To my lovely readers, I know its been a long time since I've updated (too long I know) but with school starting and me catching the flu (not a fun experience) updates have been slow. I will be updating, although I am not sure of the frequency, but nevertheless the story will proceed. Thank you for the love and for being so patient.

Also, a lovely reader has drawn a wonderful picture of Anzu and it relates to her outfit from the dream she had as an ancient Queen. The picture is absolutely amazing and can be found on her Instagram: aya_elmaghrabi I implore you all to check it out! Thank you again NewHorizons977 and seriously keep up with the amazing work!

Lyra

"Who is trying to kill you?" He asked with malice in his tone.

Kaiba was not sure where she was getting these ideas of someone trying to kill her from, but it was certainly creating feelings of uneasiness within him.

"I don't know, all I know is someone came to me and warned me of forebodings that would be happening." She stated in a quiet tone.

The room had somehow become darker as they both sat facing each other. Kaiba looked down at Anzu with concern while she watched his chest completely avoiding his eyes.

"Who came to you Anzu?" he asked. So many questions raced through his mind but he needed to go about this gently. He needed to show her she could trust him.

"It was the Gods Shu, of the air and sky." She stated even more quietly. Anzu couldn't help but feel the more she explained what was happening, the crazier she sounded.

"The Gods Shu…" Seto trailed off not sure what to make of her answer. He continued to remain quiet just watching her in the dark.

"And this all occurred for how long?" He asked rather forcefully.

"About three weeks." Anzu replied.

Seto could not stop the small gasp that escaped his lips. He could not fathom how she had endured keeping this from him, from everyone, for that long.

"How could you keep this to yourself?" He asked looking away from her.

Anzu remained quiet unsure of what to say. She knew it was wrong to keep everyone in the dark, but a part of her also did not regret this decision.

She knew she needed time to come to terms with whatever was happening with Atem. She knew she needed some time where she could selfishly have him to herself. With no one else interfering. And she hadn't even mentioned the visions she was having of him yet. Or rather apparitions of him appearing. She was not sure how she would explain that.

"He comes to me." She finally stated after some moments of silence between them.

Seto looked at her once more.

"Who?" He knew.

"Atem." She replied in a small voice.

"How?"

"I do not know, but there have been many instances where Atem appears before me and speaks to me." She explained.

"What? He speaks to you?" Seto was not sure of her words. The woman who sat before him, bandaged and bruised was uttering sentences he simply could not gage. Was she going insane?

Anzu finally looked up to meet his hard gaze. She could see in his clouded eyes how lost and confused and frankly angry he looked.

"He has spoken to me. At first I could not make out his words. But it's like he got better cell connection wherever he is and now he can have conversations with me."

Seto looked down at her, his face completely voids of emotion.

"Anzu did you hit your head in your fall?" He asked very seriously.

Anzu looked at him angrily. "It is the truth Seto! How could you not believe me?" She could feel the anger and hurt radiating inside of her.

How could he doubt the lucidity of her mind when she had been torturing herself over such things for so long now. To think that Seto had finally answered to her worst nightmare only brought about more pain and anger.

She wished Atem would willingly show himself now only to prove her insanity not true but knew this was not a wishing land. Whatever brought him here was completely at random, something both of them had no control over.

Still she looked back in hope of his tan skin, his large lean body and beautiful face. He could bring her comfort; he could assure her of her sanity.

"It is not that I do not believe you, it's just think about all this Anzu, about what you're saying. He died a long time ago and if you believe the old stories, even long before that. How could someone who has been gone for that long come back again? And to see you of all people? I mean no offense but I would suspect his first visit would be to Yugi."

Anzu stared at Seto holding a very hard gaze. She could feel the anger blazing off herself. How could Seto say these things. Whether they were logical did not matter to her, but that he would belittle her to this extent. She could not help but think back to all the times he had done so before their relationship. It only added to the flame.

"Seto get out." Anzu stated in a whisper. Her voice was laced with spite.

He looked at her confused but could see the anger in her eyes.

"Fine, but I will not take back what I have said. I want to believe you Anzu but I also cannot ignore the rational part of me that you know will always be. Stories of an old king coming back from the dead are not something I am made to handle-much less believe."

He rose from his seat and attempted to kiss her cheek, only to have her pull away. Anzu could hear the almost silent sigh escape his lips before he left the room for good.

"She says she is seeing Atem Ishizu." Kaiba stated briskly in the phone.

"What!" Ishizu gasped almost dropping the receiver.

"You don't actually believe this do you?" He asked sheepishly. Kaiba was smart but he was also no fool and he knew Ishizu was not one either so he tended to believe in her favor.

"The Pharaoh has returned?" She seemed to ask herself more so than him. "It is all making sense…"

"The Pharaoh has not returned; I am sure Anzu has been having delusions from her accident." He reasoned.

"Impossible…" Ishizu stated. "Tell me of her dreams."

"She dreamed of being in Egypt with Atem and being in a kingdom. She said someone who was a God of wind and sky said someone was out to kill her." He could not even believe he was saying this out loud. The mere thought of someone hurting Anzu brought his hands to fists.

"Excuse me Seto I must go, thank you for informing me of this. I will take it from here. Await my next phone call."

"Wai-." Before Seto could even finish the line went dead. He leaned his head back in exhaustion. How could all this be happening now.

Ishizu quickly placed the phone down and got up.

"Marik! Rishid!" She called.

Her brothers immediately came to her side.

"The Pharaoh returns." Ishizu stated firmly.

"What?" Marik asked agape.

Ishizu could feel the tension build in Rishid but he remained unspoken.

"He returns dear brother and so it seems out duties along with it."

"Will we never be free of our binds to the ancients?" Marik asked out loud. It was true those who had lived in the past had certainly put the small family through a lot. Ishizu worried about the repercussions of what may be coming their way now.

Her hands fiddled with the small date she had picked up that lay in a bowl with others on the dining table. Her mind raced with the possibilities of what was to come and what the ancient God's Shu of the air and sky wanted to Anzu.

"Someone is trying to kill Anzu. Shu of the air and sky has approached her in her dreams to warn her of forebodings that will happen."

"Shu?" Rishid finally spoke unable to keep the surprise off his face. A God known to keep out of the affairs of others was now willingly speaking to a human? How could this be?

"Yes and we must prepare for whatever is to come."

Ishizu left from her post by the table and made her way to her study. Rishid and Marik watched the door close in angst, unsure of what to do with themselves. It was Ishizu that always seemed to lead them, to show them the paths of wherever life seemed to lead them. But for once, she seemed unsure of where to go herself with the rise of the man who continued to dictate their lives.

"Atem is back?" Yugi asked with a dazed expression. He could feel the small sweltering strands of hope lacing its way towards his heart. He hoped Kaiba was bringing him the truth.

"No he's not back, Anzu is just having delusions of him." Kaiba stated roughly. He dragged his hand across the back of his head feeling the nauseous sensation overcome him every time Atem was mentioned. The dead Pharaoh was starting to give him a serious headache.

"How is Anzu able to see him?" Yugi asked with concern. Although Kaiba's answer was not one he was looking for, he still was worried for Anzu and what this could all mean for her.

"She says he comes to her and they are able to have conversations." Kaiba had broken the gaze he held towards Yugi long ago and was now pacing the floor as he spoke.

"Kaiba I really don't believe Anzu is having delusions of him. I mean why now? What's changed?"

Kaiba immediately stopped pacing at his question and looked up.

"She said she is in danger Yugi, that someone is trying to kill her." His tone was harsh but Yugi could hear the worry interlaced between the words.

"How does she know this?"

"She said a God came and told her in a dream."

Yugi looked at Kaiba and unconsciously held on to the kitchen counter behind him. This was a lot of information being thrown at him and he wasn't sure how he felt about any of it. There were so many questions and concerns, so many what ifs and it all was coming from Kaiba. Yugi knew he needed to speak to Anzu and very soon to get the full story. He needed to understand what was happening from the source.

"How is she feeling?" He asked the man who resumed pacing before him.

"She's recovering, she is stronger and some of her bandages have been removed completely."

"Good she will need her strength for what's to come."

Kaiba stopped in his tracks and looked at Yugi again. He saw determination overcome his features and sighed heavily.

"I'll drive."

Anzu lay in her bed for what seemed like forever. She yearned to go outside and feel the heat of the sun on her face. Her agent had called not too long ago worried of her absence in school and with her company. Anzu explained of her ailments to which her agent went on an obscenely long rant about how she should have informed her and her school as soon as she woke up.

Anzu could not help but roll her eyes. Although she understood what the woman was saying, it did not cease to lessen her annoyance with the girl. Eventually with false promises of never doing it again and wishes of full recovery, Anzu hung up. She was glad school and her career were on hold for the moment as there were many parts of her life she was trying to navigate. She felt like a sailor going towards a hurricane, desperately seeking guidance and mercy of her surroundings.

Her mind thought back to Kaiba's words from the night before. She could feel the fury rising up to every sentence he spewed at her. How dare he- a man who knew nothing of her relationship with Atem assume the worst of her.

A part of her, a part she was desperately trying to shove away, knew and understood his words. He was right. Why was Atem coming to her? If he was returning back to them would he not be in contact with the one who brought him back in the first place.

She pondered over this never once believing, or even hoping that perhaps it was because he might feel the connection she once felt for him. Or still does. That maybe he was coming to see her for reasons beyond friendship. It was a selfish, nonsensical thought but it was hard to not at least think about it.

"Anzu." She heard the voice she had craved to hear for so long now. Although it had merely been days it felt longer to her.

"Atem." She smiled looking toward him.

She could never and would never get use to him appearing to her like this. He looked of flesh and bone but lived as a spirit in her world.

"You look well." He stated taking a seat at the foot of her bed.

Anzu nodded getting up. She wished she wore something more becoming than the simple pajamas she had been stuck with.

"As do you." She stated gesturing to him.

To that he answered with a knowing smirk. The smirk went away quickly as Anzu noticed the change in expression. Although he was not wearing his traditional clothing, he still emulated a regal presence and Anzu knew whatever he was about to say was serious.

"It is true, you were visiting by Shu and someone is trying to harm you." Atem's eyes had gone hard and Anzu looked in worry.

"How do you know this?" She asked worriedly.

"I consulted with some old friends and they performed some very ancient magic. There is a protection spell around you, someone we do not know yet has placed it and it is powerful. More powerful than anything I have seen."

Anzu looked in utter confusion.

"Why?"

"The marking of this magician has been left without a trace. All we know is that it is doing its intended work of keeping whatever wants you at bay. But I am sure it will not last forever. If the kind of magic used to protect you is this powerful, we can only assume whatever is after you is just as such and maybe even more so."

Anzu shuttered at his words. She was not sure how she could protect herself from whatever was after her if she did not even know who or what it was.

"I told Seto of my dreams and of you." She suddenly stated.

Atem looked up in surprise.
"How did it go?" He asked.

"He did not believe me; he even thinks I am having delusions." She could feel the anger rising up.

"He even wondered why you came to me and not Yugi." Her words came out in a whisper and she looked away from Atem.

She felt him move closer to her and looked up to see him watching her.

"I am real Anzu." His voice was a whisper, a harsh low whisper. One she would not soon forget.

"I do not know why I come to you and only you, but I assure you seeing you for the first time in what felt like a millennium has been my greatest joy since my departure."

He smiled down at her as he could see the streaks of pink accenting her cheeks.

"Touché." She stated and Atem chuckled.