Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Pharaoh
The room was dark and silent. Night had fallen outside, and the moon could not be seen through the clouds. The rest of the hall was quiet. Everyone else must have fallen asleep. Yugi had forced me out of the Puzzle and was preventing my retreat. Dria laid before me on the couch, her hands and arms injured by the explosion caused by Noah. I debated how I could offer to bandage her hands, but quickly realized that I had no knowledge of how to do so without possibly hurting her, so the idea perished before I could voice it. Someone, however, had other plans.
Now then, Principino, seeing as I have no limbs, you will be handling the bandaging of the lady's hands.
Dria sighed from the couch beside me, "I can do it myself, Aristokles. There's no need to ask him," she said as she moved into a sitting position on one side of the couch, "It'll only take a moment."
I hastily spoke up, "You defended us all from the missile and explosion, so it's time you had someone care for you in return."
I would be as careful as I could so as not to harm her further. She stared in surprise for a few moments before a small smile arose on her lips. I picked up the items currently on the floor and placed them on the small coffee table in front of the couch. Sitting on the very edge of the space available on the couch, I pulled my jacket off and moved the items Aristokles had left between us closer. He promptly vanished when he was relieved of his duty.
I soon realized how little I knew, or remembered, about how to care for the human body. Second-degree burns, while not the most extreme, could certainly cause pain if not handled appropriately. Dria patiently walked me through the steps to ensure the injury wouldn't worsen. First, her hands and arms were submerged in cool water for a short period of time to lessen the pain. This was followed by the paste-like substance, which she explained as being similar to soap used to clean any kind of wound. I felt my own hands shaking as I gently washed the tips of her fingers, troubled by the open sores and small blisters that had formed. Finally, after cleansing away all the soap, I loosely wrapped each hand and forearm with the bandages to protect the wounds and prevent the remaining blisters from breaking.
When I had finished, I brought both hands to my mouth and placed light kisses upon each finger. A light blush dusted Dria's cheeks as she turned her face away from me, but she didn't try to remove her hands. It had been some time since that conversation at the top of the blimp, when I had found her watching the Shadow Game between Marik and Bakura. It was then I had discovered the truth about our relationship, that we had been married. While we seemed to have settled into an acceptable, friendly pattern, I couldn't deny the part of me that desired more, though I would never push if she felt otherwise. She turned her eyes back to me, a covering of sorrow beginning to fall.
"Thank you for helping with the bandages. You should go back to your room. You have the finals of this tournament to prepare for and you need rest after our side quest."
She began to pull her hands out of mine, though they hesitated as if they didn't want to follow her. Rather than increasing the pressure on her recovering hands, I slid my hands up her arms to her uninjured elbows. If she truly wanted me to leave, I would with no further argument. But, if she would permit it, I wanted to learn more about her, hear more of her stories, and stay in her presence for even a moment more. She gazed down at my hands before looking back towards me. Her emerald eyes sparkled with anticipation, but she tried to restrain those emotions across the rest of her face.
"I'd like to stay and talk," I paused a moment, "if you would be willing."
She hesitated initially, but soon she nodded and smiled at me once more. She rose from her seat on the couch and walked into the small kitchen area of her room. While she was rummaging through one of the cabinets, an arrangement of fruits and cheeses appeared on the coffee table; I snuck one strawberry while her back was turned. Dria returned holding two glasses and a larger bottle. Twisting the top off the bottle, a deep red liquid filled the cup in front of me. The nostalgic sweet scent of the liquid and the slightly bitter taste at the back of my throat caused my eyes to water slightly, as if I were recalling something treasured from long ago.
"It's pomegranate juice. Not fresh squeezed, as we both preferred, but it'll have to do for now."
Dria returned to the couch, turning her body towards me but keeping her gaze averted and her form stiff with tension. She had changed from her earlier outfit into a white, button-down nightgown. While it covered down to her knees and the unbuttoned neckline barely revealed even her collarbone, I struggled to keep my gaze off her slender neck as she tossed a portion of her hair behind her shoulder. I felt my mouth water slightly at the curve between her neck and collarbone and had to swallow another mouthful of the juice before I could cause myself more trouble. I then quickly diverted my gaze away from her again.
Yugi had been right. In a duel against anyone threatening our friends and wanting to take over the world, my confidence was borderline arrogance because I knew the rules and I excelled at working within them. With Dria, I didn't even know what the rules were, let alone know if I was playing by them accordingly. How could I convince her that it wasn't because we had been married in the past that I cared for her now? While I wanted to know the secrets that she was hiding from me, what could I say that proved it was her I desired more? Even if I were successful in my explanation, what would I do if she had decided to move on to another relationship with another man? What if something I said or did within the next few moments was the catalyst for a reaction like that?
"Pharaoh," She whispered somewhat sadly, "have I done something to upset you? Is that why you're hesitating to say anything or even look at me?"
My mouth was speaking before my mind registered what it was saying, "No, not at all! I'm simply nervous about what to say to you because I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between us. You're one of the most important people in my life and I don't want to lose you due to my inability to speak clearly."
Her eyes widened at my sudden and rather loud confession, and my cheeks and ears grew uncomfortably warm when my mind finally caught up with my mouth. I averted my eyes once again, embarrassed I had let my emotions escape before I was prepared. A bandaged hand gently caressed my cheek, drawing me back to its owner. The tension had left her body as she reached across the space between us. I carefully placed my hand over hers, retaining as much of her warmth as I could without clutching her hand too tightly. We smiled at each other as we relaxed in each other's presence.
"So," she spoke up again, "what did you want to talk to me about?"
The sudden shift in the conversation's mood allowed me to think more clearly. I could hesitate no longer. I would do everything in my power to make her realize what I felt was true and real. I would plead on my knees, if necessary, to keep her with me. But, if she had her heart set elsewhere, I would wish her all the happiness in the world and be content with simply knowing she was our friend and that she was happy. I slowly exhaled before I answered.
"I want you to tell me more about us, about who we were to one another."
Dria
He finally asked the question I had been dreading: he wanted to know about our past relationship. I could feel my heart trying to pound its way out of my chest. Everything would change from this moment forward. What I chose to reveal to him would affect his view of me for the rest of our time together, however long that was. Even if he were to claim it wouldn't alter his opinion of me, I couldn't help but doubt those words. Simply knowing that we had once been married had likely already changed his feelings.
"If you're concerned it will change my thoughts about you, it won't." He cradled my face in his hands, his sunset eyes pleading with me. I felt a tear escape down my cheek as I contemplated my next move. "Dria, please. You don't have to tell me everything. Just tell me this: did I make you happy? Was I a good husband to you? Or did you wish I had been a different man?"
I felt another tear slip out, running into his fingers. How could he ever think otherwise? He had made me happier than any other human in my expansive lifetime, and I wanted nothing more than to have the opportunity to be with him again. With more strength than I thought I had, I threw myself towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my body against his, feeling as if the puzzle of my life had finally been completed. Even though I knocked the wind out of him, his arms responded naturally, folding across my waist and hugging me close to his form as we laid down on the couch. Pulling up just enough to look down into his eyes, I smiled as more tears made their way down my face.
"You were everything to me: my best friend, my brother, my husband, my family. From the moment I met you, I knew you were the other half of my heart and soul. Even before we were officially married, you did whatever was necessary and within your power to make me happy. It didn't always work, and sometimes we argued with one another, but I never wanted another man. It was only ever you that I desired, and eventually you made it clear that you only had eyes for me."
His response was my favorite smile, the gentle one that was filled with love and warmth. The fear I had internalized from our last encounter, when he learned this portion of the truth, finally left my body, and the burden I carried felt lighter than it had in years. I hadn't told another soul of my relationship with the Pharaoh, and those who had known already learned swiftly that it was a secret to take to their graves. Even those I grew close to throughout the years were left in the dark about this part of my life. It had been safer that way, at least I had tried to convince myself of that. As happy tears continued to fall, he kissed away each one until there were no more, smiling as he did so.
After a few moments, he sat up slightly, leaning his back against the arm of the couch and removing the Puzzle from around his neck to place it on the coffee table. He pulled me up with him, placing me in the crook of his neck and resting his head atop mine. Euphoria was the closest description I could think of in this state as I laid across him. His warmth enveloped every inch of my body and I drank in the scent of cinnamon like my life depended on it. For once, I could remember the last time I felt this way without the assistance of my necklace, not that it was prevented from showing me a memory anyway.
It was just before dawn when I awoke. The night air was still cool and damp, causing me to seek out the nearest source of heat as I shivered slightly beneath the thin sheet. An arm slipped around my waist and pulled me towards what I sought. I smiled in delight and rested my heat on the bare chest of the man with me. Sleepily, he turned his head towards me and kissed my forehead. I responded by kissing his chin before making my way down his neck, still tasting the salt from his earlier sweat. When my lips made it to the base of his throat, he surprised me by flipping us over. A devilish smile appeared above me.
"I suppose you have finished resting and are ready to continue, my Kadesh?"
His lips copied what I had done moments ago, but with more force. I softly moaned as he caught the skin between my neck and shoulder and began to suck. Desire pooled low in my belly and I couldn't help but squirm against him, arching towards him and seeking more. I felt his smile against my throat as he prodded the tender area with his tongue. It was the most recent of many marks he had left on my body; I had placed a few of my own on him as well, running my fingers across his back to tease another groan from him.
The sheet I had used to cover myself earlier was quickly thrown aside as the Prince made his way down my body once again. His hands moved up my thighs in a tantalizing fashion, reminding me of what his talented fingers could do as he pressed them upon my skin. I sighed in pleasure as he brought his lips back up to mine and kissed me once more.
When the memory faded, I opened my eyes and looked up at the Pharaoh. His eyes opened slightly after mine, the same haze of lust covering his eyes that the Prince had shown in my memory. Had the Pendant shown him the memory too? He seemed dazed for a moment before he spoke. "That was us?"
An uncommon bashfulness swept over me, even though it was one of the many sensual memories of us. I nodded, turning my face away so I wouldn't lose myself in his eyes. Beneath my fingertips, his heart rate increased as he guided my face back towards his and pulled me closer.
Where I expected to see confusion and uncertainty, his sunset eyes instead glowed with love and barely restrained passion. He was waiting for me to make the first move, to decide what I wanted from him rather than him asking something from me, but I could still read the desire in his eyes. Without providing him the opportunity to speak, I kissed his chin and slowly moved down his neck. Just like my memory, he leaned his head back and allowed me to roam freely. My freedom, however, didn't last long. When I reached the base of his throat, with a grace and strength I didn't realize he still had, he stood with me in his arms and carried me to the bed.
My body trembled from the longing pulsating throughout as he laid above me. It was a craving I had not felt since the day he vanished and left me behind. I was overwhelmed by the feeling and could only wrap my arms around his neck and pull the heat of his body towards mine. The sensation of his lips against mine was more intense than any earthquake I'd ever felt, and even though my eyes were closed, I saw fireworks brighter than the sun itself. Allowing me to take a breath, he moved to my neck, causing goosebumps to appear down my arms and legs, and he teased a breathless moan from my throat. He loosened the first few buttons of my nightgown to expose more of my neckline, kissing along my collarbone to my shoulders and back again.
His hands slid down the sides of my torso with gentle pressure, the heat of his hands softening my skin and muscles as if I were wax and he the sculptor. However, since I wasn't a passive lover, my hands were doing the same, pulling at his shirt with great need. I felt, rather than heard, his chuckle as he acquiesced, somehow accomplishing my request without removing his lips from my shoulder. I likely just didn't notice; thinking coherently was rather difficult at the moment.
My hands soon returned to his warm skin, tracing over the familiar shape of his shoulders, his lean and muscular biceps, the spot in the middle of his back where…he shivered slightly as my fingertips brushed over it, and slight goosebumps arose across his arms. In response, he returned to the space between my neck and shoulder and imitated the memory again, leaving behind a dark red mark. His lips traced back up the side of my neck, peppering it with lighter marks, until he was hovering above my lips again. He pulled back, looking into my eyes again. Although the haze in my mind made it difficult to focus, I noticed that his cheeks were faintly flushed, his chest moving faster as he panted, and his arms were quivering in excitement. He smiled at me once more and caressed my cheek.
"I may not have my memories, but I know I love you now just as I loved you then. My heart feels complete with you by my side. Even in times of danger, I feel happiness lingering beneath my fear because I have you. I will continue where I left off all that time ago. I will do whatever is within my power to keep the darkness away from your beautiful smile. Only if you wish for that though."
Rather than verbalizing my response, I lifted myself up toward him and kissed his lips once more. Though I had been living without him for centuries, and had been content with my life, this was the moment I had waited for and dreamed of even before I had arrived in Egypt. There had been a reason the spell of immortality had been placed upon me, and while I had come to loathe it and had attempted to find ways to remove it myself, in this moment, I'd never been more thankful for my extended stay in the living world. Feeling this man's love surround me like a warm blanket soothed the sorrow and anger this tournament and unwanted memories had caused. The love that I had lost was returned by the same force that had taken him from me.
He eagerly responded to my kiss, pressing me back down against the pillow and mattress. His hands began fumbling with the remainder of the buttons on my nightgown. My body felt hot, as if I were out beneath the sun in the sands of Egypt again, feeling beads of sweat forming on my forehead. We pulled at the remainder of each other's clothes, our sighs and frantic breaths the only sounds louder than the rustling of the sheets. Each time he ran his hands down my sides, my back arched towards him, wanting and begging him to relearn every curve and sensitive spot. I had to guide him at first, but he remembered more than he gave himself credit for. Soon, every muscle was coiled, and I was biting my lip to keep from crying out. With the only remaining shred of control I had left, I managed to keep the deepest secret I had safe as I whispered to him, "At…Ah...Pharaoh."
The sunrise was just beginning when I awoke. At first, the room was unfamiliar and disorienting, but as the events of the previous evening began flashing through my head, I understood where I was and why I felt pleasantly fatigued and sore even after having slept. We had remained awake for so long that we collapsed together in exhaustion. I glanced to the left, seeking the man in question. He was still asleep, laying on his back with one arm across his stomach and one above his head, with visible, but superficial, scratches running from the top of his shoulders and disappearing down his back. His breath was slow and even, and for a few moments, I laid beside him and simply took in the sight before me. I could recall many memories in Egypt where I had awoken to the same view, but those recollections were overshadowed by the coming sorrow of knowing he would disappear. I stretched my hand out to stroke his cheek, feeling a sense of hope for the first time in many years.
An unbidden dread suddenly arose within me, freezing my hand. It was the thought that this was only a dream and if I tried to touch him, everything would fall apart, and I would find myself alone again, waiting for his return that may never come. I pulled my hand back. I had already endured so many nightmares like this where I could feel his breath against my skin once more, only to realize it was an unforgiving breeze cast by the wind.
I quietly sighed and, bringing the sheet with me, sat at the edge of the bed. Not even the visible marks on my body and the sight of my now wrinkled nightgown on the floor served as enough proof to convince me the figure asleep in my bed was real. The anxiety of turning back around to look at him again began to crawl up my spine because I was afraid of what I would, or maybe wouldn't, see.
Just as my chilling unease was about to make me leave the space that had previously held so much warmth and tenderness, something touched my shoulder and a kiss was placed on the base of my neck. I closed my eyes in frightened hope, wanting to make my mirage last even moments longer if possible. Another kiss was given to the side of my neck, a heated breath caressing my skin. Hands slid around my waist and a chin rested on my shoulder.
"Are you alright? I felt you shaking."
A baritone voice tried to relieve the anxiety in my soul, but I was still afraid I would ruin the fantasy. Without opening my eyes, I turned around and buried my head into the chest behind me, wrapping my arms around a pair of broad shoulders. If I didn't open my eyes, I could hold on to him for a little while longer. I could inhale the aroma of cinnamon and a little salt to recommit it to memory. More so than my Pendant, his unique scent had comforted me when my loneliness was overwhelming.
"Dria?"
The voice was worried, and the body attempted to pull back to look at me, but I refused to budge. I wasn't ready to let go yet. Just a few more moments, please, I thought. A little more time, and I could convince myself to continue waiting. The heart resounded a powerful, but soothing rhythm beneath my ear as the arms wrapped around me again with a tighter grip. A head placed its cheek against the top of my head, and I was granted the few extra moments I needed before everything vanished. Finally, I felt prepared to let go, and I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the Pharaoh's gentle smile I so dearly loved. Tears sprang once again to my eyes and I began to cry as I realized this was reality. I had not dreamed of the Pharaoh's return; he had finally returned to me.
"Dria? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Confusion and panic permeated his voice as he stroked my head and wiped tears off my cheeks. I beamed through my tears and tackled him to the bed once more. He fell back against the mattress, placing his hands on my hips as he cushioned my fall. The sheet I had been gripping so tightly slid down to my waist as I pressed my body against his again.
"You're really here. I'm not alone, and I didn't just imagine you."
He froze beneath me for a moment before he smiled and nodded his head. He stroked my cheek with the back of his hand, and I leaned into his touch, reveling in the fact that none of this was a dream. We stayed like that for a few moments before a polite cough caught our attention. Yugi had resurfaced from within the Puzzle and was now desperately trying to not look in our direction.
I see you two have…worked it out.
His face was bright red, all the way to the tips of his ears. The Pharaoh and I looked back at each other for a moment before laughing together. Here we were, with only a sheet covering us, and it was quickly sliding off of me and exposing my lower back. Poor Yugi likely hadn't intended to reappear at this moment, but thankfully he hadn't made his entrance any earlier. The Pharaoh swiftly grabbed the run-away covering and pulled it up around my shoulders. Yugi sighed and shook his head, before smiling at the two of us.
Well, this isn't exactly what I had in mind, but I am happy for the both of you. Please don't make me be the mediator again. Being stuck between two of my closest friends was uncomfortable and frustrating. Just admit you love each other and save anything else for when I am far, far away.
The three of us laughed together, though I felt guilty that I could promise Yugi nothing. He disappeared again after a few moments, stating that he would be switching with the Pharaoh in five minutes and that he would like to visit Bakura's room before departing for the Duel Tower. Once he was within the Puzzle, I pressed one more kiss to the Pharaoh's lips, conveying to him all the love I felt in my heart. He smiled against my lips as his eyes slid closed and his fingers gently slipped through my hair. Finally, I pulled away and rose from the bed, collecting my wrinkled nightgown from the floor and disappearing into my closet. When I emerged not a minute later with fresh clothes, Pharaoh was already dressed and waiting, standing suspiciously near the tray of fruit I had summoned. I playfully narrowed my eyes at his innocence smile.
"You snuck another strawberry, didn't you?"
His eyes widened, "How did you know? You had your back turned last night and just now."
I winked as I replied, "I didn't. You just confirmed my suspicions."
He was silent for a moment as he processed my trick. Then, he rose an eyebrow at me and slowly stepped closer. I giggled nervously as I stepped back in response, but before I could escape, his hands caught my waist and he pulled me towards him. His eyes burned with the same passion I had seen the previous night, a particularly red and searing sunset.
"That, my dear, was a cruel joke," his voice caressed my right ear, and I felt my body growing hot and weak again as I stood in his grasp. A sudden knock on the door interrupted the moment. Pharaoh quickly released me and switched places with Yugi as the door opened. On the other side stood Roland, who looked bewildered when he saw that I had company so early in the morning. He looked between Yugi and me for a moment, before clearing his throat.
"Miss Dria, Mr. Kaiba has requested your presence on the deck before we depart for the Duel Tower. Please prepare yourself quickly."
I had to resist the urge to laugh at the situation. Roland clearly understood the reason why I had company, but the blush across his cheeks stated that he knew better than to ask or give his opinion. If Seto found out Roland had not been keeping a closer eye on me, and that Yugi had been in my bedroom overnight, Seto might kill him. Since I preferred to not lose a man like Roland, I opted to give him a way out of the situation.
"I am ready now, Roland. Yugi stopped in on his way out to ask some questions about a few of the cards in his deck. If you don't tell Seto, I won't either," I smiled as I offered Roland an escape from what Seto would claim was a conspiracy against him. A single bead of sweat ran down the side of his head as the tension in his face relaxed. He nodded in return and gestured towards the hallway.
I waved farewell to Yugi and the Pharaoh, stopping only to grab a beautiful silver armlet that had appeared on my dresser. The piece of jewelry curled around my arm as if it were a serpent, and the nearly violet gemstones glistened like the creature's eyes. Aristokles had decided to stay with me for the time being, it seemed. While I was comforted by the appearance of another powerful ally, I couldn't help but worry about the reason why he felt it necessary to watch over me.