked.
"Yes," he replied, "You are leader of the guard now. You have to guide them, watch over their training, and teach them what you know." She nodded and then left to get ready.
When she got to her soon-to-be former room, she found Lorena setting out some attire. It was a uniform that was similar to what some of the guards wore, but much less armor and a lot lighter and smaller. As she put it on, Lorena watched her.
"What?," Ateyda asked her, "Is something wrong?"
"You were with the Pharaoh last night?," she asked.
Ateyda paused, and then said, "Yes, I was."
"How strongly do you feel about him?," Lorena asked her with a smile flickering on her face.
"Oh, I don't know," she answered being coy.
Lorena came up behind her and gave her a light smack on the head, "How strongly do you feel about him?," she asked again. Ateyda was rubbing her head, "Oh, child, I did not hurt you. Do you really feel strongly about him?"
"I told you I did," Ateyda replied. Why was she getting questioned?
"How much so?," she asked.
"I don't know how to answer that," she replied.
"Oh, Ateyda, you know your heart better than you think," Lorena said, "Well, I can't hold you back anymore. You are going to be late. You had better think of an answer for me." Ateyda then walked out of the room giving Lorena curious glances. She made her way down to the arena to meet her team of guards.
They saw her enter the room. She saw a few of them give each other secret looks. They did not stand up and greet her, but they went on doing what they had been before. They had grins on their face, but not the type of grins that would be welcome. If she had to deal with a whole team of sexist guards, just like the one she fought in front of Yami, she was going to have to kick a lot of ass to get her point across.
One of them looked at the others then at her, "I don't mind having a woman in command too much, boys. At least if we get caught up in battle, we can throw her to the rebels as a diversion." They all started laughing at this and Ateyda was furious.
"That is enough!," she screamed, if they wanted to play dirty then she would gladly meet them there, "Alright, if any of you think you are man enough, why don't you prove it? I don't believe any of you spineless, sacks of shit are good enough to be considered the Pharaoh's guard. He would probably be better off if we hired the rebels to protect him."
"I'd watch your mouth, little princess," another said, "You are in a room full of us. There is only one of you. Things may happen. . ."
"Why don't you shut that hole in your face, and prove to me how tough you really are?," she yelled at them, "If you are true men, worthy of protecting the Pharaoh, and honorable enough to be called his guards, then prove yourselves!"
"I have your back, Ateyda," one out of the corner said. He walked up to her. It was the same guard she had fought in front of Yami. "I fought against you, and lost," he said, "You are an honorable opponent, even though I insulted you, you fought me with honor. You are more than worthy of your title as head of this guard."
"Thank you," she said shaking his hand. He stood behind her. The others stared at him in disbelief.
"You are taking her side, Lamasse?," one of them asked.
"I am," he replied, "and you are all foolish and cowardly if you do not realize what a great warrior is in our midst. She defeated me, and she is the choice of our Pharaoh, so if you say she is not worthy, then you are shaming the judgment of our King."
The others looked at each other. They were stunned that the strongest of them all stepped down to a small woman like this? Then one of them came forward. "Lamasse, you are one of my greatest friends, and if I consider you my friend then I must trust you on this," he walked forward and bowed to her, then stood behind her also. Slowly, one by one, each of them came forward, bowed to her, and stood behind her. After the last one was finished, she turned to face them all.
"I have underestimated the heart you all have," she said looking at them with great pride, "I am honored to have such a fine group before me." She then smiled, "But don't think that you still do not have to prove yourselves. I want you to prove to me that you are worthy of bearing the Pharaoh's crest upon your shields and armor. Now, let's start this practice, and prove it!" They all bowed one more time, and paired up to battle each other.
She walked along the lines of men watching them combat. She would stop occasionally to correct a stance or improve a block. It was then she saw that Lamasse was the first to claim victory. She walked forward and congratulated him.
"Very good, Lamasse," she said hitting his shoulder. She walked over to the wall and grabbed a staff from it, "But I want you to show me what you've really got." A large grin spread across his face. He grabbed a staff for himself, and they prepared for battle.
They walked circles around their small area just like they had a few days before, however this time there was not hate between them, but there was an understanding. They were going to test each other, push each other to the limit, and in between have fun. This time Ateyda struck first. She flipped her staff around and brought it down toward his head. He easily blocked it with his forearm, and tried to shove her back with the end of his staff, but she whirled around it to where she was side by side with him, but still facing the opposite direction, and hit the back of his head with the staff. He quickly flipped around and hit her back with his. She fell forward but put her hands out so she easily flung herself to her feet. They stood back in their stances again. Most of the guards had stopped their battles, and crowded around to see the one Ateyda and Lamasse had started.
Lamasse then came running and jumped into the air. While coming at her from above, he swung around to drop kick her. She ducked beneath him, caught his outstretched foot with her staff, and caused him to land face first into the floor. He got up laughing, "Good move!," he complimented, "But you had better watch out for mine!" He came at her like he was going to hit her, but suddenly put his staff underneath her, flung her in the air, and slammed her down to the ground. The other guards could not believe the damage they were not taking with all of this fighting. She got up smiling. "I will have to remember that one," she said, "But I am still standing. Now, come on, take me down if you think you can!"
She threw her staff aside, and then beckoned him on. He smiled and threw his aside also. He came at her and started punching as fast as he could. She easily ducked them all. She punched his stomach making him double over, jumped onto his back, wrapping her legs around his neck, and dragged him to the ground. He gave the signal that he gave up. He kneeled on the ground panting. She held out her hand to help him up. He hit it and said, "I'm down for the count. You are a true opponent." He then got up, and they shook hands. There was applause, and Ateyda and Lamasse realized that they had all been watching. They laughed and bowed to their audience.
She went back upstairs to change. She quickly washed off some of the sweat from fighting and dressed. She came back into her room to find Lorena putting her clothes into folded piles on her bed.
"What are you doing?," she asked her.
"I am getting your things moved," Lorena replied as a few younger maids came in and took some of the clothes, "You are now staying with the Pharaoh are you not?"
Ateyda blushed, "Yes. Yes, I am."
"Have you got an answer for my question?," Lorena asked her.
"Your question?," Ateyda asked. She had completely forgotten.
"Yes, about the Pharaoh," she replied.
"Oh," Ateyda did not know why she wanted to know so badly, "Why do you want to know so badly?"
"I have known the Pharaoh for many, many years," Lorena replied, "I think I know when he, himself, has an interest in someone."
Ateyda smiled at this, "How much so does he feel about me?"
"He loves you, you know that," she replied now being coy, herself.
"Yes, but how much so?," she asked really wanting to know, "I need to know. Does he truly feel that way about me, or is this just his lust? You said that his love was powerful. Did you mean that his lust is so much so it seems like he is really in love?"
"No, you will see later how powerful his love really is, but that cannot happen yet," Lorena told her, "The way you feel about him in your heart, is the way he feels about you. So, how strongly do you feel for him?"
Ateyda sat down on the bed, and looked at the floor, "I. . ."
Lorena sat down beside her, and gave her a hug, "You have kept your heart locked away so tight. It hurts now that someone has touched it so deeply doesn't it?"
Ateyda buried her face in Lorena's shoulder. This was something her mother never would have done for her. "Yes," she cried, "I have never let anyone get this close to me, and I am afraid that if I continue to let him near me I will pay the price, but I love him so much."
Lorena continued to hug her. Ateyda then looked up at her, and asked, "Why do you care so much about my feelings?," she asked, "Why do you care about me at all?"
"Whatever your parents or your family or whoever put awful things in your head, I want you to forget it all. You should feel inferior to no one," she said, "I care about you because you are a good person, and you remind me of a good person I used know."
"Who was that?," she asked curiously.
"My daughter," Lorena replied.
"You used to know her?," Ateyda asked, "What happened to her?"
Lorena's face grew stiff and she replied, "She died many years ago. Her cousin had a feud with a boy around his age. One night, they attacked him. She got in the way to protect him, and they killed her."
"I'm so sorry, Lorena," Ateyda told her, "I can't imagine having to lose someone so close to you."
"You are of stronger heart than you think," Lorena replied, "Even though you think you are going to split in two from grief, you will always pull through. I did."
"Thank you, Lorena," she said as Lorena let go of her, "I feel a lot better."
"You're welcome," she said, "Now, lets get you ready for dinner!"
She dressed in white robes, and Lorena made her pin her hair with a lily. "It's lovely," Lorena said as she straightened the pin, "It contrasts perfectly with you hair."
"Don't you think it is a bit much?," she asked her. Ateyda never liked getting too dressed up. She feared of looking over done, which is exactly how her mother would have made her dress. But then again, when she took a step back, she saw that Lorena knew what she was talking about.
"Now, you are ready," Lorena said, "Go get your man!"
"Lorena!," Ateyda said embarrassed as she left the room. She walked into the main chamber to see Yami waiting for her at the main table. She did not know who all the people were that were there, but she did not feel like questioning one of them.
She sat down, and Yami turned to her. "I heard about the incident at the guard's practice," he said as he grabbed her hand and kissed it, "Well, done."
"Thank you," she replied. The only thing she wanted to do right then was feel his lips on hers. He was so beautiful she did not think she could possibly stand having him so close, but not being able to touch his face or kiss his lips.
"What is it?," he asked seeing that she was staring at him.
"Oh," she replied looking down, "Nothing, I am just daydreaming."
She looked out at the crowd of people in the room at the different tables eating furiously. A few people made her laugh to see them arguing over the last loaf of bread, but then she saw something that made her stop dead. In the middle of one of the tables, she saw three of Kaiba's followers. They had been staring at her, but the moment she spotted them, they looked away.
"Yami," she whispered desperately to him, "There are three of Kaiba's followers here."
He looked over at her with a smile still on his face, "I know. There are always as least two here. They like to keep watch on me."
"Alright," she replied, "If you say so." She looked back over at them. They whispered to each other occasionally looking up at her. Yami may have been completely calm about it, but unsettled her a great deal. What were they doing there? Would they tell Kaiba about seeing her sitting with the Pharaoh? Did they see the Pharaoh kiss her hand?
After they had finished with dinner, the crowd departed out the doors. Ateyda had stayed behind everyone. She wanted to keep a close watch on the three conspirators. They left normally like everyone else, not giving her a hint or clue of anything. She cursed them for coming. They had no business being in the palace. She would have to talk to the guards about them.
She began to climb the staircase to see Yami waiting at the top for her. She smiled and continued her way up. When she reached him, he held out his hand for her. She took it, and he led her to their bedroom.
She went into the lavatory to change. She felt a smile spread on her face as she got an evil idea. She partially opened the door, and peeked through at Yami. She almost burst out laughing thinking about what she was doing. She shrugged it off and went back to the crack in the door. She felt herself going dizzy as she saw his bare back turned toward her. His strong shoulder blades accenting his lean, smooth back. He then turned to walk to the bed. She blushed and shut the door before she saw any more.
Her thoughts went back to the three traitors at dinner. Did Kaiba tell them to go to the palace nightly? Why did Kaiba think he needed to watch the Pharaoh? She walked out of the room, and then out onto the balcony. She wind whipped through her hair and made the curtains fly open as Yami came out. She felt his hand intertwine with hers. She did not change her gaze.
"What is bothering you?," he asked her.
"Nothing," she replied, "I am just clearing my mind. A lot has happened within the past few days."
"Come to bed," he told her as he pulled her face toward him, "You need rest." They went back inside and pulled the covers over themselves. She laid on his chest just as she had the night before. He let his fingertips slide up and down her bare arm. She looked up at him. He leaned down and kissed her. She pulled him on her to pull him deeper in the kiss. They were wrapped in each other's arms involved in the most passionate kiss they had ever experienced. Eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms both thinking they could never be happier.
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