Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea...) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.
Author's Note: Ain is a canon character - briefly in the manga and anime, we were shown images of her as she saw off Akunadin with Set, who at the time was about four years old. Unfortunatly, that's all that's shown, so her personality here is my interpretation as is her name. So as you can guess she might be a bit rough around the edges, but I'm doing my best. Each chapter is a snapshot of different parts of the relationship as it develops over time.
Summary: Supporting his brother from behind the throne, Akunadin takes his chance. He talks to Ain and finds out more than he expected.
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Chapter 02: Relationships
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The First Kiss...
Akunadin smiled as he walked behind Ain, feeling incredibly pleased with the day's events. Several weeks after Ain had accompanied him to the harvest festival, the priest had discovered that he and his new companion were slowly but surely getting to know each other. In fact, Akunadin felt as if himself and Ain had grown to become good friends. Something about the two of them just clicked.
The black-robed priest then sighed; he wished for something more than friendship. They had grown so close as of late. And it felt right, sort of.
Coming up behind the young woman, Akunadin paused as he then glanced down at Ain.
"Ain, did you enjoy yourself tonight?" Akunadin asked, softly. "You can tell me the truth, you know."
Ain nodded in silent reply.
"Yes, thank you. It was lovely."
The older man smiled as he guided Ain down the dusty enclosed street, the two of them alone in the darkened pathway.
I haven't felt this peaceful in a long time, Akunadin thought.
"Lord Akunadin, are you all right?" Ain asked, looking up at the taller man.
Akunadin looked down at the woman who had addressed him, after which he looked back up and smiled. He always had possessed an eye for knowing the finer things in life, those of value, and something told Akunadin that he would continue to do so in the future.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. I've been busy as of late. My life is never easy," Akunadin answered.
Ain chuckled in turn and wrapped her arm around Akunadin's, her hands resting on the soft material of his robes. Akunadin himself leaned her head back and gazed up at the stars that shone overhead.
She's the first woman who's tried to appreciate me for who I am, rather than what I can do for her, Akunadin thought. She's not as bad as all the others.
The woman next to the priest made a small noise as she felt Akunadin's hand rest upon her left shoulder and hold her close.
There was a rush of wind through the alley as Akunadin turned Ain to face him. Their eyes seemed to linger on each other's for what seemed like a long while until the taller man leaned forwards and placed a kiss on Ain's lips. To Akunadin, time seemed frozen in place until he eventually pulled away, feeling both pleased and yet surprised by what he had done. Ain was breathing shallowly as Akunadin pulled back, staring at her with his blue eyes.
"Ain, I..." Akunadin began. The priest felt somewhat embarrassed at having let his guard down, but he was silenced when Ain smiled.
"It's all right. I understand why you did what you did, and I don't mind," the young woman replied, quietly.
"Are you sure?" Akunadin asked.
Whilst they then continued to walk along, Ain's hand once more reached around Akunadin's back. The black-robed priest felt as if he could sense the change that had occurred in the very air around him. They soon reached Ain's home, and the two paused by the front door.
"Ain, I would love to see you again soon. Do you think that could be arranged somehow?" Akunadin asked, taking the young woman's hands within his own.
Ain paused, her hand resting on the door.
"Why not? It would be wonderful. Goodnight, Akunadin," she smiled.
Akunadin wished Ain a peaceful night's sleep and then left, feelings he had not truly experienced before making themselves felt.
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Soon after his last meeting with Ain, Akunadin had risen along with the sun and was currently descending into the warehouse, which was located in the lower floors of the royal palace and housed the important artefacts that had been discovered. One thing above all stood out to the black-robed priest; the book bound in hide, a lone eye engraved in its centre.
Holding a torch before him, Akunadin left the flight of steps and walked deeper into the dusty storeroom.
It's so dark, the priest thought.
Moving the torch before him in an arch, Akunadin walked over to a solitary book, which lay upon a shelf several meters to his left. Once there, he deposited the torch in a hook on the wall, took the book from where it lay and dusted off the cover.
Already, Akunadin had translated some of the book, alongside a select few of his fellow priests, and had managed to uncover a third of it. Most of the book so far had been various spells, but he had no doubts the book still had more secrets to tell.
Hearing the door open slowly, Akunadin gazed back over his shoulder and saw Mahaado's father standing in the doorway. He was not a person Akunadin considered a friend, but he was a good colleague, one who knew when to keep silent.
"Were you looking for me, Ishaq?" Akunadin asked.
Ishaq nodded, the bald man folding his arms.
"There's a woman asking for you at the palace gate, Akunadin. She's quite young; she says her name is Ain and that you would know who she is." Ishaq gazed at Akunadin. "Is there something you haven't told me? Young women don't often come unaccompanied to the palace."
"Not really," Akunadin replied, putting back the book. "I guess I must be going. Farewell, Ishaq."
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The air outside was warm on Akunadin's skin as he gazed down at Ain. The black-haired man had emerged from the security of the palace and was standing next to Ain to the side of the gate. His eyes then flickered over to the three guards to his right and Akunadin then refocused his attention on Ain. The young woman had come to the palace to see if he would like to spend some time with her; Ain had claimed that it would have been unfair if he were the one to always walk over to hers.
"So, would you like me to show you around the palace?" Akunadin offered. "I can get you in, if you'd like."
"I don't know if I'm allowed," Ain mumbled in reply, looking down at the floor.
"Well that doesn't matter; I say you're allowed. Besides, I'm the Per A'a's brother. It's about time I got something out of it," Akunadin replied, taking Ain's hand. "Come."
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"So this is the palace?" Ain gazed around in wonderment at her surroundings. "It's so big."
Inside the palace, Akunadin sighed to himself as he explained to the fascinated young woman what each of the rooms they passed were used for, or where a particular corridor led. Living here for all his life, Akunadin knew the palace like the back of his hand and had gotten his bearings much quicker than his brother, who had often become lost when following his twin. Even Akunumkanon himself had his failings.
Akunadin chuckled to himself at the thought of his brother.
"Are you all right?" Ain asked, looking up at Akunadin.
"I'm fine," Akunadin replied, smiling.
"That's good to know," a third voice commented. "What are you doing here? And with such a lovely young lady, too."
Ain let out a gasp of surprise, her mouth falling open.
Surprised himself, Akunadin gazed across the corridor at the figure who had addressed him, a small smile on Akunumkanon's face. For some reason, Akunadin felt as if his brother knew more than what seemed to be upon the surface. Even though he may actually know very little, nor be as skilful with the truth as himself, Akunadin knew that his brother had those kindly airs and graces that seemed to make the very air around him quiet and peaceful.
The Per A'a walked over to his brother and Ain, who Akunadin now noticed had fallen to the floor and was now bowing humbly to his brother. Just like the villagers did whenever Akunumkanon journeyed outside.
Akunadin rolled his eyes as Akunumkanon chuckled. All three of those present seemed to have caught each other in an awkward situation.
"It's all right, miss. You don't have to stay down there," Akunadin's brother smiled.
"You are most gracious, Per A'a," Ain mumbled, rising from the floor.
Akunadin nodded to his brother as he walked past, guiding Ain with his outstretched arm. The Per A'a's eyes followed Akunadin as he guided Ain away. Akunumkanon could tell, in this short amount of time, that his brother seemed to be taking more care of this girl than he did the few others he had brought back. Perhaps something good was going on.
The Per A'a then stroked his beard before walking off in the opposite direction.
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Akunadin seated himself on his bed, a noise audible from the other side of the room startling him slightly.
"Are you sure she's the one, Akunadin?" Akunumkanon commented. The Per A'a was unable to restrain his curiosity about his brother's interest in the young woman he had met earlier.
Akunadin bowed his head in thought, after which he lifted it and gazed at his brother, who had taken a chair from the desk and seated himself opposite him. It seemed that he would have to share his feelings with him, despite Akunumkanon's domestic bliss being a well-documented fact. Even now, Akunadin was still somewhat wary of opening up to his brother about his growing feelings for Ain.
"She seems to be a decent woman," Akunadin spoke. He then shook his head. "But I don't know, brother. It's been a long time since I've felt anything of this sort; I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is real or not."
"The question is does she make you happy?" Akunadin's brother asked. "Because ultimately that's all that matters."
"I guess so," Akunadin replied feeling insecure about the situation as he looked up at the ceiling. "I feel as if I can see myself growing comfortable with her in my own age, and the thought of children with her doesn't frighten me. Honestly, I wouldn't mind a son."
"Yes," Akunumkanon agreed. "And I'm sure he'd turn out just like his father."
The Per A'a, with a wry smile, then rose from his seat, Akuandin looking up.
"Now, brother, I really must be going," Akunumkanon announced.
Akunadin looked back down at the floor as his brother left the room, thinking about Ain and what lay in store for them both in the future. If the Netjer saw fit to grant him a son, he would look forward to watching the small child grow into a man, to play with him like he himself had played with his father and brother. All that would be needed was a name.
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