Author: BradyBunch4529
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Atemu and Seto finally see what their past was like. Now they must fight to protect the one they both love.
Pairings: Atemu/Anzu/Seto
Disclaimers: Really not mine. So I won't claim to own them.
Reviewers:
SportZScooby: Cool, huh? I thrilled that you thought so. From everything I've read the story does add her later on. I'm just not sure in what capacity. Ah well. Let me know what you think of this chapter.
Nagome: You do? It's from one of my favorite books. So I thought I would borrow it. I will do my best about the pairings but I do enjoy Seto/Anzu. I'm just the writer though, sometimes the story gets away from me.
Avataria13: Absolutely no excuse whatsoever. But when has that ever stopped Seto? Don't worry he'll come around. Pieces will start falling into place now. Let me know what you think about this chapter.
Ksaturn: Thanks! I like your signature by the way. It made me laugh. I hope this chapter leaves up to expectation.
CommonKnowledge: I'm excited that you are excited! I understand about the computer though. Mine has eaten my stories repeatedly. I almost ready to shoot it!
Jessica: I hope that this is fast enough. Though it took me longer than I thought it would. I'm so excited that you thought the story was amazing. I was kinda disappointed in the chapter truthfully. Yami and Anzu are so great together. Still haven't figured out who going with who.
Sakura: Thanks so much! I hope that you enjoy this chapter as much. Let me know if it doesn't meet expectations though.
Peeps: You came back! Multiple hugs and kisses for you. :P Kaiba is Kaiba. He'll surprise you, I think. Yami can be very scary when he is crossed. I think you'll find that out more in later chapters. I'm glad that you enjoyed it enough to come back. Tell me if this one is up to par.
Kayvy:It was a surprise wasn't it? I'm glad that you enjoyed the plot twists. I'm still not sure whom she is going to wind up with. It can be very confusing, even for the author. The past is going to throw in more surprises in this chapter. I hope that I managed to put in the right amount of tension between Anzu/Seto/Yami. Tell me if I managed it.
Chapter 3: ExplanationsAnzu floated in that plane between sleep and awareness, her limbs heavy and her mind blank of all thought. She seemed strangely disconnected from her body in those moments, as if hanging between two realities. From far off came the sounds of voices, raised in anger, a symphony of noise in her ears. Then from somewhere else, a hand wrapped around hers and a familiar voice breathed into her ear.
"Anasandra, my love, can you hear me?" Atemu's voice was soft but concerned in her ear, tension threading through his calm tone.
Anasandra tried to open her eyes and respond but her head was pounding viciously and her eyelids felt like they were weighted down. Her throat felt raw and scratchy when she swallowed. "Atemu?" Her voice was a bare whisper of sound. Instantly his hand tightened around hers and a kiss was placed on her cheek. "What happened?"
"You collapsed on the way back from the temple, my love." He replied softly, his hand brushing the hair from her cheek.
She nuzzled her cheek into his hand, delighting in the feel of his skin against hers. There was something so comforting about her husbands touch. The roughness of his hands, the familiar feel of his skin soothed the pounding in her head. Then what he said registered on her mind and she shot straight up.
"I WHAT!?"
Atemu's hands grabbed at her, trying to push her back down on the bed, even as other hands instantly tried to ease her back. "The Baby? Is it the baby?" Anasandra's eyes locked on Atemu's, trying to read into those violet depths.
"The baby is fine," Atemu soothed. "I swear. But you need to take it easy. The doctors' believe it was the heat."
Anasandra let them ease her back on the multiples pillows. For the first time she noticed that her lips and mouth were dry. The pounding in her head was back with a vengeance and her vision began to blur. She collapsed fully onto the bed with a small groan. Her tongue swept out to wet her lips, trying to relieve the dryness. Her hand still clutched at Atemu's robe, the material cool and reassuring in her grip.
"Drink," Atemu's voice commanded. His hand slipped under her head and lifted it slightly. A goblet pressed against her lips and they parted to allow the cool water to flow into her mouth. A moan of pure ecstasy left her lips as she swallowed the water. She could feel it refreshing and soothing as it slipped down her throat. Then the cup was lifted away and she instinctively tried to grab the goblet. "No you've had enough. The doctors' said that you needed to take it slow with fluids. We don't want you getting sick.." Atemu's voice was firm and his hand caught her grasping one.
Anasandra pouted slightly but relaxed back against the pillows. Her eyes opened lazily to stare up at her husband. He was sitting beside her on their bed. His clothes and skin slightly dusty with sand and patchy with sweat. He was dressed in his battle gear rather than in the tunic he normally wore around the house. A frown creased her brow and her eyes dropped to the five bands of gold wrapped around his neck, with the millennium items seemingly encircled by the bands.
"Why are you…" her voice drifted off and her eyes fluttered closed. "You were training today." Anasandra answered her own question. "I am so sorry. They shouldn't have bothered you," her voice was rapid and apologetic. Her hands grasped his tunic and her blue eyes pleaded with his violet eyes.
"Of course they should have," Atemu responded. His own tone confident and final. "You are my wife and are expecting my child, if they had not told me I would have killed all of them." He laid his brow against hers and stared into her bright blue eyes. "I would be lost if anything happens to you," he breathed.
Anasandra smiled up at Atemu and her hand stroked his cheek. His eyes drifted closed at the familiar action. She pressed a kiss against his lips, her own eyes drifting closed. His lips were firm and tender as they moved over hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss as her tongue slipped between his. His weight pressed her back against the pillows, his hands beginning to stroke and caress.
Anasandra arched up into Atemu's embrace. Her own hands brush down over his shoulders, her fingers searching for the skin under the fabric. Their tongues dueled in her mouth, dragging against each others as hands clutched and soothed. Their breathes mingling and warming skin. His mouth left hears to scorch a path down her throat. She moaned and tilted her head for better access. His tongue traced the vein throbbing in her throat before nipping roughly at it. Her hands twisted in his hair, trying to pull him closer even as she arched into him.
Thepounding in her head disappeared in a rush of desire. A low heat began to pool between her legs and she shifted slightly so that Atemu was trapped between her legs. Anasandra groaned at the feel of him pressing against her. His mouth claimed hers again, his hands slipping under her robe and stroking her skin. He moaned into her mouth as her legs clenched around his hips, pressing him more firmly against her.
"Anasandra!!" Seth yelled as he ran into the room, the double doors suddenly thrown wide open.
Atemu jumped up and turned to face Seth as he slid to a stop just inside the room. A blush was staining the men's cheeks as their eyes met. Anasandra sighed and relaxed against the pillows, adjusting her robe and holding her hand out to her brother.
"I see you heard," Anasandra said as Seth reached her side and took her hand.
"Are you all right?" Seth questioned anxiously. His hand tightened around hers and his pale blue eyes searched her darker blue eyes.
"I am fine," Anasandra assured him, raising his hand to her mouth and pressing a kiss there. "Other than a slight headache, I am thirsty and sleepy."
"Then you should be resting," Seth scolded lightly, his free hand brushing her hair away from her face.
"I was resting," Anasandra replied innocently. Her eyes wide and guileless as they stared into first his and then her husbands, "It was quite enjoyable too." Both moaned groaned and shook their heads at her. She simply smiled at them, secure in their love.
"And the baby?" Seth questioned anxiously, his eyes tracing her features.
"The doctors' assure me that she is fine. With her pregnancy only 5 months along, they are confident it was nothing more than the heat," Atemu replied his own hand reaching out to grasp Seth's shoulder.
"I see." Seth nodded and reached a hand out to touch the swelling stomach, needing to reassure himself.
"I would never allow any harm to come to her," Atemu promised as his hand rested over Seth's on his wife's stomach.
"I know. I just worry."
"And I love you for it," Anasandra assured him. Her own hand joining theirs on her belly and she delighted in the feeling of security having her men around her. But she knew it was still early and they both had duties to see to. "But right now I need a nap and you both are distracting me."
Atemu and Seth opened their mouths to protest but fell silent when she glared at them. Instead both of them took turns pressing a kiss to her cheek, though Atemu followed it up by brushing a kiss across her lips.
Anasandra smiled at both of them drowsily before relaxing more fully into the pillows and allowed her eyes to drift closed. She was asleep by the time the doors closed behind them.
Anzu could hear the sound of the argument as she slowly drifted awake. She could still feel the kisses against her skin, the sense of security that flooded her being and she expected a different sight when her eyes finally drifted open. Instead of the opulent bedroom with the desert outside her window, she saw sterile white walls and she was lying on an uncomfortable bed. Arranged at the end of the bed were Yami and Seto. Both of them had their arms crossed over their chests as they stared into each other's eyes, neither one blinking. Jonouchi and Honda were standing just behind Yami, screaming at Kaiba about something.
A hand tightened on hers after an explicit threat and Anzu turned her head to see Shizuka sitting beside her, eyes firmly fixed on the boys. There was a frown on Shizuka's face and her brown eyes held worry.
"It's all your fault Kaiba," Jonouchi was yelling. He shook his fist at Kaiba. "If you would have just kept your hands to yourself."
"Then she should have kept hers to herself," Kaiba shot back. His blue eyes were cold and calm, as they remained fixed on Yami's, completely ignoring the fist that Jonouchi was waving around.
"She's a girl man," Honda tossed out through gritted teeth. "You are not supposed to treat a girl that way,"
"I will treat the girl anyway I want to," Kaiba replied coolly.
"The question," Yami's calm voice finally broke in, "is what Kaiba is going to do now? The nurse said that Anzu has a slight concussion and a severely sprained wrist and ankle."
"What should I do?" Kaiba demanded. "Mazaki brought it on herself."
"Seto!" Mokuba's voice exploded in Anzu's other ear. "You shouldn't say things like that about Anzu. She's my friend!"
"Not now Mokuba," Kaiba waved a hand at his brother, his tone offhanded. "Later we will talk about your bad judgement when it comes to friends."
Anzu eyes closed again. It wasn't worth the effort to try and calm everyone down. The pain was beginning to pounds its way through her system. The nerves in her body were beginning to wake up and all of her aches were starting to throb. The pain medicine was obviously losing the battle against the pain and all the screaming at the end of her bed was too much for her to handle.
"ENOUGH!" Anzu shouted, her voice loud and commanding. "My head is pounding more than enough all on its own. I don't need more yelling. Is that clear?" Her blue eyes glared at each of the boys.
"ANZU!" Everyone exclaimed and rushed to the bed. Shizuka and Mokuba tightened their hold on her hand and leaned over the bed while everyone else crowded around.
"You're awake," Jonouchi announced with a smile.
"You had us worried, Anzu," Honda patted her leg lightly.
"Sorry," Anzu smiled at everyone and tried to ignore the pain currently pounding through her system.
"You are sure you are all right?" Yami asked softly, his violet eyes holding hers.
Anzu could feel herself drowning in those violet depths. There was something so familiar about that look and tension she knew was hiding beneath the surface. She wanted to do nothing more than soothe away the fears and tension. Her hands itched to draw him close and kiss away his worries. She blinked and mental shook herself. While Anzu knew that she had had a crush on Yami ages ago, there was something different about this emotion. It was richer, deeper and so familiar.
"I'm fine," Anzu assured him with a small smile. She hid her confusion by looking over at Kaiba. "Are you okay, Kaiba?"
Everyone in the room stilled, not quite sure what they had heard. Anzu could feel the tension building in the room and was determined to ignore it. Anzu remembered that just before Kaiba had struck out he had seemed dazed, his skin flushed and sweating. She needed to know that nothing was wrong with the CEO. She wasn't sure why it was so important, but her eyes remained locked on his pale blue eyes, certain that she could read the truth in them.
"Why do you ask Mazaki?" Kaiba's voice was harsh.
He had to force it out paste the lump in his throat. He didn't know why she was affecting him this way. After all she had been nothing but an annoyance from the very beginning and yet he had found himself drawn to her. Time and time again he had acquiesced to her demands when he normally would have torn apart the person who had dared to question him. There was something about the way her blue eyes would meet his. It was as if she could see into the very depths of his soul and knew all of his fears and secrets.
"Because you were looking sick earlier," Anzu offered with a small smile. "It was the reason I approached you in the first place." She paused and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't remember much about what happened but I remember that."
"I'm fine," Seto bit off, his tone clipped. "Come Mokuba." He spun away from the group and towards the door.
"No," Mokuba's voice was firm and his grip on Anzu's hand was fierce. "I think that we should help Anzu."
"Mokuba!" Kaiba's voice was a whip of anger and Aznu could feel Mokuba flinch slightly even as he met his brothers' gaze.
"Stop," Anzu's voice was tired. "Just stop it." She turned her head on the pillow, biting back a groan of pain from that movement, and smiled at Mokuba. Her hand tightened around Mokuba's as she met Kaiba's angry blue gaze.
For a moment the world seemed to shift around her and she could read the guilt and pain in those eyes. She could also see an agony so deep and so all consuming, that Anzu almost cried out. All she could think about was soothing that pain away, making him understand that it hadn't been his fault. The fight between the two of them had gone on too long, Anzu decided. Then wondered dazedly what fight.
"It's fine Mokuba," Anzu assured the boy. "You go with your brother and I'll see you later." Anzu shook her head and pressed a finger against Mokuba's lips when he started to protest. "Seto didn't mean to hurt me. He couldn't if he tried."
Her tone was so confident and assured that everyone stared at her dumbfounded. Kaiba could feel his breath hitch in his throat as she calmed his brother. When did she become so important? Kaiba wondered absently even as he moved closer to the bed. There was understanding in the blue gaze and a forgiveness that took his breath away. Kaiba sank to the edge of the bed, his blue gaze still lost in hers. His mouth opened to say something and then the door burst open.
As one the group turned to face the door. The sight that met their eyes was a surprise.
"Ishizu," Tea exclaimed. "This is a surprise."
"Indeed," Yami agreed. His violet eyes cold and considering as he met the Egyptians dark eyes.
"I have something to discuss with you my Phoraoh, Kaiba and Anzu," Ishizu voice was cool, her eyes steady as they met Yami's.
"Really," Kaiba's voice was dismissing and he stood up. His hand reached out for Mokuba and tugged him along. "You don't mind if we skip the side show."
"Kaiba," Ishizu shook her head, refusing to move.
"Seto," Anzu voice was calm and stopped him in his tracks. "Sometimes you should at listen to all options before deciding what is real and what is not."
Kaiba's eyes whipped towards hers. His blue eyes were narrowed and burning with a bright blue flame. Her blue eyes were calm and seemed to reach out and wrap around him. There was something so calming about her eyes and the expression in them. It was like diving into an ice cold pool on a hot summer day. Her blue eyes instantly cooled his temper and left him open to the possibilities.
"Fine," he bit out and stalked over to the corner of the room. "I'll listen and then I'm out of here."
"Thank you," Anzu smiled and then turned towards Yami. "Come sit down, Yami. You hovering over Ishizu is not going to make her go any faster."
Anzu held out her hand, still denying the pain that the movement caused her. Her eyes were warm and loving on the young man's face. She could see the worry and the fear in those violet eyes. She didn't wonder how she knew this and she didn't try and question the need to comfort both of these men.
Yami turned towards Aznu. His emotions confused as he stared into her blue eyes. There was something about them that was suddenly so familiar to him. Could it be because she had been with him from the very first moment? Or was it simply because in times of his greatest need, she was the first one to hold out her hand? At this moment he didn't know but everything in him screamed out for the comfort offered in those eyes and that smile.
He could almost feel her touch ghost over him, easing his fear and soothing his nerves. Yami's eyes drifted over Anzu face, his eyes landing on the lips tilted up in a gentle smile. He swallowed thickly, his mouth going dry as he imagined those lips moving over his own. He could almost taste her, feel her body against his and knew that his hunger for her would never be satisfied.
"Yami?" Anzu voice was gently questioning.
"I'm fine. Anzu," Yami immediately assured her. His hand catching hers and settling beside her on the bed, fingers automatically lacing with hers and smiling reassuring.
"If you are sure," Anzu pressed, her other hand brushing across his cheek.
"I am." Yami pressed a quick kiss to her forehead and turned to face Ishizu. "We are ready."
Ishizu's dark eyes watched the interaction with interest. She was amazed at how much control Aznu already had over Kaiba and the Pharaoh.If they are reacting to her this way now, what are they going to do when they find out the rest?
Several thousand miles away on the other side of the world, a group of men were grunting as they tried to force the crypt door open. The archeologist could feel the anticipation building in his gut. After days of diligent work, the door was finally in his grasp. The heat and the sand were forgotten as the white marble slab gave way. There was a sudden rush of wind swirled inside the darkened path.
His hand shook as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He couldn't wait to see what was inside the tomb. The doors had been inlaid with gold, the paint and images still as vivid as the day it had been engraved. The millennium puzzled had been at the apex of the door, the eye of Ra cast towards the heavens. On one side of the door a dragon was breathing fire, the center held an image of a young girl with a wand in her hand and the eye of Ra was on a necklace around her neck, on the other side of the door was a man with his arm crossed over his chest a wand gripped in his hand and his face tilted upwards. And in the center of the door had been the symbol of Ra, held tightly within the girls grasp, its beams muted and controlled by her hand.
It had been an amazing sight in the afternoon sun. And it had made him wonder what else might be contained within. The doors had been the proof that he had needed that this was the tomb of Pharaoh Atemu's wife. While the seal had been a good lead, it could have been nothing more than an important figure. But the doors had proven that this was the Pharaoh's wife tomb.
He took a firm grip on the lantern that was held out to him. He took a deep breath and moved into the dark tunnel. Instantly the beam was refracted back at him, catching the brilliance of the gold statue that was holding a giant ruby in its grasp. He moved closer to the statue, his lantern held high as he read the hieroglyphs on the wall.
He had never seen so much detail in the colors and the figures. The hieroglyphs pointed the way down the tunnel. He continued on hurriedly, tuning out the sounds of the gasps of the men following behind him. More statues and jars were lining the tunnels. He knew that his assistants were taking pictures and keeping notes about all the artifacts in the tomb.The light suddenly came to another set of doors. These were of pure gold that gleamed in the light. The door was bare of any type of hieroglyphs or etchings. In the center of these doors was a complicated lock. It had a series of three holes. He pressed a hand against the doors and then snatched it away. The door seemed to be pulsing and very warm. He stared at the doors in shock, unsure about what he had felt. His hand pressed against the door again, the warmth now a searing heat.
"What in the world?"
Anzu stared at Ishizu and everything seeming to still. She could see the white dress swirling around Ishizu, hear the sound of her sandals on the tiled floor. There was an awareness building inside of Anzu. A buzzing that filled her ears and a warmth that was suddenly pounding through her veins. The pain began to fade, washed away by the heat spreading through her body.
Her hand clenched on Yami's, her body suddenly dropping back onto the mattress, her mouth open and gasping in air. The room was swirling around her and the voices fading from her hearing. Anzu was suddenly staring at a pair of gold doors, her hands pressing against the metal. The heat was so intense and the gold was pulsing under her hand.
The door burst open and a brilliant light consumed Anzu. When it cleared there was a woman standing in front of her. Dazed blue eyes met serene blue eyes. The woman's long brown hair was falling in a golden wave down to the floor. The crown on her head was gold with rubies and emeralds. The necklace around her neck was familiar and with a gasp Anzu realized it was the Millennium necklace. On the woman's arms were gold bands that wrapped almost to her elbow and on both ends of the bands were matching rubies.
Her dress was a long white sheath of silk that seemed to caress and showcases her figure. Her expression was open and warm as she met Anzu's disbelieving gaze. Her hands reached for Anzu's, her touch was cool against Anzu's heated skin. Her blue eyes seemed to see deep inside of Anzu's and the symbol of Ra was suddenly glowing on the woman's forehead.
Anzu could feel the coolness beginning to spread throughout her body. The symbol was pulsing on her skin and slowly a sense of peace began to spread through her body. The woman smiled at her so tenderly, so understanding that Anzu could feel tears shimmering in her eyes.
"You need to remember," the woman whispered, her eyes fixed on Anzu's
"What?" Her brow crinkling in confusion at the determination in the woman's gaze.
"Remember," the woman said again, her hand brushing the hair back from Anzu's face.
"I don't…" Anzu's voice trailed off as the woman stepped closer to her. Her breath now warm on Anzu's face.
"He is coming again." The woman warned, her expression serious. "You need to remember."
"Please," Anzu whispered, her head shaking in denial.
"Shh. Remember," the woman was whispering as she pressed a kiss to Anzu's forehead. "Remember."
Anzu could feel herself falling, the coolness encompassing her and still she could hear the woman's voice.
"Remember."
The voice filled Anzu's ears and her heart began to beat a new rhythm. A new awareness began to spread through her body. Images assaulted her mind, new emotions and a sense of peace overwhelmed her. As she slowly returned to her body, her eyes opened wide and the symbol of Ra shone brightly on her forehead.
"He is coming."
A/N:Well there is another chapter. I hope that it was worth the wait. It didn't go the way I thought it would though. So I hope that it made sense. Let me know what you think.