Disclaimer: Takahashi-sama I am not. A lowly fanfiction authoress I am. Talk like Yoda I do. Seen Star Wars too many times I have. Own Yuugiou and Star Wars I do not.

Dusk Dancing

Hamana- Steps of True Soul, Part Two

A slender scarlet figure, draconic in shape yet human in mind, slithered through icy air, coming to land on a glass-like dome next to her companion.

"Obelisssk."

"Hn?" The blue god turned to face the dragon, shivering as her breath landed on his shoulder.

"Don't BREATHE like that, 'Siris!"

The other god paid her friend no heed, sliding past him to look down through the dome to the earth below.

"Ah... yesss... they have ssstarted the dancccing..."

"WHY are you two so intent on punishing those two?" came the scratchy voice of Ra.

"Why not?" Exodia asked, following Ra over to the dome.

"What do you three know about punishment?" the yellow dragon inquired, eying the many dancing pairs below as a certain one became most tuned-in to the gods' collective vision.

"Are you saying YOU know more?"

Ra sighed. "I am the wisdom of all of Eythereau, and quite frankly, I forget why we invented that no-spouse-changing rule."

"To ressstore order to Eythereau," Osiris rattled boredly, picking at one of her scales. "Flaking off..."

"But still. They're so young..."

"That means they need the discipline even more," a deep voice stated, Zork's threatening form rising from thin air, Horakhti's after his.

Said god of dawn dancing nodded at her yami's statement. "That prince will someday be king. He needs to learn control now, not later."

"Control?" Exodia put in.

Obelisk inclined his head towards the prince and his partner, in the dancing hall below.

"Watch him fighting," he instructed Exodia. The strength god did as he was told, observing the fine sweat on the princes forehead and the strained look in his eyes.

Horakhti turned to Osiris, eying the other goddess suspiciously. "'Siris, you wouldn't have anything to do with this, would you?"

"For onccce, I can't sssay it wasss me."

Horakhti snorted in disbelief, turning back to watching the couple. The prince's breath came in pants as he closed his eyes briefly, trying desperately to slow the process of his air intake. His legs were cardboard beneath him, it taking his entire will not to get lost in the soul-twisting hamana.

"OSIRIS, STOP!"

The red dragon pouted, revealing one hand, in which was clutched a ball of controlling magic.

"Ruin my fun."

"It's not fun, 'Siris. It isn't testing him if you're controlling his emotions."

"Only to a cccertain exxxtent," she defended herself, waving her short arm dismissively.

"That 'certain extent' could make all the difference," Ra reminded her, Zork nodding his agreement.

"He's on the brink without your helping his troubles along."

"Then why don't I jussst give him a little pusssh, and have it over with?"

"Aren't we forgetting the dancer, as well?"

"Yes, but it's truly the prince we're focusing on. She'll surely be able to manage, having experienced so much dancing."

"Ra, what do you think?"

"We'll see. Good things come to those who wait."

"Oh, no fun. No fun at all. Can't I jussst... ssslip into hisss mind... jussst for a peek..."

Exodia and Obelisk exchanged glances, knowing that Osiris would just nag until she got what she wanted, and Ra answered, "Fine. But you are NOT to toy with his feelings in any way."

"Hmph. Fine." The female dragon was gone from the gods' dome with a crack of her tail, bulleting towards the dusk dancing hall and into the teen's head, sharing his being with him.

Now... let's see what the princie thinks of all this...

She relaxed into his mind, his senses seeping through her body.

Osiris suddenly felt horribly uncomfortable, getting the urge to wriggle free from the grasp of his emotions. Her hands felt pressured to move forward, yet ordered to stay back, her legs like jelly, as her stomach lurched about painfully. Something rose in her chest, an order from a foreign part of her, as thoughts flew about through her head too fast to register in her brain. The couple got closer...

No! I can't! Argh!

It took every ounce of logic the prince had not to draw any closer to his partner, not to press their bodies together and kiss her, not to lose complete control. His breathing grew heavier still.

Stomach... hurts...

He screamed inwardly as his bottled-up emotion was sent straight to his stomach, causing him to nearly double over in pain.

"Does it hurt?" the female of the two asked, finding his gaze.

"Anzu... I'm not going to be able... to hold it... back... gah..."

"What's wrong?"

"M-my stomach... you know how how I feel can make me sick..."

"Just your stomach?" It looked like much more, and was, as Osiris had the misfortune to know.

"No... all over..." Osiris shivered as his heart pounded in his chest, affecting her as well. She wriggled about uncomfortably, finding herself cursing physical existence. Not able to take it anymore, she fled his body, crashing back to her godly companions through their dome. Exodia ducked out of her way as her body sprawled about from her not-so-smooth landing.

"Well? How is the test going?" Horakhti asked, gazing upon her fellow with a critical eye.

"Geez, he'sss about to CRACK!"

Ra helped her up. "What do you mean?"

"I MEAN, it feelsss like it'sss BURNING inssside hisss body!"

Horakhti and Zork watched her dust herself off, each silent.

"What?"

Zork answered her, "Is his reaction really that intense?"

"Yesss! What, do I look particularly comfortable right now?"

A rare blush rose on Ra's cheeks, though the other gods didn't notice it. "You didn't toy at all, did you?"

"I wasss too busssy getting out, thank you very much!"

Obelisk's brow knitted. "I'd hate to have to punish that boy."

"Are you going sssoft, Obbey?"

"Don't call me Obbey."

"Hmph. You all call me 'Sssirisss, and I don't get all huffy-grumpy on you!"

"That's because you invented that nickname, saying you were sick of being called 'Osiris.'"

The red dragon stuck out both her tongues.

"Ra, do you think he'll be able to stay in control for the rest of tonight, even?" Zork asked.

"Oh, yes."

The god's answer surprised the group, strong and confident, without a hint of doubt.

"What? You do?"

"Definitely. That prince has more ability than even we know, I believe."

"What of this, though? He's talented, yes, but..."

"We'll see."

"... Ra?"

"Yes?"

"Is there something you're not telling us?"

"You know it's impossible for us to hide anything from each other. Don't be silly."

Zork looked a bit uneasy, but just shrugged his black shoulders and fixed his glance back on the dancing floor.

Below the gods, Atemu was having a harder time yet controlling himself, it becoming steadily harder for him to breathe.

"Atemu?"

"Hm?"

"Are you all right?"

"Anzu... it hurts..."

"Shh. Calm down."

"I c-c-can't. It won't let me."

"What won't?" Her eyes seemed to have grown larger, rounder, and her expression was soft and worried.

"My body... it isn't listening to me. That spell my father put over us... agh..."

"Atemu, what... what... um-"

"What should you know that you don't?"

"Uh... something along those lines."

"Anzu, my father gave us this particular punishment not only to keep us from temptation to leave our future partners, but because he knows just how deeply I feel for you, and it's meant to be a harder punishment for me. Gods, I'm so sorry, Anzu."

"It's okay. It's not your fault. This is sick. They shouldn't make us do this."

He gulped. His face felt like it had been held close to a roaring bonfire, and he was sweating despite the hall's pleasantly cool temperature. Not his idea of fun.

How am I going to be able to keep this up for a month?

Simple. He wasn't.

The plot, Mah-Xien? History? Nope, just little old me. Yes, Daddy-o (Akhenamkhanen is a mouthful, isn't it? I wonder what his parents were thinking when they named the poor dude.) was a bit on the harsh side there, wasn't he? My disclaimer? It's my pathetic stab at humor, so yeah. I'm definitely continuing, so no worries there.

Very much so, The flickering flame.

Yes, Attic Flower, it is REALLY gonna get their knickers in a twist, as you say. Atemu's gonna crack soon, and then the real plot unfolds. -echoes Attic Flower in maniacal laughter-

I think you misunderstood, ANZUXATEM4EVER. He has to spend the next month with Anzu, Anzu, and more Anzu. He will be SICK of her... or not. Only time will tell. Anzu was in a separate room, being given basically the same lecture by the queen, minus the second punishment part, but she wasn't really important in that one, so yeah...

I'm flattered, Bradybunch4529. I'm SO glad the tension on Atemu's part got through in there. I was worried it either wouldn't come through or that it would be too big, so I'm glad you liked it. Yes, seeing how well (or... not well) they do should be... interesting... -thunder and lightning as evil authoress/torturer takes characters to her torturing ground of DOOM-

sigh- I explained, QueenofHearts4u, why they were green. I like them better crimson too, but... they're cool green, methinks. Throw Shizuka in the ocean? That would be MEAN! I torture first, THEN kill them off! Worse than Survivor (I don't own Survivor.)? Uh... I don't know whether that's an insult or a compliment... I hate reality TV. But INYHOO. Yup, they're going to be with each other for a whole month. Will the gods be their fans? Hmm... read this one over closely for a few hints of things to come.

Lol, Electric Fire. "That guy—he would make a pretty girl." And the girl wonders why she gets weird looks... XP Yesh, they are in deep trouble, DEEP trouble, my friend. Maybe they should try using the force. Sodas, yes, they have that crazy effect on me, too! SUUGGGAAAARRRRR!

Thanks, DemonAlphaWolfKidNE, though if you were hoping for a kiss-free fic, your hopes have been shattered. But I'm glad you liked the first chapter, at least!

Thanks, Ksaturn. I hope so too.

Wow, thanks Linii-chan! I'm glad you like it, despite the pairing. I see that as a compliment, for someone to like something even though they normally wouldn't.

See ya next chappie! Peace-ouT.