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:
Nagome:Moving forward quickly now. I hope. You didn't flame me so don't worry. I've got some pretty thick skin. I work really hard on the descriptions. I want the words to paint a very vivid picture. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Sorry about it taking so long.
Queensofhearts4u: Happy Birthday! I'm glad that you think I'm echoing the evidence. I really wanted the story to fit into the actual series. No one will be able to sleep again! Reviewers are always right!
Peeps ( ): Very exciting!
Veronica:Edge of your seat huh? You are definitely making me blush! Kisses! You would buy it:Squeals delightedly: Heart and soul was an inspiration! Seemed tofit them both so well. Both loved her so much.
Avataria: Exciting? Good! Me too!
Anime-AngelWings: Thanks so much:Bows and blushes: It was a good scene. I was really trying to build up the tension. I was funny wasn't it? Should make for a very interesting opening gambit. Stay tuned.
Silver-moon-sapphire-sky:It would be funky huh? Still haven't decided yet! Glad you enjoyed it!
Candid ( ):Well thank you then. I work really hard on getting everyone's attention. The fact you find it captivating is beyond sweet. So sorry this chapter too so long.
Egustogustason: I'm thrilled you decided to hit both of them. Let me know what you think of this story.
Animeaddict99:Your screen name is beyond cute! I am honored! Thanks so much for adding me. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Sorry it took so long.
Chapter 7: Look into the past
Atemu watched the setting sun from his bedroom. It was getting harder and harder to force himself to function. Everyday without Anasandra was another wound that festered. He had trouble sleeping and eating. His fights with Seth were becoming more frequent and he knew that he was slowly losing control.
He stared at the lengthening shadows and knew that somewhere out there was an enemy waiting to strike. The soft pad of a footstep reached his ears but Atemu couldn't bring himself to care if the assassin had finally come for him.
"Father?" Sierra's voice was hesitant and fearful.
"Yes Sierra," Atemu replied softly and turned to face his daughter.
The ten-year-old girl was hovering just inside the room, hidden in the deeper shadows. Her hand was resting lightly on the wall as she stared at him with worried violet eyes. Hair the color of her mothers, fell in a soft wave down to her shoulders. Her delicate features were a mirror of Anasandra and Atemu could feel a pang of loss echo inside of him.
He knew that soon he would have to send her to be tested. Anasandra had left behind her necklace for her daughter, so that Sierra could accept her destiny. But Atemu wasn't ready to take that step yet. That would mean the he admitted that his wife was dead and Atemu couldn't bring himself to do that. At least with a child his advisors wouldn't push him to find another wife and a new heir.
"Is Mommy dead?" Sierra's voice was filled with dread and fear.
"I don't know," Atemu replied and moved towards her. He wanted so badly to be able to tell her that Anasandra would be home soon. But he wouldn't do that to his child.
"Uncle Seth says that she is and that it is your fault," Sierra continued even as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Her face was tilted up towards him and tears were beginning to track down her cheeks. "He told me that he would make sure that you paid for it."
"Shhh," Atemu soothed. He wiped away her tears and gathered her into his arms. She came easily, legs wrapping around his waist, arms around his neck and head resting on his shoulder. "Uncle Seth is hurting right now. Soon we will find your mother and all will be well."
"Promise?" Sierra begged.
"I promise," Atemu swore as he carried the girl to her bedroom.
Yami came back to himself slowly, still wrapped up in the dream. He could still feel the gut wrenching agony of knowing that he was lying to his daughter. When he opened his eyes the gold door was standing open in front of him and the Millennium Puzzle was hovering just in front of him.
Yami realized that the golden glow that had surrounded him was beginning to dissipate and the feeling of oneness was slowly starting to fade. He glanced to his left and saw Kaiba shaking his head slightly, the Millennium Rod clutched firmly in his hand. Facing forward again Yami saw Anzu walking through the doors. A frisson of fear crept up his spine and he rushed towards her. He didn't know what was on the other side of those doors but the wasn't about to let her face them alone.
He heard the rest of the gang hollering behind him and knew that they were following. As he passed through the door Kaiba caught up with him and they both entered the room at the same time.
A huge pool of water was taking up the entire room. There was only a slim edge around the pool. The blue of the water was reflected against the walls as sunlight streamed from way above them. Statues lined the walls and fish were swimming through the water. There were also several water plants thriving in the pool. On both ends were a wall of roses and the smell was sweet in the air.
In the center of the pool was a raised pedestal. Resting on the pedestal was a sarcophagus. There were steps leading up from the water on the three sides that Yami could see. The sarcophagus was done in a shimmering gold but the symbols that Yami could see were etched with jewels and brilliant colors. All around the Sarcophagus were raised columns that stretched towards the ceiling; water was running down all of them and splashing into the pool below.
"Oh my God," the Doctor murmured from somewhere behind him. "They placed her in a pond and it's survived all these years. Do you have any idea how much this meant to them? It's amazing!"
Yami's attention was drawn back to the sarcophagus. Rather than having the normally crossed arms, it looked like the arms were holding something. But from this distance he couldn't make out what it was. A movement suddenly caught his attention and he realized that Anzu was crossing the water.
"Anzu!" Yami screamed and rushed forward, only to come to a halt at the edge of the pool as a crocodile suddenly jumped out of the water in front of him. "It's too dangerous," Yami hollered at her. "You don't know what traps are on it! Don't touch anything."
Anzu seemed to pay him no attention as she continued across the pool. To their amazement it was like she was walking on the water, no stone steps appeared and the water continued to ripple. Around her were the shapes of the predators of the water, and yet none struck out at her. Distantly Yami wondered if the animals had sensed that the Queen was reborn in the girl.
As Anzu approached the sarcophagus a strange thing began to occur. The water began to slow and a chanting seemed to echo off of the walls. Anzu took another step and a white light reached out to surround her. Another step and the light was gone, leaving Anzu with long brown hair and dressed in a simple white gown with gold and red embroidery on it. Another step and a crown appeared on her head.
Anzu reached the sarcophagus and placed her hand on the hand. The chanting grew stronger and Anzu added her voice to it. The words flowed around them, seeming to hang suspended in the air. The air grew still and heavy, like a storm was about to break. A staff appeared in Anzu's hand and she raised it above her head. The chanting began to grow faster, resounding in their heads.
It was getting more and more difficult to stay awake. Yami could feel his eyelids growing heavy and his mind was sluggish. He glanced around and noticed that he, Kaiba and Anzu were the only one left on their feet. Anzu was still chanting, beginning to glow and pulse in rhythm with the chanting. Kaiba was wavering on his feet, a hand against his head as he tried to shake off the effects.
Yami's eyes grew heavier and he swayed for a moment, eyes still locked on Anzu's figure. The pool and the pyramid began to shimmer, as if they weren't quite there. He blinked and everything disappeared. Right before his eyes closed Yami saw Anzu turn towards the head of the sarcophagus and then everything went black.
When Yami woke again he became aware of a soft breeze sweeping over him. His eyes blinked open and he stared in amazement at the scene in front of him. He was laying on a stretch of sand next to the Nile and on his right was a huge palace. Yami watched as guards and slaves moved around in the place, wrapped in the white shifts.
"Where are we?" Kaiba demanded from beside Yami.
"My home," Anasandra replied instantly. Her voice was soft and filled with emotion. "Or at least the shadows of my home."
Yami and Kaiba turned to look at her. She was staring at the palace in front of them with a wistful expression on her face. The wind was playing gently with her hair and the dress caressed her legs. She raised a hand a brushed the hair back from her face. Yami tilted his head and realized that while she was Anzu at the same time she wasn't. He wondered if this is what happened with the gang when he and Yugi switched places.
Anasandra began to move towards the palace, easily moving through the sand. Kaiba and Yami glanced at each other and then hurried to catch up with her. Together the three of them made their way onto the palace grounds. The guards didn't seem to see them, facing forward and scanning for any threats.
Anasandra ignored them and continued into the courtyard. Above them huge marble pillars stretched to the sky. Statues of Isis and Ra rose towards the sky, their massive faces staring into the distance. Their steps made a slight ringing sound on the stones of the courtyard as they moved towards an opening to the right off of the courtyard.
The shadows reached out to embrace them, offering relief from the beating sun. A fountain tricked and splashed somewhere in the distance and the sounds of children carried on the wind. Anasandra moved deeper into the building, beginning to move faster now.
"Seth!" Atemu screamed as they came around the corner.
"Enough Pharaoh," Seth bit out. "I will make you pay!"
"Don't do anything you will regret," Atemu pleaded.
Anasandra, Yami and Kaiba came to a stop just inside the palace. They had heard the angry voices before they had finally happened upon the two men. Yami and Kaiba were taken back by how closely the men looked like them. Atemu was standing between open doors, guards flanking either side as he argued with Seth. His hair was in its normal spikey style, Millennium Puzzle gleaming around his throat.
Seth was standing just down the hall, tension in every line of his body. Hands clenched at his sides as he stared at the man he had once called brother. The markings of his office adorned his arms and head; bangs curling over his eye and his dark blue eyes glittered with hate.
"Doing this will never be anything that I regret Pharaoh. For what you have done to my sister you must pay. The world will feel my pain, my sorrow and my loss. They all deserve to be punished," Seth told him. Anger and pain dripping from every sound. Pain pounded through Seth, an emptiness was growing inside of him. Tears burned in his eyes, but he refused to mourn until the world had paid. Then he would lose himself in his grief.
"Seth this is not the way," Atemu pleaded. He took a step forward, hand outstretched to his friend. His eyes were dark with grief, puffy from crying and his face was drawn sharply with sorrow. "Anasandra would not want this," Atemu insisted. "We both know that she held life sacred above all else."
"Don't speak of her!" Seth yelled at him. "You don't have the right to! You left her out there to die. Turned your back on her!" Seth could feel his rage beginning to consume him. He was floundering without his anchor. "I will get revenge for my sister. For my most precious love. And nothing will stop me!" With that he turned and stalked down the hall.
"Seth! Please!" Atemu yelled after him. "Don't do this! Think of Sierra! Think of everyone that could die!"
"They all deserve to join my sister. And I will be delighted to send them to her," Seth called back without stopping. In seconds he was stepping outside and striding away from the palace.
"Seth we have to bury her! We must honor Anasandra!" Atemu called after him. When Seth didn't slow down Atemu turned away, tears slowly tracking down his face. "Why Ra? Why did you have to take her from me?" The cry was torn from his throat before he slammed the doors shut behind him. The guards winced and shared sympathetic glances before facing forward.
Anasandra glided forward, walking through the door without pausing. Yami and Kaiba quickly followed her, still slightly startled at the argument that had just taken place before them. As they entered Anasandra was standing by the side of a huge bed, draped in white. Atemu was on his knees beside the bed, hands clutching at a pale hand. The hand was brought to his lips and he sobbed as he pressed kisses to it. Anasandra stood over him, hand hovering above his head, face drawn in grief.
On the bed laid a figure, draped in gold and white, face pale and serene. Brown hair flowed around her and rubies flashed fire from around her throat. Yami and Kaiba sucked in a breath when they reached the face. Their eyes flew towards Anasandra and then returned to the bed. It was obvious that they were looking at the fallen queen.
There was no visible bruising on the body, no signs of struggle or pain. Her face was calm and untroubled, looking like she was doing nothing more than taking a nap. The dress she was wrapped in, gold and white, showcased her slim body and gentle curves. Atemu was still sobbing by her side, one hand now resting on her stomach.
"This is just before mummification," Anasandra told them. Her voice expressionless as she stared down at herself. "I must say that Seth did a wonderful job of healing the bruises and cuts."
"What?" Yami asked.
"Before my death I was held for several months. And everyday there were beatings and torture," Anasandra explained without looking away from her own face. "Lots of damage."
"This can't be real," Kaiba protested. "All this is nothing but parlor tricks."
"You think so Seth?" Anasandra asked him, for the first time looking at him. Her blue eyes were cool and calm. "Do you really think that this is nothing more than a hoax? Or are you afraid that this is real and you'll have to admit that some things are out of your control?"
"We all make our own destinies. Nothing controls my decisions but me!" Kaiba told her fiercely, hands folding over his chest.
"Everyone is shaped by the past Seth," Anasandra told him. "We learn, adjust and deal with everything based on our past experiences." Anasandra walked over to the two of them and reached out a hand to them both.
The sound of sobbing continued to fill the room and Anasandra looked over her shoulder at the shattered Pharaoh. A spasm of pain crossed her face before her eyes fell closed. She took a deep breath and looked at the two men in front of her. Her heart pulled her towards both of them. Both of them had shaped her, challenged her and loved her over the years. But with which one did this life lie?
"I wanted you to see where it began," Anasandra told them. "But now I will take you to where it ended."