Rambling here again… Oh and before I forget, this chapter will be viewed from Atemu's POV, okay?
Chapter 23: Not A Happy Ending
Sometimes, despite our reactions, things always happen unexpectedly. We will never know when this particular thing will happen, where and who will be affected. Sometimes, despite our efforts to stop our tears from falling, they end up falling.
Sometimes, even though you already accepted your fate whole-heartedly, you can't stop yourself from being tempted to hide and find a way to alter fate. And yet, these sometimes always happen, leaving us no choice but to go with the flow.
Yes, even pharaohs are not excluded. All those times when I believed in the gods, when I thought as long as I choose what is right for my people, it will be alright. I thought that as long as I serve them, I would never suffer what I have suffered years ago. But it seems they had another plan for me.
I thought that by admitting your feelings and having those feelings returned, everything that was once shattered will fit into pieces again. I thought that the moment I defeat Akunadin and Bakura, the moment Seth and I express our love for each other, my life will be sailing smooth from then on.
And how gladly mistaken was I.
I never hated the gods—they are, after all, the great entities that control the fate of the ones living in this world. I find it ironic that they would allow such things to happen in this world. They are considered the most powerful beings, if I am not mistaken. It's either they're being lazy or they just want to see yet another person to suffer for their own entertainment.
Hasan—he said I only had three days. Now I only have one. And the day never ends without a To-Do list. There will always be problems regarding the people in the south, the statistics on how many grains were collected, the sentencing of criminals and such. And as the list goes on, the day passes by. My last day will pass by and I will lose all the time I have left to spend with Seth, who, by the way was nowhere to be seen when I woke up earlier to greet the sun.
I was expecting Shadi or even Isis to knock on my door for ten minutes already. What was going on? Someone was supposed to knock to inform me of my new list. Did they not understand that I must finish everything before I kill myself tomorrow?
"Sire?"
Finally! What took them so long? I stood up, expecting one of my priests to enter, only to see the servant enter the room with a small papyrus in hand.
"Yes?" I ask. He bows in courtesy and hands me the scroll, "Instructions from High Priest Seth, sire. If there is nothing else that you need, may I leave now?" the servant asked. Seth?
"Go," I told him as I open the rolled scroll and began reading the neat handwriting of Seth's.
It said:
Meet me at the gardens in one hour.
Why did he want me to meet him in the gardens? He could have knocked already to talk to me if he needed something. I sigh as I rolled the papyrus and place it on top of my drawer. Well, I still have work to do, don't I?
I open the door and head to the throne room, expecting people crowding with my priests and the palace guards controlling them. The pleasure of being pharaoh. Sigh.
"Your majesty," my priests greeted with their childish smiles, which were rarely seen nowadays, mind you. Why is the room empty? Isis might have guessed what I was wondering (since when did she didn't?) and answered, "We have sorted out what must be done, sire. You're free for the day."
I gape at her, I know, I know, unfitting for a king and crap but hey, pharaohs almost always never had a day to himself. "You could sleep again if you want to, sire," Shadi spoke. Seriously, I had enough sleeping for a day, thank you very much.
"Or you could just take a stroll in the gardens if you want to," Karimu added.
"Are you sure I don't have anything to do today?" I ask. This must be a joke. They're kidding, right? A chorused 'Yes, sire' was what I got as an answer and I sighed. Oh well…
It's either my feet had a mind of their own or I'm just being absent-minded today for I found myself standing in front of the huge shelf in the library. Then, without thinking, I took the newest-looking papyrus and began reading it.
An hour later, I found myself staring at an apprentice, whom I later found out was studying in the library and kindly informed me that I slept before I even manage to finish the papyrus. All right, so perhaps I was tired.
An hour has passed and I slept. Amazing! I never realized—
That I'm Late!
So unbecoming of a king, I ran past corridors and hallways, heading for the gardens were as usual, Seth was standing waiting patiently for me to arrive.
"One minute later I could have sent a search party to look for you," he said and I smile. He's adorable when he's concerned. But shh… you didn't hear that.
"I'm sorry, I overslept."
He smiled before pulling me for a kiss, "It's alright, Atemu. Come, I have a surprise for you," he said as he led me towards the stables. Where are we going?
"Seth, where—?"
"Can't tell you. It's suppose to be a secret, you know," he answered.
I can't remember what happened later that evening, only that Seth carried me to our room because I was so tired. I never knew visiting mainly every romantic town in the kingdom could be so tiring. And to think, I never expected that Seth was that romantic when it comes to proclaiming his love in different ways. –Ahem-
I can only wish that whoever saw us in the tower will not be forever mentally scarred. And yes, I don't think I can walk straight tomorrow. I hope I can. How dare he laugh at me for limping? It was his fault!
"Oh come on, Atemu, don't pout," he said, stifling his chuckle.
"I'm going to kill you if I find myself unable to walk tomorrow," I answer and he only smiled at me.
Flashback
"Seth, where are we going?"
The priest looked at his pharaoh as they mount their steeds, "Somewhere that will eventually be one of the most memorable places in our lives," he answered. Atemu watched the other's back as he followed his cousin.
As it turns out, they were headed towards a town, which was currently having a festival in honor of the goddess of love. Atemu stared at his cousin incredulously. "Seth? What are we doing here? Shouldn't we be back in the palace? Isis and the guys might be looking for us already," the pharaoh said, receiving a chaste kiss from his cousin, confusing himself more. Why was Seth being so gently with him as if he was as fragile as glass. It was rather unlikely for Seth to do that.
"You worry too much," Seth answered before leading them to the tower overlooking the festival. The pharaoh closed his eyes as the night breeze passed by. He was going to die tomorrow. And even though he had accepted it already, he still feels down though. He couldn't imagine a life without Seth anymore.
"Atemu?"
The pharaoh looked up to meet his cousin's gaze, "Yes, Seth?" he asked, wondering what the other was thinking.
"Will you do something for me before you…" Seth faltered, his posture, for the first time ever, unsure and nervous, "die tomorrow?"
Atemu eyed the other questioningly, "Of course, anything for you, Seth," he answered. Seth smiled and captured his lips, taking his breath away once again. As the kiss broke and they both breathe for air, the pharaoh stared at the other in confusion. He wasn't wondering why the other kissed him but he swore he could actually feel the sadness radiating from Seth.
"Seth, is everything alright?"
Seth smiled, "Yes, nothing's wrong," he said, "I know I'm confusing you already… all I wanted to say was… umm…" he faltered again.
"Seth?"
The priest took a deep breath and held the other's hands with his own two, "Will you bind with me so that we will always be together, Atemu?" he asked.
Atemu was speechless. Why now? Did Seth not regard that he was going to die tomorrow? "Seth… I don't understand," he voiced out, "Why now? I'm going to, you know, die," he said.
The older of the two shook his head and placed the other's hands in his chest, hoping to avoid answering the question. But knowing how insistent the other was, he had no choice but to tell him why.
(A/N: Should I cut the story now? Hehe... I'm evil)
(Another A/N: Just kidding)
"I… I want you to be mine and me to be yours in this lifetime and the next…" he answered, "I don't want to lose you," he added in a hush whisper.
"Yes," Atemu said, resulting for the other to meet his gaze, "I accept."
Seth kissed the other as they secretly performed the ritual that would seal their fate (which was to be reunited eventually) forever.
And as they ended the last step of the bonding, Atemu fell asleep, exhausted.
End of Flashback
He pulls me closer towards him as we both drift to sleep, proving that we were really exhausted. Gods, how does one learn how to part from such a wonderful person like him? He might be annoying and stubborn (and arrogant and the list goes on) but he's a different person inside.
"Atemu?" he asked. I thought he was already asleep!
"Yes?" I answer.
"You'll always love me, right?" What brought that up? Of course I will. I will never love somebody else.
"Yes, you and only you."
He was silent for a while, "Even if you meet Mahado in the next lifetime? Will you still love me then?" he asked.
"Seth?" Did I hear right? Of course I will! Mahado's my friend, nothing more. It was Seth now and it will be Seth then.
"I wanted to tell you long ago that I would always be here for you," he started, as if he was stating a monologue, "I wanted you to know that you can trust me. I wanted to be one of the closest to you. Of course I thought it was only my sense of protectiveness clouding over me. I was, after all, only thirteen then. But now I know…" he paused, as if waiting for me to react. But I remained silent.
"I was in-love with you right from the start," he stated. I couldn't speak, part of me just wants to sleep but my mind was awake. I had to say something.
"I…" But no voice came to aid me.
"It's alright. I'm not expecting an answer anyway," he said, "I love you and nothing, not even a thousand years, can change that." And then he was asleep.
He didn't know that I wouldn't find the will to rest my mind today. This would keep me awake. Just in time for the ritual.
I woke up earlier than usual and prepared for the ritual. Seth has not awaken yet and I smile at the sight of the usual stoic priest sleeping, his hair ruffled boyishly, unaware of what was happening in the living world. And without knowing, I could feel my tears welling up. I promised him I won't cry last night and he, in turn, didn't mention anything about what was to occur in a few hours. But this time, it's different.
This time, no matter how I deny it, I'm going to leave him. This time, I have no choice because I'm going to die.
(End of Atemu's POV)
Everyone watched silently as the pharaoh entered and headed for the altar where the ritual was to be commenced. High Priest Seth, with all his pride and arrogance, stood waiting for the monarch. But they all knew what he was going through. News spread around the kingdom fast and they couldn't help but pity that proud priest.
Shimon gazed at both High Priest and pharaoh solemnly, lamenting the fact that this was the heartbreaking fate they had. How could one so young and so noble as the two experience overwhelming sorrow like this?
He couldn't help but feel tears well up in his aged eyes, remembering the times when he and the pharaoh would sigh in defeat as the two run around like lunatics muddy and all with Mahado tailing after them or the other way around. The three were the perfect team, and one by one they were dying before his very eyes. So young and so good—yet another loss to the world.
He couldn't believe this was the fate of the young pharaoh. How many years have passed since they chuckled in delight as they watch the king learn his first words (which coincidentally were 'Seth', 'father' and 'mother')? How many years have passed since he learned to tolerate the prince's many pranks and games as they all but fell into trap by trap?
16 years ago, they were celebrating in this very room the birth of the kingdom's beacon of light. 16 years ago, they were rejoicing that finally, a Crown Prince was born. During a time of darkness, a light has come to guide them. And now, 16 years later, they will all witness the death of the same person. How unjust—how unfair!
"Are you ready, cousin?" Atemu asked.
"Ready if you are," Seth answered. Atemu lied on the altar and closed his eyes; he mustn't allow them to see his tears. This was goodbye.
"Open your eyes, Atemu," Seth whispered as the pharaoh quickly obliged, "They must see and understand the sacrifice you're making for them," the priest reasoned. His hand was shaking as the dagger was brought to him. He couldn't kill the other. His heart was constricting painfully.
"I'm sorry Seth that I cannot spend this lifetime with you," Atemu whispered, knowing it was time for the ritual to start.
It took every ounce of control Seth had to stifle the tears from falling. This was goodbye. "Osiris, Horus, hear my plea. May this sacrifice be worthy in your eyes to put darkness into a complete stop," he said before stopping abruptly. This was the momentum. It was time.
But as his mind told him what to do, his body refused to move. It was as if he was frozen and he couldn't move an inch. He was trembling for some unknown reason and Atemu saw that. He made sure they were looking at each other before aiding the priest's hands, which were holding the dagger tightly, towards his body and he gasped as pain wrecked his body.
"Goodbye, Seth," he managed to say before everything went black.
Yami woke up and sat upright. What was that? A flashback? A dream? He turned to his side and smiled, seeing Seto still sleeping and he sighed. Whatever did happen before was unimportant anymore. It was over. They had each other now. Everything else was insignificant.
'What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within'- Ralph Waldo Emerson
A/N: It's done. I don't know if this is longer, who cares anyway? Oh yeah, before I forget, I would like to clear out that the supposed dream actually happened (in this fic) and that they are Yami's memories. So don't get confused okay? Yeah, I made Seth here for once insecure. Hey, Mahado's also good-looking, you know, and unlike Seth, he shows how much he cares for our pharaoh. But I still love Seth nevertheless so unless I said so, this will forever be a Seto/Yami (Seth/Atemu) pairing.
Should I write an alternative ending or not? I don't really know but if you want to, just tell me. I'm going to miss this story a lot and the people who supported and reviewed this story. Thank you very much.
One more thing, I failed to include shining-tears in the list I keep on mentioning before so here:
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR REVIEWS AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Yami Val
cherry fantasy
Aura Serene
shining-tears
If your penname's not in there, I apologize but still, I also want to thank the other reviewers. I'm sleepy now. Got to go. The next story will come out in a few days or so. It depends. I just hope that it would get the same (if not more) support this and To Trust Again got.
Before I stop my ranting, Aura Serene just asked me a question and I want you guys to answer it. Should I make an epilogue or not? Don't forget to tell me, okay? Thanks.