Chapter Eight
Love is a battlefield
"Wow, that was a realistic dream. I've never dreamt anything like that before." Mana thought.
She slowly opened her eyes and stretched her arms out. She lifted herself up and yawned as she looked out the window. She saw feet at the foot of the bed and looked beside her, still half asleep.
"Oh Mahad is still sleeping." She said.
She sat on the edge of the bed and realized she wasn't wearing any clothes. Her whole body turned beat red as she jumped back into bed. She covered herself up with the blanket as Mahad pulled her over to him.
"Morning." He smiled.
"Don't look!" Mana shouted and tried to push him away.
Mahad started laughing and holding his sides.
"What's so funny?" She said.
Mahad wiped the tears from his eyes and stopped himself from laughing.
"It's alittle late to cover up now, isn't it?" Mahad said.
Mana remembered and covered her face. Mahad pulled her towards him, all wrapped up in the sheets.
"Don't be embarrassed. I love every part of you." Mahad said.
Mana blushed as Mahad nuzzled her cheek. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. He playfully lifted up the sheets and tackled her.
"oh no!" Mana shouted as they rolled onto the floor.
Mahad hit the floor and Mana fell on top of him. They both started laughing.
"Are you okay?" Mana asked.
"I'm fine, but I do need to be getting back to the castle soon." Mahad said.
Mahad picked her up as he rose from the floor. He set her down on the bed and kissed her lips once more.
"Anything special planned for today?" Mana asked.
Mahad pulled his tunic over his head and turned towards her.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." Mahad said.
He pulled his armlets on and his bracelets as Mana handed him his cloak. Mahad smiled and gladly took it from her. He fastened on his headdress and gave her a final hug.
"You will be missed." Mahad said.
"As will you." Mana said with a smile.
Mahad nodded and left the room. Mana smiled as she picked up her dress from the floor. Mana grabbed clothes from the dresser and proceeded to change. As she pulled on her skirt she heard the door open.
"Mahad?" Mana said.
"Mana!" Yugi yelled as he crashed into Mana's room.
"Don't you ask before entering a girl's room?" Mana asked.
Yugi threw himself on her and cried. Mana grabbed his face and looked at his tears.
"Yugi, What's up?" Mana asked.
"I-I have offended Atem and he has slapped me." Yugi cried.
"What? How dare he with a hand made of rings. I'll kill him!" Mana exclaimed.
"No! It's my fault! I was arrogant." Yugi cried.
Mana let go of his face and frowned. She rested her hand of his.
"Little Yugi, how can you say that? He has slapped you. He didn't keep his promise. I don't think it's infatuation for you. I think you are in love." Mana said.
"I do! I love him so much! But now he loves someone else!" Yugi cried into Mana's chest.
Mana held Yugi as he cried.
"It'll be alright. He'll come to his senses." Mana said.
Mana pulled Yugi away from her and smiled.
"Let's go get some food. You can stay with me tonight." Mana smiled.
The next morning…..
Mahad peaked into the throne room and bowed down.
"Pharaoh, may I enter?" He asked.
"Yes Mahad, I've just lost my patience today." Atem said.
Mahad walked over to Atem. Atem sat resting his head on his hand.
"Are you feeling bad? You look pale." Mahad asked.
"Not in the way you mean. I need some advice from you." Pharaoh said.
"Sure, ask away." Mahad said.
Atem stood up from his throne, clenching his fist against his chest.
"Mahad, since the last time I felt this way it has become worse. I don't know how to react to such a feeling. Is this love?" Atem said.
Mahad's eyes widened in surprise to Atem's question. Mahad bowed his head.
"I am very devout of the crown." He said.
"You think I didn't see the slaves go into your tent during Syria's war?" Atem said.
"I have…needs…." Mahad said looking away.
Atem glared over at Mahad as he averted his eyes. Atem began blushing as he looked away from Mahad.
"When you think only of that person, Is it love? When you get up in the morning, passionately can't wait to see them and in the evening disillusioned, swearing to yourself that tomorrow will be different? You lose control when the person is involved in something?" Atem asked.
Mahad thought of his feelings towards Mana and smiled. He closed his eyes and felt warmth.
"Is that how you feel, Pharaoh?" He asked.
"Yes! I can't be without Yugi." Atem exclaimed.
Mahad kept smiling, blushing himself from the feelings he held.
"And before I left to war, I kissed him on the boat. I kissed him again after my father had died." Atem said.
"Majesty, Yugi is only a slave and-" Mahad said.
Atem became angry and cut him off.
"Don't call him that!" Atem said.
Mahad shook and put his hand to his heart.
"F-forgive me." He said.
"See? I've done it again, my patience. Do you think I'm in love with him?" Atem said.
Mahad stood up and closed his eyes.
"This is something only you can know, but the symptoms are recognizable. There is no strategy to this kind of battle. Go on as you wish, for no one question the leadership of a king who follows his heart." Mahad explained.
Atem looked at Mahad's face and saw deep color in his cheeks and a smile.
"He shines as if there's someone he loves." Atem thought.
Atem smiled back to Mahad and nodded.
"Mahad. Oh no, but I have slapped him. No! I told him I won't see him and I'm stupid! I want to see him, and I'm without holy!" Atem shouted.
Atem held the sides of his head as if it were going to explode. Mahad placed his hand on Atem's back and opened his eyes.
"Calm yourself, Pharaoh. Yugi is not the type to grudge. When you see him tomorrow you will surely reconcile." Mahad explained.
Mahad nodded and left. Mahad turned the corner to find Mana standing there in shock.
"Mana." He said.
Mahad's eyes widened as he feared she had heard the whole conversation. Mana dropped the flowers she was holding and ran out the castle's doors. Mahad stood there in shock, heart pounding. At that moment, Mahad dropped to his knees and heard her words.
"I love you." Mana said.
"I wish for you to protect me!" Mana said.
"You worry too much." Mana said
"You can owe me a date!" Mana said.
Mahad looked down at his hands as a single tear dropped onto them. He covered his ears with his hands, trying to block out her voice plaguing him.
"I am so proud of you." Mana said.
"Just don't leave me." Mana said.
"Hey sleepyhead!" Mana said.
Mahad started shaking and let out a cry that echoed through the empty halls.
Mana ran past the flowershop, leaving a trail of tears behind her.
"Mana!" Shopkeeper said.
Mana just bolted straight past her towards home.
"Huh. I wonder what's going on." She wondered to herself.
Mana stopped in front of her home's steps and frowned. She opened the door and walked inside, going straight through the living hall to her old room. She flew across the room onto her bed and sobbed into her pillow.
"I never want to go into that room again." Mana cried.
She covered her ears, also trying to hide his voice.
"I'll always protect you." Mahad said.
"You're beautiful. It's a beautiful name." Mahad said.
"I love you, Mana." Mahad said.
Mana screamed into her pillow.
The next day…..
"Mana wake up!" Yugi said.
Mana opened one of her eyes and glared at Yugi.
"Time to get up. We must meet up with Kisara." Yugi explained.
Mana yawned and stretched her arms out. She got up and followed Yugi into the living hall when an authority figure walked in.
"Aton!" Mana exclaimed.
Mana gave him a nasty look and crossed her arms.
"Excuse me, but I have orders from the Pharaoh." Aton said.
Mana and Yugi looked at each other, puzzled. They returned their gazes to Aton as he read a scroll.
"Yugi, I have been ordered to take you along with the other slaves to the market." Aton said.
Mana and Yugi's eyes widened as Aton grabbed a rope out of his pocket. Aton proceeded to tie up Yugi's wrist and take him.
"Wait!" Mana said.
She threw herself on Yugi and squeezed him as tight as she could. She let go and looked him in his eyes.
"I'll straighten this out. Don't worry." She said.
Yugi nodded as his eyes filled with tears. Aton pulled him and they left out the door.
Atem made his move in the chess match against Seth.
"Shada and I were in town this morning and I met the girl who possessed the blue eyes white dragon power. In spite of her power, she hasn't used it against anyone who has mistreated her." Seth exclaimed.
Atem examined Seth's face as he began blushing.
"I think she is the girl I saved many years ago. With her power, It'd be bad if someone caught her." Seth said.
Atem smiled at Seth's blush and words.
"You're right. I wonder what would happen if someone tried to force her to use her power for cruel purposes. I entrust you to watch over her." Atem said with a smile.
"I think she isn't only an infancy memory. He loves her, it's obvious." Atem thought.
"Oh thank you Pharaoh!" Seth said smiling.
Atem looked down at the chess board, smiling sadly.
"I also want to be near and protect the one I care for. Why must it be so difficult? I wonder if my eyes shine like Seth's and Mahad's when I speak of Yugi." Atem thought to himself.
"Atem!" Mana yelled.
Mana kicked over the table, causing Atem and Seth to fall over.
"Atem! You're so stupid!" Mana yelled as she stood over Atem.
"Mana, how did you get in here?" Atem asked.
"I'm a magician. I immobilized the Guards with a spell." Mana explained.
Seth stood up and approached Mana.
"How dare you speak to the Pharaoh that way!" Seth yelled.
Mana glared at him intently.
"Shut up! This is all your fault!" Mana exclaimed.
Seth blinked and backed away from Mana, who was fuming. Seth glanced over at Atem and he nodded.
"It's okay, Seth." Atem said.
Seth nodded and quietly left the room. Atem turned his attention to Mana.
"I hope you know what you have done or are you too busy with your exploits? I thought you loved Yugi?" Mana asked.
"You knew…Yes I love Yugi, but yesterday.." Atem said while looking at the ground.
"If Yugi doesn't come back safe and sound, I-I.." Mana yelled.
"What do you speak of?" Atem said.
Mana sat down and pointed at Atem.
"You gave an order to Aton?" Mana said inquisitively.
"I haven't given Aton any orders." He said.
Mana covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh Ra! Aton came this morning to take Yugi to the market! You must save him!" Mana shouted.
"Dammit!" Atem said.
Atem got up and ran out the doors, leaving Mana on the floor. Mana frowned and lifted herself up. Mana looked out the window and enjoyed the calm breeze drifting by. She closed her eyes and listening to the sounds of nature. Mana opened her eyes as she heard Isis' laughter from below.
"What?" Mana wondered.
Mana peered down to see Isis and Mahad sitting in the garden by the pond, eating some food. Mana watched as Mahad and Isis laughed.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After what he and I have done." Mana said quietly.
Mahad looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Mana walking away from the window. Mahad bowed to Isis and ran into the castle. He caught her walking from the West wing's steps and grabbed her wrist.
"Mana!" Mahad exclaimed.
She turned around and struggle to get out of his grip.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to disrupt you. Yugi was brought to the slave trade, so I had to inform Atem." She said.
As Mana turned away, Mahad gripped her wrist tighter.
"Let go!" Mana yelled.
"No! I'm not letting you do this anymore!" Mahad shouted at her.
"Me?! While I sat here for a year worrying about you, you were getting your kicks off of slave women! Don't preach to me!" Mana said.
"And what did you do to get those men on you?!" Mahad shouted.
Mana turned around and backhanded Mahad across the face. As she ran away, he released her from his grasp. Mahad fell to his knees.
"What have I done." Mahad said.
Mana walked into town and saw Atem and Yugi in the distance getting off of a horse. Mana smiled and turned away.
"At least one of us got their happy ending." Mana said.
She held her hand to her heart and clenched her shirt.
"My heart aches." She thought.
Mana went to the town square and sat down on the fountain. Mana looked at her reflection in the fountain and started to feel ill.
"Everything alright?" Kisara asked.
Mana looked up at Kisara's smiling face. Mana smiled sadly back.
"No, but my heart's still beating." Mana said.
"Come stay with me today. I'll cheer you up." She said.
"There you are!" Seth exclaimed.
Atem turned around looking annoyed as Seth and Mahad came to him.
"We were worried! You ran off without an escort!" He exclaimed.
"Excuse me. But I am fine. I wanted to recover my most loved person." Atem explained.
"Pharaoh, the ministers are waiting for you and-" Seth shouted.
Mahad laughed and cut him off.
"Seth be careful, don't leave that girl too lonely." Mahad chuckled.
"Bye Pharaoh!" Seth shouted.
Mahad and Atem laughed as Seth ran through town.
"Thank you Mahad." Atem said.
Mahad nodded and left them be.
Seth ran past town square and did a double take. He saw Mana and Kisara chatting by the fountain. He straightened himself up and walked steadily over to them.
"Oh, Hello." Kisara said.
Seth smiled at her and bowed.
"Are you here for duty or pleasure this time?" Kisara asked.
Seth froze up and started panicking. He started waving his arms around as he turned beat red.
"N-no! Wait, I mean it's my duty but being around is also a pleasure, I-" Seth exclaimed.
"Calm down." She said.
Seth sighed and shrugged. Mana smiled.
"Come with us, Mana. We will get your mind off of things." Kisara said.
Kisara grabbed her hand and pulled her up.