Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"That's right girls, bien one, two, three four." Miss Gutierrez smiled at her students clapping her hands as they danced with the classical music blaring from the speakers set up in the studio. Tea twirled and pirouetted, following the dance as best as she could, allowing herself to get lost in the song of the symphony. They were currently practicing act three of Swan Lake her school was set to perform in a couple of weeks. Through her hard work and countless hours of practice Tea had gotten the role of Odette, the lead of the ballet. Her role was massive and required her to stay long hours in the studio before and after class. This led to her social life being somewhat nonexistent.
"Good job everyone, now let us take a break we do not want to hurt those beautiful legs of your before the show." Her teacher winked at the class before gracefully exiting the room. Tea collapsed on the floor leaning her back against the wooden wall and closed her eyes. It was true, her legs were beyond sore and she couldn't help but tense up thinking of the extra hours she would have to commit later on to perfect certain poses she knew she could improve on. Things were definitely hard being so far from home and away from her loved ones. But she smiled knowing she had made it all the way to New York City and into the School of American Ballet at the one and only Lincoln Center. Tea understood the privileges that came along with attending such a prestigious school and how it could really help for her future in ballet. The access and contacts she received from the school were incomparable anywhere else and she smiled knowing one day someone would come to realize how special she truly was and take her on to be in their company. Being accepted into SAB definitely gave her a leg up, but competition was still fierce.
As she began massaging her legs and trying to relax her body as much as possible, Tea felt the eyes of another watching her at work. She looked up to see dark red hair and cold grey eyes. The combination itself was uncommon and gave the girl an intimidating aura.
"Hello Tea, hope your legs are doing okay. Like Miss Gutierrez said, we wouldn't want to hurt them before the show."
She cocked her head to the side trying to give an innocent enough look but Tea new better.
"You don't have to do that Kaya, I'm sure you have better things to do then hope my legs fall off my body before the show." Tea sneered at her locking her azure eyes with Kaya's steel orbs.
Kaya was her strongest competitor and also received the role of Odile, another major role in the ballet. Kaya was of course furious she didn't get the lead but Tea didn't let her venomous words bother her too much. She was a spoiled girl and expected the world to do her bidding. Although Tea would never admit she was a damn good dancer. Kaya felt the same about Tea and also shared her feelings of never letting Tea know. They both were so similar yet vastly different.
"If only it were that easy." Kaya grumbled before sulking away to the other corner of the room. Tea watched her sit down and stretch her legs out in an exhausted sigh. The ballet was starting to take a toll on her entrant as well.
Leaving her classroom in a hurry, Tea made her way down the hall towards the locker rooms where her things lay. She hurriedly gave the combination and peeled the tight camisole dress from her body. The dress was replaced by a large sweater that came just above her knees and her ballet shoes were replaced with some warm boots. All that remain from her time in the classroom were her baby pink tights. She grabbed her duffel and shoved her clothes inside before making her way to the large mirror at the back of the locker room where girls fought for a chance to see their reflections. Thankfully she was only accompanied by a couple of older ballerinas who needn't bother to push or shove for a spot to see any imperfections.
Tea pulled the elastic from her hair and allowed her chocolate locks to brush against her shoulders. She hadn't realized her hair had gotten longer than she normally kept it, now reaching a bit below her shoulders. She liked the longer look suiting her more mature face and it was then she realized she truly wasn't the same girl she had left back home. Her eyes seemed to carry a new purpose, no longer exuding teenaged fantasies and lightheartedness. They were more serious and determined. This was probably due to the stoic facial expressions she had become accustomed to when performing on stage. Her cheeks had become more defined, the bones creating definition along the sides of her jaw. A hand ran through her dark locks, attempting to take out any knots from her unruly hair. Time to go home, she thought.
Walking along the streets of New York never ceased to amaze the young dancer. There was always something happening, especially along the boisterous streets leading to Lincoln Center. Vendors were shouting out to tourists to buy their goods while construction workers beat their tools into the ground gallingly disrupting the sounds of the people walking, eating, living.
Tea crossed the street enjoying the icy air that stroked her face with every step. The Rose building soon came into view and she quickly picked up her pace knowing she had an important phone call awaiting her. She strode into the large structure making her way toward the elevator and up to the fourth floor. She quickly walked down to her room inserting her key to unlock the door. With a small content sigh, Tea put her bag down and collapsed on her small couch opposite the windows that showcased the beautiful Hudson River twinkling under the setting sun. Of all the things she had received and worked for, her dorm room was by far her favorite part of living in the city. Normally the school set up those who lived on campus with a roommate, but to her adamant horror, at the time, they had overbooked some students rooms and she was left virtually homeless. Thankfully the administration was very helpful and quickly set her up with one of the single rooms that were normally given to guests who would stay at the school for a short period of time. The small but quaint space had a living area where Tea had set up a couch and small television. Just a few feet from her living space was her bedroom that was located behind a wall separating the two bodily areas. The small room contained a twin sized bed and desk along with a bookshelf that ran to the ceiling as well as a small ensuite bath. There was also a large window in her bedroom that overlooked the Hudson River. The views she got to wake up to every morning were priceless and certainly made missing home easier for her.
She continued staring out into the water, her blue eyes moving with the dark condescending waves of the Hudson until her thoughts we interrupted by a ring. She looked toward her duffel bag where her phone lay and swiftly got up to retrieve it.
Her heart sped at the name written across the screen.
"Yugi." She breathed smiling. It's been so long since those letters danced on her lips. She missed her friend.
"Tea, I'm so happy to finally be speaking to you again. It's been too long." Yugi replied equally as cheerful. He did miss Tea's sing song voice.
"It has." Tea stated, before making herself comfortable on her couch again. Her eyes strayed toward the Hudson once more before continuing.
"So how are you and Joey and Tristan and everyone? It's been what, a month I think since we've last spoken?" Tea couldn't help but frown. Has it really been that long.
"Yeah a little over a month." He sounded a bit distraught but quickly shook his head. At least they were speaking now.
"But we're all doing well, Joey is still trying to get Mai to forgive him for being well you know Joey." Tea chuckled knowing her old friend all too well.
"Tristan is still sulking over the fact that Serenity chose Duke, but he seems to be getting a little better after he met this girl but that's a whole different story." Tea nodded as if he could see her.
"But besides that everyone else is the same. Rebecca is going to be visiting soon and I'm not sure if I'm happy or terrified."
Tea laughed at his comment and it was then she realized it's been a while since she had last laughed, truly laughed. Life really was taking a toll on her.
"I'm sure you'll be fine Yugi." She smiled knowing the affections Rebecca held toward her old friend were sometimes suffocating to say the least. But she meant well for Yugi, and Tea was happy her friend had someone like that in his life- whether he returned those affections or not.
"Mmm we'll see. Anyway there was another reason I called." He paused making Tea push her phone closer to her ear as if to hear better.
"I know you're aware that he's been going to school and taking classes on Ancient Egyptian culture and language. Of course he excelled in every course, it's about time he realized he knows more about his own people than the modern world will ever come to tell." Yugi couldn't help but chuckle and continued.
"Anyway because of his academic merit and achievements he got accepted into a PhD program at New York University and a fellowship offer at the Museum of Natural History working in the Egyptian exhibit. He hasn't decided whether he's going to be accepting or staying here. Of course we're all pushing for him to go, this is an insanely good opportunity and he'd have to be an idiot not to accept." Yugi paused making sure Tea was still there listening.
Tea didn't realize she was holding her breath until she breathed out allowing her arms to relax. Her body was in a very stiff and uncomfortable position but never mind that, he was coming to her new home. He was going to be walking along her streets in her city eating and watching with her people. This couldn't be happening.
"Okay." Was all she could muster before mentally cursing at herself.
He wouldn't be coming for her, the city was so big and she was located on the upper west side while he would be in lower Manhattan for the most part. It's not like they would see each other, or at the very least run into each other.
"I mean congratulations to him! He must be very excited." Tea feigned excitement the best she could and had Yugi not been one of her closest friends she may have gotten away with it.
"I know how this must feel for you Tea." Yugi said quietly. "I know this may hurt you, but this offer is something not even you would want to refuse."
Tea nodded knowing all too well the sacrifices she had to give in order to be where she is today.
"I can understand that Yugi and I'll be alright." She paused thinking for a moment.
"Is he still with her." She stated in almost a whisper. Yugi could hear the pain so clearly now it broke his heart knowing that even after two years of his partners return his beloved friend was still hurting so much.
"Yes." Was all he could say.
Tea nodded knowing the answer to her question well before Yugi had answered her.
Of course he would still be with her, he loved her, she thought bitterly.
But she couldn't help but think back to the day she heard he was back. It had only been a couple of months since she had left her friends and family behind to pursue her dreams. Everyone was keeping regular tabs on the brunette dancer and for the most part her life was content, although there was still that gaping hole left in her chest only he could fill. But at the time she knew she couldn't do anything to change the position they were all in and so it had been easier to live with the pain.
Tea smiled entering her dorm room, she was delighted they had messed up with her rooming plans because now she had a space to herself. She put her dance bag down and headed toward the small bathroom in her bedroom. With the shower on full blast she scrubbed away the sweat from her practice and allowed the hot water to relieve the soreness in her back and legs. How it felt so good against her skin.
Once done with her shower she changed into some pajamas and set to work on her laptop studying some ballet techniques her professors had given her to practice. She watched video after video taking notes of the graceful ballerina's positions and mentally comparing them to her own dance positions to give herself tips on what not to do. As she was at it, she heard her phone ring and ignored it knowing she was too concentrated to be interrupted at the moment. Her phone only rang again and she continued ignoring it until it rang the third time when she finally rose from position and grabbed the small piece of technology.
"Yes." She stated rather irritably not even bothering to check the caller ID.
"Tea! My god what are you doing we've been trying to get a hold of you forever!" Joey said exasperated.
Tea rolled her eyes at his words. "What is it Joey?"
"He's back Tea! The Pharaoh- I mean Atem is back!" Joey excitedly exclaimed any traces of annoyance wiped clean from his words.
Tea at a loss for words immediately grabbed the nearest thing for support which ended up being her couch. Her mouth was left wide open and she was rendered speechless. How could he be back? Was he not in eternal rest? Who did this? Was this some sick joke?
Question after question raced through her mind mean while Joey was giddily dancing on the other side, his chocolate eyes twirling knowing his good friend was once again walking amongst them and with a body to call his own.
"Joey what do you mean he's back? How is this possible?" she asked interrupting what she presumed was her friends happy dance from the yippees he was making.
"I don't know the details Tea, but Yugi called to let me know to get to his house as soon as possible. So I did and once I got there, well there he stood and might I say he is taller than he ever was in Yugi's body and way more muscular. Like what is up with that, the guy leaves for like six months and comes back with biceps bigger than my own." Joey huffed the last sentence only making Tea laugh. She then noticed tears had formed in her eyes and were making their way down the curves of her cheeks. Could it be true, had he really come back to her.
"Joey listen is he there right now… could I maybe talk to him?" she asked quietly.
"What? Oh yeah of course!"
Tea heard movement from his end and many voices talking all at once in a merriment of noise until she heard him.
"Tea." He simply stated. She could hear the pleasure coming from his voice, just being able to hear him say her name again only made her cry harder.
"Pharaoh- Atem, is it really you?" she couldn't help but ask, this didn't feel real. He chuckled deeply and she knew it was him. His voice was the deepest she had ever heard in a man, every word he said was slated in honey, like a fine brandy that was left for eons before finally being drunk. His voice never tasted so good.
"Yes it is me." He couldn't help but smile. It all happened so quickly, one moment he was walking along the walls of his palace, the next he was back in Yugi's room watching his young partner sleep. Yugi certainly got the wakeup call of his life that day.
"But how? You left us after you lost to Yugi, it all felt so unconditional." She quietly stated between tears.
"I know and I thought my time with you and everyone was done for that day, but I suppose faith had other plans." She could sense the smirk playing on his lips which only made her smile and her stomach do flips.
"Wait, but is this absolute?" she asked hesitantly. If he were to leave again suddenly she wasn't sure she could survive it.
"Yes, I believe this is as absolute as it can get." He replied surely.
She smiled knowingly, her heart fluttered at the thought that she would have him for the rest of her life. He wouldn't leave her again.
"I've missed you Atem." She said quietly a blush forming as the words left her mouth.
She could almost hear him smile to her words.
"And I have missed you Tea." He replied just as sincerely, his voice reaching a new concave.
Tea shuddered at his words, he didn't even have to be with her to make her body concave to him.
"Are you coming back to Japan any time soon?" he asked her, a hint of sadness wove in his tone.
She looked at her floor suddenly very aware of how alone she was in this massive city, she craved to be with him at that very moment.
"I have four years to go at my school and then hopefully when I'm done a ballet company will have taken me on and I'll be dancing wherever they decide."
All her plans seemed to annoy her at that very moment. Why did she choose to stay so far away from everyone she loved?
"Oh I see." His tone had faltered, his voice even deeper than before. How she wanted to wrap her arms around his torso and never let go.
"Congratulations Tea, I knew you were talented especially when I saw you dance for the first time so long ago." He paused. "You're graceful on your feet and you will go far."
She blushed remembering the day Yugi had set up for them. She had learned a lot about him on what feels like forever ago. He was so lost then.
"Thank you Atem, I hope to visit Japan soon especially since you're back, it only gives me more of an incentive to get my butt on a plane." She blushed not realizing how forceful her words had come out. This only made him chuckle.
"I hope to see you soon Tea."
"You too Atem."
And the line went dead.
