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:
Nightfall2525: Thanks for the compliment. I really try to paint a vivid picture. Hope that this chapter meets your expectations.
Niala: WelcomeSo glad that you stopped by. Still haven't decided.
Raquel ( ): :Squeals delightedly: Thanks so much!
Peeps( ): Intense? I'm blushing! Glad you were on the edge of your seat.
Veronica( ): Thanks. :Bow deeply: It does make you wonder, though. Still don't know whom she'll end up with.
Female SSBM Fan: Welcome :P Good to know you enjoyed it.
Animeaddict99:See, I didn't forget. Glad you enjoyed it.
Nagome:Wow! Now that's a compliment. I'm so thrilled that I brought tears to your eyes. I like to think so!
April( ): Thanks! You are very sweet to say so!
Chapter 8: ComplicationsAnzu Mazaki came back to herself slowly. Images of the past and present jumbled and clashed in her mind. Then everything combined and a sense of relief spread through her. In that instant she was Anzu and Anasandra, combined into one being. Anzu's dazed blue eyes blinked open and saw nothing.
The blackness that encompassed her was absolute. She looked around in confusion. The last thing she remembered was entering the tomb and then going back into the past. But where were Kaiba and Yami? Hadn't they been with her?
A memory slowly surfaced of heading for where the battle ended. Anzu gasped suddenly, there had been a flash of light and something had torn her away from them. She could still hear the echoes of their cries in her ears.
So where did the boys go? If Anzu was lucky and Anasandra remembered correctly, the breaking of the hands should have ended the spell for the boys. Which would mean that the boys should be back at the tomb and completely safe. She hoped.
But that left her wondering where she was and how she had got here. Anzu shrugged her shoulders slightly; there was no point in just hanging around waiting. She got to her feet slowly, wincing slightly at the stiffness of her muscles. She looked around again, facing all directions, and trying to see if there was anything that hinted at what direction she should go. When she saw nothing, her eyes closed and she took a couple deep breaths. Seconds passed with the only sound her breathing and then her arm slowly came up and pointed to the right. Anzu's eyes blinked open and stared down her arm at the blackness beyond it.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Yami could feel rough hands shaking him, voices crying in his ears. He knew that something was wrong but he couldn't quite make his mind focus. Then he remembered Anzu being pulled away from him and disappearing in a flash of light. Yami sat straight up.
"Anzu!" Yami exclaimed and grabbed at Honda's hands. "Where's Anzu?"
"We were kinda hoping that you would know Yug," Honda told him as he wrapped a hand around Yami's wrist. "She's not here."
Yami took a deep breath and looked around. They were back in the tomb again; water splashed him where he lay. Honda was kneeling in front of him with Junouchi beside him. Mokuba was shaking Kaiba and calling his name. "What happened?" Yami asked as he raised a hand to his head.
"We fell asleep. When we woke up you, Kaiba and Anzu were all gone. Then suddenly you two appear in a shower of light and drop into the water." Honda sighed and shrugged his shoulder.
"Thought you'd be gator food," Junouchi told him. "But they didn't come near you."
"We dragged you out," Honda continued. "That's been about an hour ago. And no sign of Anzu. If she's in the water, the gators wouldn't let us back in to check, then she's gone for good."
"No, she's not in the water," Yami answered decisively. "She's still alive and well."
"So what happened Yug?" Junouchi demanded. "Where'd you go?"
"Back to the past," Yami told them slowly.
"The question is what are we going to do now?" Honda demanded. "Anzu was the one that brought us here and now she's gone."
"I don't know," Yami admitted. "But we are not going to give up. We have the clues and I know that Anzu will be fine. She's survived worse."
"Do we have her?" His voice was demanding and cold.
"We were able to track her to her tomb," the man told him slowly. His voice was calm and subservient as he kneeled on the cave floor before the man.
"I asked if you had her," the voice rang out again.
"She managed to deflect our spell. We do not know where she is," the man admitted as he stared down at the stone.
"Idiots," the voice hissed. "How could you be so stupid?"
"The Pharaoh and his High Priest are currently in the tomb," the man offered.
"Really," the voice drawled out. "Interesting. We can use this to our advantage," the voice continued. "Demand the items. Tell them that we have the Queen."
"Yes my lord," the man touched his head to the stone before getting up and leaving.
Laughter rang out around the huge cavern. "This time I will not let you win my Queen."
Anzu had been walking for hours and the blackness was still absolute. Her hands brushed at the brown hair that was falling over her face, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her muscles were protesting but Anzu ignored them, dancing had trained her to ignore her discomfort.
She sighed, hands resting on her hips as she cursed under her breath. "There is a god out there that hates me," she announced and looked around in annoyance. "That is the only explanation." Her lips pursed and she blew air through them before looking around again. "Forward we go."
She began to hum slightly to herself, trying to fight against the stillness and absolute silence around her. The blackness seemed to swallow all sound. Then without warning the blackness was gone and Anzu was hovering in the air above an oasis. The sun shone down brightly, the water sparkled a brilliant blue green, grass and trees waved gently in a soft breeze.
Sand stretched out endlessly, no hint of civilization or people anywhere near her. "Great," Anzu muttered. "First a sea of blackness and now a sea of sand." She sighed and looked around again. "When I get home I am going to start praying and sacrificing to every god I have ever heard of."
Anzu concentrated and began to descend to the ground. Her bare feet landed gently on the green grass, her white dress was slightly tattered around the edges and Anzu could feel the sweat dripping down her skin. With a considering look, Anzu watched the water and then looked around again. No one seemed to be around, and no sounds of people floated on the breeze. With a shrug Anzu began to strip, the water looked too good to pass up.
The dress fell to the ground, pooling around her feet before she stepped free. The sun caressed her bare curves, following the dips and hollows. Her skin was white, though slightly tanned after the past couple of days in the sun. Anzu moved gracefully to the edge of the pond, one hand trailing in the water as she watched for any sign of movement in the water.
The water was cool to the touch, Anzu eyes closing as she trailed a wet hand down her throat. Then she slowly immersed herself into the water. Eyes closing and a groan issuing from her throat as the water flowed around her. She sank down, eyes closed as she let the water wash away the sweat and dust. She broke free of the water, water spraying across the surface as she drew in air. Eyes still closed she brushed her hair from her face, delighting in the feel of water on her skin.
Long moments passed with her playing in the water, splashing and letting all thoughts of her problems drift away. Her muscles slowly relaxed, loosening with every minute spent in the water. The tension of the past couple of days drained away, leaving her relaxed and content.
"Get out!" A voice suddenly demanded and Anzu spun towards the sound. Water splashed and sprayed out around her as she met the cold brown eyes staring down at her. She blinked and realized that there were at least 100 men staring at her. "I said get out," the man in the front ordered again.
"Why?" Anzu asked slowly, treading water as she considered the men. The necklace around her neck gleamed brightly, half concealed by the water.
"This is a restricted area," the guard told her stiffly. "Peasants are not allowed here."
"Peasants?" Anzu repeated softly. "And you assume I am a peasant." Her brow arched slightly as she meet his cool brown eyes.
"You do not have guards nor any type of escort," the guard pointed out. "For all I know you may actually be a runaway slave."
"Good point," Anzu agreed easily. "Or I could be a woman traveling on her own."
"It's unacceptable to do so," the guard told her. "If that is the case, we will take you into custody until we find your guardian."
"Hmm."
Anzu stared into the cold brown eyes and knew that the man would not leave until she was in custody. What worried her more than anything was his dress, definitely not modern material and the surrounding men were not carrying modern weapons. Anzu was starting to have a sinking suspicion that she was not where she was supposed to be.
"What year is it?" Anzu asked casually, blues meeting brown eyes calmly.
"It is the 26th year of our Pharoah Atemu," the guard told her. "Any true subject of the kingdom would know that."
"Of course," Anzu murmured. Her features remained calm but inside her thoughts were in a jumble. The part of her that was Anasandra was worried about the possibility of changing the past. Anzu had to agree with that fear. She sighed slightly and looked at the guard on the bank. "If you'll turn your back, I will get out."
"Why should I?" The guard asked stiffly. "You may attempt to reach a knife or escape."
"You have over 100 men and I am just one female," Anzu told him. "I very much doubt that I would be that stupid."
"You speak strangely," the guard told her.
"I am soooo sorry," Anzu told him with a roll of her eyes. "Now will you and your men turn around?"
"As you wish," the guard nodded and shouted an order to the other men. As one, everyone turned his back to her.
Anzu waited a couple seconds before swimming to the edge. Her swift strokes brought her to the edge quickly and her feet settled on the sandy floor. She began to move towards her dress, keeping one eye on the men. She winced slightly at the dust and dirt streaking it's white fabric but quickly pulled it on. She soothed the dress over her hips, making sure that she was covered.
"You can turn around now," Anzu called easily. The guard turned to face her, his eyes widening as he spotted the necklace around her neck.
"My queen," the guard breathed and dropped to his knees. The rest of his men following his lead, heads touching the sand in supplication. "I did not realize it was you. Forgive me."
"What are you doing?" Anzu asked in confusion.
"She must have a blow to the head," the man next to the guard muttered. "I have seen it before. Even her appearance has changed."
"It has not!" Anzu protested as she glared at the men. The lead guard stood and moved towards her, taking her by the arm.
"It is all right my Queen," he soothed. "We will return you to the Pharaoh and he will have the healers called."
"I don't need any healers," Anzu told him shortly. She attempted to pull her arm away, but his grip was too strong. "I'm not the Queen!"
"You wear her necklace and look like her," the lead guard told her easily. "You've suffered a shock. Everyone in the army has heard of the attack on your convoy."
"I am not the Queen!" Anzu told him again. "And I have no idea what you are talking about."
The lead guard didn't listen, leading her over to a camel. Anzu could feel panic beginning to well up through her veins. Anasandra was screaming in her head, upset at the turn of events but unable to see a solution. As the guard settled her onto the camel Anzu wondered if things could get any worse. The lead guard turned and ordered a message be sent to the Pharaoh that the Queen had been recovered. A man nodded and moved quickly to his camel. He spurred it into great speed and Anzu could only watch as he disappeared over the dune.
Yep. It was definite now. There was a god that hated her.
Pharaoh Atemu was cloaked in shadows as he sat his throne room. He had ordered all shades drawn as he contemplated who might have taken his wife. The sunlight only reminded him what he had lost. She had been missing for three weeks now and he was starting to despair of finding her alive. He had his guard combing every inch of the desert but it was a huge area and there were ways to hide in the sand.
He sighed and rubbed at his temple, trying to soothe the tension he felt there. His violet eyes were haunted and dark rings were apparent under them. He couldn't remember the last time that he had actually slept. It was too hard to sleep without Anasandra with him. He stood suddenly, anger and grief filling him as he pounded a fist onto the arm of his throne.
"Bring me the captain of my guards!" Atemu commanded one of the servants standing beside the door. "NOW!" The servant bowed and hurried from the room. Atemu sighed as he imagined Anasandra's gentle scold for treating the servant like that. He would have to apologize when the servant came back. Anasandra would never forgive him if he forgot that the Pharaoh was there to protect and guide the people of his kingdom.
A smile crossed his lips at the memory of her last scolding. He and Seth had gotten into an argument and had proceeded to take it out on the servants. Anasandra had dismissed all servants from the palace that day and had yelled at them both for over 2 hours. Then they had wound up cleaning the mess they had made themselves. His wife was definitely a Queen of the people.
"My Pharaoh," the Captains voice broke gently into his thoughts. Atemu started as he realized that his captain was kneeling on the ground in front of him.
"What new Captain?" Atemu demanded.
"A messenger has just arrived from one of the outlaying posts," the captain started as he looked up at the Pharaoh without standing. "He has reported that the Queen has been found."
"Found?" Atemu repeated slowly. "Where?" He demanded as he dropped to his knees in front of the captain. "Is she all right? Hurt? Alive?" The questions were rapid fire as he clutched at the man's shoulder. "Answer me," Atemu shook his guard slightly.
"The man reports that she is alive but confused. She doesn't seem to know who she is," the captain told him.
"Did you send out the royal guard?" Atemu asked as his mind churned.
"Immediately."
"When will they get here?"
"By the morn," the captain told him.
"Notify the healers," Atemu ordered a nearby servant. "Prepare her chambers and notify the High Priest Seth." Atemu paused and a smile crossed his face. "The Queen has come home."
A/N:Well there's another chapter. And it went in a direction that I wasn't really expecting. I know it's short but I felt that it would be better to end it here rather than later. Remember to let me know what you think. And so sorry about the long wait. I'll do better I promise!