Disclaimer: do I look like a Japanese (man, no less) animator to you? No? Didn't think so.
A/N: Alrighty! In this chapter we're skipping ahead a bit more, so—
Ally: yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, let me explain it.
Anevay: If you're going to keep doing this, I'm kicking you out of my author's notes.
Ally: No, wait! I take it back! Explain! Just don't kick me out! I actually like this job, and if Jess finds out I'm not actually studying/working and doing this instead…!
Anevay: Fine, fine. I'll spare you the torture. So thank you. Explanation below, and I'll try to make it as short and explanatory as possible.
*PLEASE READ! This chapter takes place right before Atem goes in to the war, with a few of the more important scenes between them and someone else I love. Enjoy!
Going to War
Atem had been talking with Mahad about joining the troops for weeks. Almost months, really.
Mahad had already elected to join, and before he could sign up, he had been recruited. It wasn't exactly surprising. Not only was Mahad muscled, tall, well-built and a good fighter, he was a Magician, and so therefore was an obvious choice for a soldier. He was sure to be given a higher position straight away.
There was also the fact that Mahad was unceasingly loyal. Before long, that fact would be noticed, and not only would he most likely have a leadership position, he would be trusted as well.
It wasn't long after Mahad had been recruited that Atem, too, was approached by an officer.
There was a knock at the door.
The man in uniform saluted Atem. "Is this the home of a mister Atem?"
Atem gave a natural salute and nodded, "That would be me, sir."
The man looked him up and down and seemed to like what he saw – which was, hopefully, a soldier. He gave a brisk nod and held out a rolled piece of official documentation. The soldier stood at parade rest as Atem unrolled it and read over it fairly quickly. He couldn't help the roll of emotions raging inside him: excitement, anticipation, confidence, and… sadness. Mana.
Atem, too, fell to parade rest and saluted the soldier. "Inform the General that I, Atem, accept the recruitment. I shall take my place in the army."
The officer saluted Atem with a gleam of respect in his eyes. Atem recognized him as a man from around, and most everyone knew Atem. They knew he was madly in love, and for that, the soldier had to respect his decision to serve the people and the country. He gave a brisk nod, "Welcome to the army, soldier. We salute you." Both men sharply dropped their salutes, and then the deliver of the news was on his way.
Atem retreated inside, and once there, stared down at the paper held loosely in his hand. His fingers were shaking. He closed his eyes, fist clenched around his future. What am I supposed to tell Mana?
He consulted Mahad, first. Surely he would have some advice.
He did.
Mahad sighed, "Mana will not take it well."
As if Atem hadn't known that, of all things. Great advice, Mahad.
"I know," he said, annoyed. He paced, "How am I supposed to tell her without…?" he trailed off, but he didn't have to finish for Mahad to understand. How am I supposed to tell her without getting a bad reaction? He knew how Mana felt about the war: she hated it. Already, they had lost friends to recruitment. She would be upset when she found out that her fiancé and her almost-brother had both been recruited.
"You might as well get it over with, Atem," Mahad said heavily.
Atem raised an eyebrow at that. "You mean we might as well get it over with? I believe you have the same news to tell her that I do, Mahad."
Mahad couldn't argue with that.
They smiled when they saw her, but she could tell that they were hiding something. She could always tell. Briefly, she kissed Atem. "What's up?"
Mahad looked to Atem, who sighed and took Mana's hands, smiling. There was something genuine to it, but at the same time, there was some sadness there. "We have some news, Mana."
She already knew. All he had to do was say those words, and she already knew what he was going to say. Her eyes dropped, and she asked softly, "You were recruited, weren't you?"
Atem didn't say anything, and her worst suspicions were confirmed. She should have known this would happen. She had seen the way he hungrily watched the soldiers as they came through town for recruitment, the look of longing in his eyes. Mahad had the same look, sometimes, although not nearly as eager as Atem. He craved it. Most men did, she thought bitterly.
The recruiting officers had skirted around them for some time due to their engagement, and Atem would never outright approach them and offer himself without consulting Mana, but in the end, it had been inevitable. They needed men like Atem: strong, confident, capable and willing.
They needed men thirsting for this kind of thing, and Mahad and Atem were just the men for the job.
Mahad rubbed her arm, "I am sorry, Mana, but I need to do this. Atem does as well. You know this."
Atem patted his friend's arm, "Thank you, Mahad." The Magician gave a sort of bow, gripping their clasped hands with one of his long-fingered ones briefly before leaving them alone.
For a moment neither said anything, and just as Atem got up the courage to speak, Mana, eyes closed tightly, suddenly threw her arms around Atem's torso, letting the tears free. They flowed down her cheeks, but she didn't give herself away and cry audibly. She had to be strong. She wouldn't let him see her tears.
This was what Atem wanted, and for once, she would let him do what he so desperately wanted to do. He always did what she wanted to do—it was all about Mana for him, and this time, it was time for him to do something for himself, and for his country. This was what he wanted, and Mana wasn't going to be selfish and keep him to herself.
Her rubbed her back soothingly, speaking softly, "I'm so sorry, Mana. I had to accept. I can't… I can't sit on the sidelines when I know I should be doing something more." His voice cracked, "As much as I want to stay here, with you, there's more that I need to do. Especially when I know I can."
In spite of herself, Mana felt her insides glow with pride and warmth for him. Atem was a man to be proud of, after all. He was brave and courageous, and no, she decided, she couldn't be selfish and keep him all to herself. She had to share him with the world, where he could do so much good.
Mana gripped him tightly, and he returned the pressure. "I know," she whispered, "They need a man like you out there. You'll be an amazing soldier. I won't stop you."
I doubt you could, he thought. I don't think even I can stop me.
From the day of his decision and onward, Mana spent every moment she could with both Atem and Mahad. After all, there was always the possibility that she would never see them again…
No, no, Mana thought hastily, Atem will come back. Mahad will come back. They will.
She was already in denial.
The day of leaving grew nearer. Mana had never seen Atem so excited and animated. It was almost all he talked about, when he wasn't around her. He and Mahad couldn't shut up about it. They really wanted to do this. Who was Mana, an insignificant girl that loved them both dearly, to stop them?
The day came. They almost couldn't believe it.
Out where the troops were preparing to leave, they were surrounded by loved ones: embracing, crying, talking quietly, smiling, holding themselves back so that they wouldn't beg them to leave, and enjoying one another's company while they could. There were rumors that it was going to be a dangerous war. Who knew how many of these men would return home alive?
For a moment, Mana stood at the door to leave with her eyes glazed with threatening tears, faced with the possibility of living without her two best friends: her near-brother and the love of her life. How could she simply let them go? Just like that?
Could she? Or would she selfishly keep them to herself?
Could she even hold them back? Keep them from going? She highly doubted it. They had their hearts set on this. On war: fighting, bloodshed, wounds, screams, tears, pain, loss, gore, sadness, anger. How could they have their hearts set on that?
Her head snapped up and she gasped. There was no time for this! She had to have as much time as she could to tell them goodbye. She had told herself that she would make it through this, and so would they. They had already decided to go; she doubted a little girl like herself could convince them otherwise.
Mana yanked the door open and sprinted her way there, cursing herself for wasting time worrying. What was the point in that, anyway?
Upon arriving, she almost immediately spotted Atem and Mahad. They weren't exactly hard to miss: one tall, carrying a staff, and the other rather short with a mess of golden-blonde, black and magenta hair that almost made up for his loss of height. She almost smiled at that thought—almost.
Mana wasted no time getting to them. Others around them moved aside for her, expressions grim. Almost everyone knew of Atem and Mana's engagement, and their betrothing years before that thanks to their parents—Atem and Mana were a popular couple, and well-liked. No one liked seeing them separated, but that was life, wasn't it?
Mahad gave Mana a twinkling smile as she embraced him tightly, her stomach in knots at the thought of losing either of them. "Be safe, Mahad," she said, attempting a brave smile and blinking quickly to hide the tears. "You're an incredible Magician. You'll make a great soldier."
"Thank you, Mana," he dipped his head, and then grabbed her shoulder, muttering: "I'll keep him safe, Mana, I promise. You know I will."
Mana beamed and kissed his cheek. "I know. Keep yourself safe too, okay?" Again, he nodded. It was the most assuring condolence he could give in the case of war.
Now she turned to Atem, and she couldn't help the tears that pooled in her eyes, despite her smile. He opened his mouth to say something, but she quickly tackled him in a hug. In happier times, he would have laughed and made a joke, but not now. He simply couldn't bring himself to do it.
Mana clutched at him, and this time, her face grew wet as the salt-water tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't wipe them away, because then she would have to let him go, and that would never do at a time like this—not when her time to hold him was so limited. And, still trying to be brave, she didn't let the sobs escape her; she only clutched him harder, silently begging: please, don't leave me.
Mana was unsurprised when she brought her face around to see his, still holding him close, to fine that he wasn't crying. His eyes looked wet, but he didn't cry; Atem rarely cried. There was still that insane gleam of excitement in them, mixed with the sorrow of leaving her. But no, he didn't cry. Crying, he had once told her, was for weak men. He didn't cry.
He smiled, "I'm not leaving forever, Mana, I'll be back." He stroked her face, his ancient amethyst eyes smiling. "There's no need to cry, my brave one. You're letting me do something any other sane women would leave a man for, thinking he wouldn't return, and yet, you hold on." Gently, his lips graced her forehead, soft as the petals of a rose. Her fingers clasped his hand to her face. "I promise, my love, I will return to you. You trust me, don't you?" he asked this part softly, gaze intent on hers.
Helpless to his will, Mana nodded. "More than anyone," she whispered, "Atem…"
Before either could say anything more, the men began to move away. They were leaving.
Mana grew desperate, her heart racing and breath quickening as she stared desperately in to his eyes for what may well be the last time. That thought sent her in to a panic. Atem soothed her, his eyes reassuring and his words soft. "Mana, I love you," he told her softly, meant for her only. "No matter what happens, I will return to you, you hear me? Wait for me."
"I will," she breathed, "I'll wait for you, Atem, I love you. Come back to me."
Their lips met in a desperate, passionate and yet brief kiss. His fingers trailed along her cheek, leaving wisps of memories, and his supple lips were on the skin of her neck, cheek, and forehead before they were gone. Her last memory of him was seeing his confident smile as he and Mahad moved away, hands moving down her arms and then caressing her fingers until they slipped away, disappearing in to the air, as hard to hold on to as smoke.
They didn't break their gaze until the crowd of men moved between them. Mana felt a moment of ridiculous panic—she had to see him one last time. Running, she climbed on to a pole as a vantage point, and searched frantically for him, the tears making stains on her tan cheeks.
She spotted him one last time, and for a moment, they were able to share a smile before he leapt in to the leaving port with the other men. Mahad flashed a reassuring glance, and all Mana could say with her eyes was a look of pleading that Mahad bring them both home. She wouldn't be able to live without them. Her heart would shatter.
She stayed on that pole for a long time, watching them go. She sat there long after the others had left, willing them with safety. Now all she could do was wait, and that would be the most agonizing part of it all. Waiting, listening, and praying.
Anevay: (breaths out in satisfaction) Done.
Ally: Yep.
Anevay: That's it? Yep? That's all you have to say?
Ally: Oh, I mean: WHOOOO-P! I thought you knew how good you were, so I didn't think you needed a reminder.
Anevay: Oh, right—thanks, Ally. Anyway, T&R:
Reviewers: SerenePanic, fan person, Chistarpax & me!
SerenePanic: haha thanks, I know, it was meant to be confusing! ;) anyway, thanks!
fan person: Yeah, that's where I kind of was :) or just somewhere romantic ha. Don't worry, Mana, no sadness! Yeah, I figured you wouldn't mind, since you don't like the depression/romance all that much ha. Next story, k? ^o^
Chistarpax: I know, that's why I had to give it a better ending. I don't think I'll ever be able to write a real one-shot ha. Anywho, thank you! XD
Me: Aw, thank you! You flatter me ^O^ I'm glad you liked it!
Well, I guess that's it for today.
Ally: Aren't you forgetting something?
Anevay: … oh yeah! Ally, would you do the honors?
Ally: Hecks yes. You know the word! Review!
-Anevay & Ally
(Ally: Nope, nope…)
-Ally & Anevay