Link – Flashback from when he's sane again, just like last time. C: Yugi's mental state is pretty fun to write, but since it's so exposed, I worry about it a lot. I'm glad to get a lot of positive feedback for it!
Emblem – Yeah, he is…But now we get to see happy hot blindshipping sex, yaaaaay. …Maybe. Or I could just be duping you all. :P Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter XVII: Nothing But Time and the Face That You Lose
He'd easily fallen asleep.
Sweat pressed against my forehead, lips still stricken with beautiful shock of Yugi's innocently passionate kiss and I shut the door behind me, eyes closed. He'd looked the same as the day I first met him—childlike, shimmering violet orbs, petite body and fragile essence. Memories of how I had left my light compared to this encounter haunted my mind and I cursed, head dipping back into a wall. My heart beat violently in my chest, the adrenaline of riding on a horse still fresh between my bosoms.
"How is he?"
"He shall be fine." I opened one eye, aware that none of my priests had left me. Mahado had appeared while I was preoccupied, drenched in sweat and no doubt still beating off the trouble Mana had caused while trying to chase after us. Wryly I could only roll my eyes, watching as he caught his breath and Isis helped him.
Mana was without a doubt a gift from Hell, wrapped in a beautifully innocent-looking package. She'd kidnapped me, ransacked the house of both my grandfather and Aunt Nathifa to gather what little things I'd brought, and while I tried escaping, bound and gagged me with a familiar soft blue cloth before casually announcing my departure.
Mana appeared by my side, sternly yanking at my arm with lips parted. "Are you okay?"
"And what," I muttered softly, eyes narrowing. "Would you mean like that?"
"Atemu," she whispered. "How was it, really?"
I caught my breath, eyes struggling to close after the burn of being kept open for ages because my mind and body were so entranced by the fact Yugi had returned in my life. He was so devastated, horrified. Afraid. Every decision I made, the Gods thought wrong and decided to delve his fate further into Osiris's grasp. I was the puppeteer, and his captivating strings were my plaything. As I directed left, the Gods would force him right, and as I wanted up, they pushed him down.
Horrible.
I was able to rule over all of Egypt, feared by all and respected by many, all since my young age of eleven, so why was it not enough whenever all I simply desired was to protect my light?!
"Tis not fair." I placed a hand on my forehead. "Why? Why can I never make him happy, Mana?"
"Love is complicated." Mana smiled pitifully and gestured to the rest of my court. They stared at me, anticipating an order of some sort. After all, I thought pathetically. 'Twas only midday. For any of them to be gone would be a fallacy, but their duties had become only to Yugi while I was gone. Almost a month. I looked over to Mahado, studying the expression across his face as she pulled me in a hug.
"He loves another," I said clearly. He'd thought of another through that kiss. Not me. Over and over, I could hear his gentle voice squirming the one name that made him writhe from both pleasure and pain altogether—Yami. Yami. Yami. Yami.
It'd been as Yami had foretold. No matter what I did, my light would only see me as the one he belonged to. And it hurt. "Thank you," I said, deciding best to push aside the thought. Right now, I could not be the man who was experiencing the horrible birth and death of love, I was the Pharaoh of Egypt. It was my duty to my people. "For putting up with my personal life as I waver, my court."
They silenced.
"My pharaoh," Isis smiled gently, raising from her position on the couch. She strode over, languid eyes never leaving my form and peered over my shoulder. Door creaking, I watched as she looked in before glancing my way. Typical, I thought with lips cast into a small grin. She would always be my mother. "Do you still question our loyalties?"
"Loyalties." To who? Me, or Yugi? I tensing at the latter, my gaze surfaced back to Seth. But things had changed. I noted the worry and concern drifting in the azure of his eyes, lips pulled into a tight frown as he stared onward at the entrance to my bedroom and I looked to the rest of my court for answers. Shada closed his eyes and Siamun smiled, shrugging.
"We love Yugi all the same, Pharaoh." Siamun softly chuckled and shook his head gently. "We are your priests—what were we to do with the frequent moodswings constantly associated with your going through boyhood? Fall in love with one, but not the other? The spirit has been a part of you for the longest time now. At first we loved him as you—now, we know now to love him separately with the same amount of passion as we do with our pharaoh."
"He speaks the truth." Shada closed his eyes and slowly opened him. "He has affected our lives more than you know, my pharaoh."
"In conclusion, we worry about him. So, so much, Atemu." Mana cupped my face, eyes threateningly flickering with concern. She smiled softly, wearily punching my arm before placing both hands on her hips. "Congrats! You're head over heels in love! And at least this way, if you get him pregnant, you actually want to marry him!"
Opening my mouth to speak, I realized there was nothing I could say to her and shut my mouth. I was absolutely and utterly in love with Yugi Mutou. There was no denying the claim, and 'twas not like I would. Shutting my eyes, wryly comparing how my court reacted to my imprisonment with Teana compared to the obsession over my light, another thought ran through my mind. "My desire is to return him to whence he came."
They sat dead still.
"It be my wishes," I continued softly. "Mahado, please locate any spell and research what is needed to call the God of Time to escort Yugi of the Mutous back to his present day."
"But Pharaoh—"
"'Tis for the best," I glared sternly. Hands balling into fists, my stature stiffened and I passed through the door. "so let it be known: one Yugi Mutou shall return to his time, and henceforth, life will go on as if he never existed."
littleone.
'Twas a stunning garden. Light filtered through a starry skylight, bouncing off the walls and reflecting the palace's true beauty. Many columns supported the inner layers, fluttering and smooth under ominous light. Various plants were isolated from the outside world, from different parts of Egypt and truly captivating.
I'd been out here for hours.
Having grown up in palace life, the closest I would ever come to living as a commoner would be this area. Even then, really, compared to the way of life Rehema and Nathifa both lead, I was still of high rank, trapped with the feelings of a peasant and at the mercy of the spirit of the Millennium Pendant who, really, was not a spirit at all. I sat there, the soothing sound of pond water flicked around by ducks that would occasionally land.
Lotuses flew, spinning under chilly winds and a soft, aching chuckle tickled my lips. It'd been so long since I truly, really laughed. Memories fluttered through my mind, sweeping me back to the times where Mana and I would plunge into water despite Mahado or Seth's insistence that I was not to get wet. My best friend would splash me, keep my senses clogged so I could not retaliate.
Eventually I did, and my grip slipped, ending with my hitting her perfect emerald orbs with a gorgeous pink blossom. Taken aback, resilient Mana proceeded with shoving a lotus down my throat and as it got stuck past my mouth, Seth going about spanking her along with Mahado, who tried soothing me, she scampered over, smile spread across her lips before innocently ramming a hand past my tongue to pull it out.
By that time, I assume I'd passed out and at first stir, Mana rubbed her mother's kohl over my face and a partially incoherent Mahado was sputtering, crying to a clueless Isis.
"Greetings, my pharaoh. Would you like someone to talk to?"
"You would be the third." Blinking slowly and closing my eyes, I scooted to the other side of my bench and looked to the old man expectantly. Siamun's large eyes returned my gaze, the rest of his expression sheathed by a large scarf. I studied him as he studied me, and waited expectantly.
"Forgive me," he muttered so quietly that I could barely hear him. A soft chuckle reigned from his lips, the serious demeanor dropped instantly and he steadied himself before slowly resting on the bench. "I am only wondering if there was a time you would want the bench only for yourself."
"Surely there was," I mused. Picking at the loaf of bread one of the servants had given me for my dinner, I threw the entire wad into the pond water and watched frightened ducks scurry away. A frown fell across my features. Perhaps that was not one of my brighter moves.
As I stood up to retrieve the soggy food, Siamun spoke after me. "There are many of times that I remember about you, my pharaoh. All of them ending with a beautiful smile graced upon your lips."
The bread squished grossly between my fingers. Turning around and deciding I preferred standing over sitting, I gestured him forward. "Go on."
"Your first steps ended with you in your father's arms. Once you learned to walk, following dear Mahado and Seth around became your plaything. Your first word lit your world, opening so many doors now that you could form solid words." He bellowed, eyes shut closed and nostalgia radiating through his skin. "Your father was so proud of you, even with all that had gone on through this time. He struggled, really, to keep the weight of the Millennium Scale in peace and be the perfect father for you."
"My father was amazing at his job. He was my inspiration." Hugging myself more than crossing my arms, I studied his expression lightly, discomforted by where he was going with his statement. "Everything I did was with the intent of picking up where he left off and complete what he was never able to finish. At my first instance as king, Siamun, I lived in the shadow of my father and never did I question it."
"You were met with a lot of mistakes, now weren't you?"
"Yes. Yes I was." The first year without my father had been horrible. Because the court had ruled with my father for plenty of years, they expected too greatly of me. I'd thought of the weight of every one of these decisions, psyche overwhelmed because a job I thought so easy seemed so wrong. So many mistakes, all because of a conscious mind, and I'd yet to understand that there was a time to be sympathetic and a time to be wary of another's actions.
But that had been what Yugi was for. He was my crutch back then, guiding me with the decisions when they proved too overwhelming for me. As I now know, it was not any easier on him, but looking back at it now, my light already put it upon himself to protect me. He became my protector, far back then, and unconsciously I studied what actions he would take, no matter how horrible they seemed to how light.
And after that first year, envious of his ability to rule from a childlike standpoint, it'd become my trigger and of course, I flourished from it. I was the pharaoh—there was no other say behind it and I had to stand by each decision I made. The innocent jealousy bubbling in the pit of my stomach bloomed into admiration, studying what he would do in order to succeed by myself, and of course, I grew out of the weak shell unfit to rule a country and became who I was today. Maybe it was a good thing, actually, that he and I butt heads when it came to how to preparing the dam.
In fact, I probably should have argued more, rather than allowing him to take control. There was no higher being now—we were equals. Shutting my eyes and considering that fact, I knew it was also the instinct I'd felt when declaring the new goal.
Siamun caught my worry. "You've become such a wondrous pharaoh, my son. I need not the Millennium Necklace to tell me you are destined for great things as you rule."
"But back then and now are two separate things." Shaking my head gently, I closed my eyes. "Siamun, I find myself worrying every day because of the little weight I put on my decisions now. Despite how I have blossomed into who I am now, who is to say that will not lead to a horrible demise? I cannot afford to make a mistake that may cost many lives of my people. You've…already saw what happened this very night. Nearly a month before…everything, my priest. I am…" I shut my eyes. "Not fit to be the king of Egypt."
"Nonsense." He spoke his words lightly. Closing his eyes, Siamun quickly arose from his seat and cupped my face. "No matter the decision, from the shortest to those that are long and drawn out, you have exceeded expectations. Your first words, your first steps…your first law, your first punishment, they all came with some struggle that you were to overcome. Dear boy, what makes this decision so much harder for you?"
"My first love." I blinked, the declaration lifted from my mind and I could feel myself become lightheaded. Closing my eyes, I l could only bite my lip and lowered my head in defeat. "He means the world to me."
"All first loves do." Siamun shut his eyes, softly laughing. "They become the center of attention in one's heart, that the host is overwhelmed by this new, parasitic emotion until they burst, and each ache burns greater than the nibbles of sugary love. What flutters will fall twice as harshly."
"He…is my sun," I confessed. Eyes closing, my thoughts surfaced to his shimmering, violet orbs that glowed greater than Ra himself. "I…I cannot shake this feeling, Siamun. Every time I see him, I feel whole. Complete. 'Tis as if for the longest time, I'd been searching for something, scrounging for the heart that would complete my essence, and every time I lay my eyes upon his beautiful form, a little more of my psyche is complete. We were made for each other. There is no part of him that I would ever change…so…so perfectly molded by the Gods themselves and I have the uncontrollable desire to get him anything. I cannot help myself, falling under his control, and once in his vision, I cannot help but draw closer so he may see all of me. Exposed."
"Then why?" He asked softly, anxiously. Siamun shook his head gently, aggravation shining through the creases of his eyes and for a moment, he pulled away and yanked the scarf off his features. Instead, he stared at me with the sternness even my father would admire and gently shook me. "Why would you want him to be sent away?"
"I do not wish to send him away—'tis more complicated than that." Pulling away from his grip, I shut my eyes and softly sighed. Mana had given me the same talk not too long ago, incoherent and tears at her eyes as the thought sunk in that soon, her best friend would be gone. Because of this and after she had slapped me harshly across the face, Mahado separated us and urged I spend the day dwelling on this thought. But there was no second-guessing.
Yugi had to leave.
Siamun did not find my logic as understanding. Instead, he lightly tapped me on the head, concern fluttering across his grim demeanor and he slowly shook his head. "You are King, my pharaoh. Running away should not be an option."
"I am not running away. Please. Siamun," my eyes narrowed and ran a hand through my hair. "I…I cannot even have a civil conversation with him without causing some type of distraught. It is my fault and therefore, it will be my decision."
"Atemu," he muttered softly. "You love him. Why can you not simply accept this decision and confront him about it? You must tell him, at least, or it will be left to nothing."
"He loves another, and I do not want to tempt fate by corrupting that decision." Again, disapproval reining through the depths of my soul, I could only turn away, picking at the loaf of bread and pathetically threw small lumps into the pond deserted by ducks. Why did the Gods see it fair for him to appear here after all of these years? This was the boundary. This was the limit that I had, falling in love with the one person I was unworthy of and finally paying for it.
Siamun pressed a hand to my shoulder. "You seem to misunderstand what I am trying to tell you. Just because you are the pharaoh, dear child, does not mean that you do not make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes."
"I am simply trying to find a medium." Voice soft and raw from yelling in frustration, I slowly lowered my head and shook it, ashamed. "I am trying to find a decision that will please us all. That will…conclude this problem."
"Do you very much so view your desires for Yugi as a problem, my pharaoh?"
"Yes! Entirely! Completely! Totally!" Whirling around, I furiously glared at him, impatience running thick. Why did no one understand me? Why could I not make a decision, as I normally and always did, and have my viziers agree with it? "Why do you not see it as a problem for me to love someone who obviously does not want to be here?"
"Because it is as you said. He makes you complete." Siamun did not flinch. Tension wavering, I stared at him and urged for him to continue. Siamun closed his eyes, waving his head in shame. "I was wrong before, my pharaoh. The gods have sealed the fate of one Teana and you yourself, had called it. But for you to be right a second time would be a horrible miracle. This sensation, my pharaoh, do you truly want to dispose of the one person who has made you truly feel like you've achieved something in the past five years?"
"I..I…"
"Please do think about it." His voice wavered, lowering and relaxing after his long speech, and he pulled away from me. "I love Yugi, my pharaoh, as if he were my own grandson." When I did not reply, he only smiled again before his departure. "Have a good evening."
littleone.
He was still asleep. It was the first time I visited the room since my arrival, and there he lay, in a puddle of his own sweat and curled up into an adorable ball as he always was. Magnificent blond tresses, captivating ebony locks and striking creamy skin that was opposite to any one man who glowed with Egyptian pride. Eerily beautiful. Gorgeous.
Despite the fact I'd only wanted to come into the room to see if he was alright and flourishing, I found myself creeping inside and scrutinizing every part of him. He…he was so different. From the honey skin he would adopt whenever he became my form to the gentle voice that became steady and confident without arrogance, tender. But I loved him all the same. Once finding out my other self was simply another being that harbored in the pendant, I was intrigued by him. Every part of the spirit of the Millennium Pendant, I needed to know.
But the dream flashed back to me, of Yami causing him so much pain, left him jumbled and unable to form a solid thought, then wave it off as a petty misdemeanor. Yugi was forgiving. He overlooked all, did not care. Dark Magician had warned me of this quality in him and really, it was something all could see until they were blinded by their own selfishness. Like me.
I did not know what kind of person Yami was. I did not know if he was a good guy, or if he was leading Yugi on until his downfall, but that was what my little one saw me as. Deeply did I wish that when he overlooked those mistakes, he was overlooking mine, no care in the world if I kept messing up, because everything I seemed to do only made him fall more in love with me.
My hand pushed away the bangs covering his face. A smile curtsied across his lips, pure and innocent regardless of the day of panic and showed no sign of waking up.
What had he been saying over and over? Those few words repeated, rolling off of his tongue so naturally because he was from a different world. When I didn't say them back, or because I did not respond to him, Yugi was thrown into a deeper panic. I tried my best in calming him, actually ignoring what he said so that my focus could be on getting him in bed, but then he said my name. For an instant, I was not Yami, and he stared at me, eyes flooded with fearful tears and clung to me tightly.
When he was the one to kiss me instead of the other way around, I tried best not to let my emotions run wild and pour my heart and soul into that tingling contact. When he kissed me, he saw Yami. Again, confused and scared. Whatever part I pulled of the string—left, right—it would end with horrible results.
A whimper left his throat.
"Shh, shh." I lowered myself, lips pressed against his forehead and gently smiled. "I am here, you will be okay, my little one."
He relaxed again into my touch and I closed my eyes. Yes…
He would be okay soon enough.
littleone.
Mana lacked any sanity.
I suppose I should have realized that earlier, when we first met. She would have been my wife, and brought hell to my court, but obviously did not. She acted on impulse, despising the thought of rules and order, really, and was able to withstand any argument, whether it be with me, Mahado, or even Seth. Seth, really, did not treat her more than a nuisance. He did love her, I suppose, to some extent, but his limits were far stricter than mine. But of course, we had spent five days together, with minimal breaks, Mahado hot on our trail until the fourth day, when he finally caught up with us.
Which actually, did not work out very well.
She pleaded for the horse to go faster, demanding that I hold on tightly—but I really had no choice in that matter. A grimace fell across my lips and I rubbed raw wrists. Mana had tied my wrists and refused to let me go. We were so far in the desert now, that trying to run away would result in my starving for days. Fortunately Mahado had unbound me, but Mana was faster.
Looking around the stables for the horse she'd taken with her, I bit my lip, worried. I barely had the chance to pay the merchant for the beautiful, golden box. Still, I managed to retrieve it, and she had buried it somewhere.
"My pharaoh."
I tore away from my current position and came in contact with who I assumed was a slave; a Nubian. His eyes were transfixed on one horse in particular, and once I came closer, he fell to the floor and bowed. "Arise."
He nodded, face tightly-knit and continued his work. His body was long and scrawny, darker than mine under Ra's light, and had a kilt that was more of a rag than anything. Feet bare in the Egyptian sun and demeanor grim, he continued feeding the horse.
"Stunning," I commented awkwardly.
Tensing, my servant lightly scooted away as I closed in on him and continued his work slowly. His eyes did not make contact with mine and gaze was lowered so all he could see was the body of the brown stallion. Quickly looking around, I noted that he was the only one in here and all of the others who also worked the stable were gone. After all, I thought as I looked to the moon gleaming beautifully under a sheet of stars, they were most likely already asleep.
"I am assuming your duties are already finished." I raised a hand to stroke the mane of this horse and he flinched. "Do not fret. I care little of what you do." He relaxed, but only slightly, and I continued brushing my hand through soft hair. "She is tiny."
He muttered something under his breath and I gently asked him to speak louder. "She was born not too long ago."
"Ah." Staring at her delicately, the one who I assumed was her mother could be seen not far off and I delicately observed the bothered look across her demeanor. "And what is her name?"
"Kuvera." He smiled a little bit, proud of his accomplishment, and I assumed he'd been the one to name her.
"And," I said slowly, thinking back to the manners I seemed to lack but was quite curious of, "what is your name?"
He paused, blinking through the foreign stupor that'd cross his face and hesitantly continued his work. "Atsu."
"Atsu," I repeated. Studying his face, I realized this was the first time I had ever looked one of my slaves in the eye. He was tiny, and scrawny, but looked as if he were no older than me. His voice was high, barely breaking through the barrier of boyhood, and I rethought my earlier conclusion. He looked older, but childhood had probably atrophied long ago in his earlier years upon this earth. Slaves endured plenty, whipped when they did not behave and had no say. Really, I could not differentiate which slave was different from the other, but I should have. Yugi would. "Were you a twin, Atsu?"
My slave paused. He stood there, hesitantly and eyes drifting off to an unknown horizon and he slowly nodded. "Yes. Yes I was."
"Does he like to come out past his bedtime as well and play with horses such as Kuvera?" I joked lightly. He flinched, tensing at the words and I had to remind him that I was only joking.
Atsu relaxed once again and he reached over near his food for horse feed. "My older sister, my pharaoh. I came not a moment later from my mother and as I survived, she did not."
Oh. "I am sorry to bring it up."
"Oh, no, my pharaoh." His eyes widened, terrified and he dropped to the ground to bow. Furiously shaking his head, I could literally see every bone and gut tense under him as I spoke. "You are certainly not at fault for that."
"No," I muttered back, eyebrows furrowed and arms crossed. "I am certainly at fault, Atsu. I should not have asked you such a personal question and make you relive such a horror."
"The pharaoh is never at fault, my pharaoh," he insisted.
"Atsu. I am terribly at fault and 'tis fine. It is because I am only human, as are you." Smiling a bit, I lowered myself and pulled his face up to mind to see the brown eyes that complimented his white hair. He looked at me, fearfully and uncertain, but did not pull away. "Please accept my apology at your own will."
"I—I…alright." Still petrified, Atsu looked at me and waited until I released his face.
In doing so, he gathered his things like a small boy and went about caring for the horse. Still, I thought, looking at the tufts of white hair that were growing back in his bald head, I was sure I'd seen him before. "Atsu, do you truly work in the stables, or…?"
"I reside in the kitchen," he whispered softly. "I bring you your food every day, my pharaoh."
"Ah." Nodding slowly, my eyes went about elsewhere and I shut them.
"If by chance, my pharaoh, are you looking for a box?"
"Yes." Opening them again, I quickly pushed off of the wall I leaned against, lips pulled into a relieved smile. He stared at me, caught off guard, before turning away again in fluster and fell to his knees before picking up the intricately carved golden box. Hesitantly, Atsu looked up again and offered it up to me. I gathered, softly thanking him and eyed the luster associated with its beautiful design.
"It is a beautiful box, your highness."
"The only one of its kind. The merchant was terrified when finding out I of all people was asking for it." To that he meekly laughed, but I suppose if he weren't so intimidated by my presence, he would chuckle louder.
"I-If I may ask, my pharaoh," muttered Atsu quietly. "Is it possible that box is a gift for Master Yugi?"
I blinked. "I…yes. How do you know about my little one?"
He smiled softly at the term of endearment and I prudishly felt heat rise to my face. Never did I truly have someone that I spoke highly of, or so affectionately, or by a pet name. Almost knowingly, he nodded, red hinting across his dark face and he shut his eyes. "We all know about him, my pharaoh. We've…heard things. Many things. As much as we try to blend with the background, we cannot help but overhear such things."
"So you eavesdrop."
"Not purposefully or with bad intentions. At least, not I, my pharaoh." He recoiled, eyes widening as he realized what he was telling me, but I told him to continue. Shivering softly, he clasped a delicate hand around his body and looked to little Kuvera yet again. "There is a rule we must live by, my pharaoh. We listen only because our ears cannot go deaf by command, and do not utter what we hear. F…forgive me. I have simply known your troubles throughout this time."
Ah. He did not look like the type who would bite back. Atsu's gentle eyes and limp stature represented the same as a trapped cottontail. Nodding softly, I touched the bridge of his nose with my forefinger and he winced. "I am not going to hurt you."
"You…you are not?"
"I do not need Ma'at's scale to tell me if your intentions are pure or impure, dear Atsu." Instead I knelt to eye-level with him, eyes narrowing and studied his body. Despite how highly unlikely it was for him to go against any orders, large bruises and scars could be seen about his torso. His lip was red and swollen, and eye was surrounded with a dark spot of black. "What has happened to you?"
His expression quickly grew sickly, uneased by the question and quickly he knew what I was referring to. "The…little food given to us, my pharaoh. There are days where if one acts up, the entire clan pays for it and we get very little. I am…quick, I suppose, but not quick enough."
I grimaced along with him. Slowly nodding, sympathizing without truly being able to empathize, and wrapped a hand delicately around my elbow. "I am sorry."
"You are the pharaoh." He smiled piteously and shook his head. "You needn't be sorry."
"…tell me something, Atsu," I murmured softly. "Of my light."
Cute, I thought, as he immediately perked to the subject, eyes widening like a rabbit's ears. "Yes, my pharaoh?"
"He…has been shattered. Hurt," cringing at my own description, I shut my eyes and recalled my poor light's condition. There was no other way to describe it. "The smile I would normally see across his demeanor struggles, and assuming what you know of him…"
"I…I have not seen him in the kitchen for quite a long time, my pharaoh." His voice quieted, concern hinted through his tone, so injured that it almost seemed like he knew Yugi himself. "What I have…what I have heard from conversations of your great priests, he is very…troubled. Much of the food that I have made for him does not stay down for very long, and though Priestess Isis has resorted to even drugging him to numb his pains, they do not last long. If for a few moments, only."
"Have you seen his condition?"
"Once." He shivered, hands clasped around his arms and slowly, miserably shook his head. "It is not a sight one can just look at and simply brush off. "He was rambling...babbling. So weak, so fragile, but…"
"But?" I edged on.
"It…it was like the week that preparations were to be made with you and Lady Teana," he stammered weakly. Atsu petted Kuvera gently, running a bony hand down her mane, seemingly in envy and bit his lip in order to keep from…crying? "That was when he came up to me, asking if I were alright when I burned a finger. As I spoke to him, his eyes would often ride into the distance and quickly would he apologize for a mistake that he truly was not at fault for."
To that I smiled. It was something he would do, actually. A bit concerned, I leaned into this and slowly nodded. "''Tis possible that he was experiencing one of his memories. He—"
"Is a spirit of the great Millennium Pendant and suffers from amnesia. I-I…I know. S-Sorry for interrupting you, my pharaoh." He ducked his head, bowing in both humbleness and shame yet again.
"No, no. You are fine." I crossed my arms. "Go on."
"It…it does not seem as though it was the only thing that had been bothering him." Atsu shook his head gently. "He was…was heartbroken, my pharaoh. Lost. So many emotions flickering in aged eyes despite his childlike demeanor, like a thunderous storm that would not let up. Methinks…methinks he loves you, my pharaoh."
My throat went dry. "There could be no possible way that my light's heart has been stolen away by…"
"By you, your highness?"
"By Teana." But the other wasn't a possibility, either. Looking back to the box in my hand, the red across my face ceased to disappear and I was left flustered and confused. During that entire stage, Yugi was only looking out for me. 'Twas the only time I was forced away for him against my will rather than declaring my hopeless wishes and wistful desires. Other than the time I first met Teana, they'd never spoken two words to each other. Not that I've known of, at least.
"If…if he is not heartbroken by her," he murmured quietly, "Are you positive that his heart has not broken by you?"
It would have meant the world to me if that was truly the case. Swallowing the large lump in my throat, I thought about it, of how utterly impossible that could be and how so I very wished it. Looking at the box again, I could not help but become swept in by its presence. There was something majestic about it, with much more importance than what the vendor had told me, or even the large chest in Yugi's soul room.
"If I may say, my pharaoh," Atsu murmured again, falling to one knee with his gaze plastered on the ground. "As I have been the walls and ears of the palace…sometimes it appears that two people may become so blinded by infatuation that when near the other, they are completely sightless. As humble as you've decided to appear before me, is it…is it possible that you've yet to consider Master Yugi's role in all of this? Of how he felt?"
Yes, well…that was the problem. I was so consumed and blinded by my infatuation, like Atsu claimed, that I had not. His dark eyes challenged me to look deeper. What if it were possible, for my role and his role to be reversed? If I were the spirit of the Millennium Pendant, watching him grow and strive for years, what would my reaction be?
I thought about this, putting every characteristic of my light's essence into play. If I were the spirit and he was the host with a missing father, cared for only by those around him. If I'd dwelled for years, taking notes but only looking and protecting my light from danger and raising my voice where he himself was timid. His personality and mine were such a clash that at first I could possibly see him as weak. Just a host. But with time, polishing grungy rocks and turning them into diamonds, I would probably become possessive of my vessel.
Never would I allow another to touch him and injure him, yet still be conflicted with this demanding trait; able to become his guardian, but not truly his protector, it seemed only natural at this point for the shell of wary protection to be broken and be…jealousy. Love.
A smile spread across Atsu's face as he seemed to understand my own epiphany. "I bid you a good night, my pharaoh."
"Wait." I looked back up to him, watched as he paused, and pressed a hand to my hip. "How would you like to be promoted? Not just a slave, but a servant of my kitchen?"
Atsu froze. "My pharaoh…"
"I am feeling generous tonight, Atsu." I smiled gently, knowing I could not give him anything higher than this job, but it was better than succumbing to slavery. "You have helped me and I am a pharaoh who always returns gratitude. 'Tis the least I can do, your way with food is amazing. That being said, I would be paying you and you would have privileges to come to the horse stable whenever you would like."
His eyes widened to the size of a young rabbit's and hands fell to his side. The wish, it seemed, was too good to be true. "That's so…I mean…"
"You can either accept the job or I demand you become my servant." Smiling softly, I cradled the box and leaned into the wall. "Gather your things and tomorrow, you will be a servant, whose hours are more generous than a slave, and free to roam and to…to buy food for yourself, when given the money."
"I…I…thank you, my pharaoh." He fell to his knees, happily bowing over and over. I strode over, gently pressing a hand to his shoulder.
"You are most welcome, Atsu." Pulling away, I bid him a good night. The light, intricate carvings of the box caught my finger nails and I decided to sit there, on a pile of smelly hay with Kuvera as my company, contemplating my place in this world.
littleone.
"Have you found anything?" It was early morning and I had stayed up all night thinking of what the slave had told me. When finally coming up with many plausible conclusions, I decided to come to the massive library where Mahado was most likely to be found.
"No. And I don't plan to."
"I was not talking to you, Mana." Though childish, I could not help but laugh at her pout and grazed the binding of many textbooks. Dirt had gathered in the great library, dusting old scrolls and other lessons hidden in the books. Staring at them, I was able to make out the names of some of them—Spiritual Encounters. Times of the Gods. The Guide to a Beautiful Sandwich.
I blinked, looking back to Mahado and Mana, who'd occupied themselves with looking through books. My best friend, less strenuous of the two, had found a chair to sit on, feet kicking the desk and grudgingly relaxed as she looked through a scroll that seemed to be advice on how to make a natural face cleanser. Frowning, I walked over and gently pulled the papyrus from her hands.
"I was looking at that!" She cried, annoyed.
"You should be looking for the scrolls that will allow us to return Yugi to his rightful time." I tossed the scroll aside, frown upon my lips and I softened at the first sign of swollen emerald orbs. She faltered, looking away angrily and shoved her hat and bangs over her eyes. "Mana, it's for the best."
"No! It isn't!" Twirling around, Mana locked onto my gaze, fresh tears falling down her cheeks as she violently shook me. "It's not fair! It…it totally isn't fair! Five days on a horse, just to try and find you, and you decide to send him away?!"
"Mana, we've had this talk already." My eyebrows furrowed and I placed my own hands around her in attempt to soothe her. Mahado glanced over, own expression blinded by his headdress and I sighed. This would be something I had to talk to Mana about personally.
"No, you've talked about it, and and…and because you're the pharaoh, Master Mahado automatically goes along with you and…and because I'm his apprentice, I automatically have to go with what he says." She pounded my chest, shoving me away and jabbed a finger to my chest accusingly. "Stop telling him what to do so he stops telling me what to do! Why is it that you're so lost in that big head of yours that you can't see Yugi's been asking for you?"
"He's been asking for Yami."
"Well, who else is he supposed to ask for if you didn't answer his cries the first time?" Mana turned around, angrily glaring at Mahado. "And what about you?! Why did you help him, when you've seen how crushed he's been, too?! Why did you run away?!"
"Mana, calm down." I placed a hand on her shoulder and she slapped it away.
Mahado sighed gently. "Mana—"
"No!" She furiously shook her head and harrumphed. "Yugi has been conflicted for a long time now and you don't even care! You've never given him a chance to say his thoughts, and the second you realize, 'Oh, he knows how to think', you run away! Who wants to be with that, Atemu, who?"
"He is only here because he lost his memories," I retaliated. Glaring at her so harshly, Mana quickly lost her gruffness, recoiling and stared at me, suddenly unsure of herself. "Think about it further, Mana. Who is to say that once he finds his memories, find out who this 'Yami' character is among everything else that he would not want to return?"
"But...but I don't want him to leave." Her voice miserably shrank. "He's…he's the only person here who will actually talk to me."
"I talk to you, Mana," I said gently.
"But you're not him!" She crumbled again, tears exploding down her face and softly sobbed. Pounding my chest again, she withered against me, lightly trying to beat me up and I steadied her. "He's…he's not you. Everyone around here treats me like I'm some little kid, but not him. He makes me feel important, Atemu. I could…I could run to him any time I was having any problems and he allowed me to stay."
They were best friends. Of course she would feel like this. It'd been my earlier analysis too, right after I announced my intention of bringing Yugi home when Mana slapped me. He'd made it clear they were nothing but friends, either.
Mahado appeared before her, high and tall compared to both of us and lowered his gaze in concern. "My little apprentice, were you not the one who told us of our faults? That said to enjoy childhood?"
"Oh! How can I be the only one to enjoy childhood if everyone else around me is already so old they don't find the need to?!" Mana clung to his robes. He took a step back, surprised, and she continued. Mana withered, scooting away from both of us with her eyes never leaving Mahado. "I could talk to him about that, though. He's easy talk to, for everyone. I…I could tell him everything. Tell him how I felt, how I felt about you…"
I blinked, looking between both of my friends. Mahado stiffened, blinking through his bangs. Taken off guard, his demeanor slowly withered and he reached out to touch her. "Mana, I—"
"Just forget it!" Twisting her footing, Mana threw her hands up into the air and bolted for the door. "Forget the both of you!"
"Mana!"
I held onto his wrist before he had the chance to leave. Frustration bubbling across his demeanor, I simply shook my head. "She has yet to understand why 'tis so important for Yugi to return to his own time. We cannot help it."
He stared at me, face still tight before relaxing. Shutting his eyes, Mahado returned to his many scrolls. "Why would you want to return him to his own time?"
"Because…because at the moment, having my light choose where he would like to be is not good for him. 'Tis unhealthy and I do not want him to stay, looking back at his memories and wondering what could have been." Propping myself onto the desk, I watched him continue his busy work. His eyes stayed glued to the book, solemn, and contemplative. I frowned. "What I feel for Yugi is no different than what you feel for Mana, Mahado. Under these circumstances, Yugi belongs to a different world, one where kilts are called pants, and blue is a purer color than white."
Blinking at my logic, I continued. "On the other hand, Mana is within reach. She has stayed single, was desperate to study under your hand, and to this day greatly respects you. Do understand, no one in my palace would place ill-feelings over it. On the contrary, they would be happy that your relationship flourishes. You have my blessing."
Mahado stopped, refusing to look away from his book. Slowly shutting his eyes, he nodded and softly smiled. "I thank you for your sympathy, my pharaoh."
I smiled back, nodding. "I wish only the best for you two. Go ahead, if you wish, to talk to her. Calm her down. I assume the two of you have been up here for quite a while and…really, that much time with Mana is enough to drive a person insane." Crinkling my nose, I narrowed my eyes and arched an eyebrow, awaiting his agreement.
He chuckled again, slowly turning my way and shut the book between his fingers. "I found the book with the proper spell a long time ago."
"You did?" Arching an eyebrow, I watched as he reached over under the desk and pulled out an old book filled with different hieroglyphics. He placed it in my hands. "If you had found it hours ago, then why did you…ah. You wanted to stay up here a bit longer with Mana."
His cheeks flared. Coughing to cover up the truth, Mahado pulled away and gestured toward the door. "I will go talk to her now."
"Good luck."
As I wished him off, I flipped through the book. It was by an old priest from long ago who attempted time-traveling (or so he says) and his many efforts before succeeding. The last chapter was the actual magic and what he had done.
Clasping the book closed, I sat there. We were really going to do this.
Five years with my light, and we were going to send him back to his time, where he belonged. It was odd, I thought as I reluctantly slid off the chair, anthology at hand and slowly began wandering back to my room. Five years with my light and I'd known nothing else. I'd lived, breathed, and slept Yugi. Fantasized about him, imagined what it would be like, him under me and shivering.
Well, he had been writhing and shivering. But not in the way of my desires. Paling at that thought in particular, I grimaced and stared into the sun. "May it follow you wherever you go, little one."
Isis would no longer have to act as a mother, tending to her child. Seth would not bombard him with demands and tempt his anger. Akhenadin would not spook him, Mana would not have a best friend—
I shut my eyes. Mana would not have her best friend, and neither would I.
But it was for the best. Yami would take care of him now. I only wished, hoped that this Yami's character proved better than mine…despite what I'd seen so far. Grimacing, I thought of the other figures I helped him figure out. Seto of the Kaibas, Rebecca of Hawkins, and Anzu Mazaki. The last one had a striking resemblance to Teana, and what I could see, brought both uneasiness and comfort to my light. Perhaps that was why I was so attracted to Teana earlier in my life. Because of him.
He'd pushed me. He wanted me to get married. Yugi would ways be looking out for me, and it was time that I looked out for him.
The door creaked open as I pushed against it. Opening the book and reading through all of the old man's babblings yet again, I ordered for the slave to fill my bath with water and shed the cape around my shoulders. He spoke of riddles, of how time was something only the gods could rule, but not a man's plaything. But returning Yugi back to his era was certainly not considered a plaything.
I looked out the window into the horizon. Please forgive me, great goddess Ma'at. Please, this is what must be done for my light.
"Please," I murmured shakily. "Please."
"You…you're back. You're really back."
"Yugi." The book dropped from my hand, slips of papyrus scattering across the floor as I turned around and met the gaze of my light. He was not fully asleep nor half asleep, but awake. Truly awake, and completely aware of his surroundings. The glow in his skin had returned, beautiful and luminescent as ever. Face plump, blond streaks delicately curled around his cheeks and he stood high, casually.
Yugi's eyes fell to his hands, curling and uncurling them in attempt to see if his body was truly healthy. His hair still seemed damp from what I assumed was a shower, and he was dressed in his normal clothes, unlike the blanket wrapped around him the night before. The Millennium Pendant dangled around his neck, so out of place but a fitting touch.
"Are you alright?" I asked, taking a step forward. He caught this and fumbled back, sitting gently on the bed and broke into a struggling smile.
"Are you?"
"Please, little one. Do not do that, I simply wish to know of your condition." Instinctively, I licked my lips, the sensation from last night returning from when he had kissed me. He tensed, then drooped against the mattress. "You…have been sick for the past few weeks. Incoherent."
"Oh." His voice dropped again and he shut his eyes. "So you know."
"Of course I know," I insisted, and walked up to him, hands resting on his shoulders. "I have been worried sick about you, little one."
"Then why did you leave me?" Yugi's voice was steady and I stopped. I suppose some part of me had hoped it was like his memory of Orichalcos, that he wouldn't remember what had happened.
"Yugi," I tested hesitantly, "do you remember what happened last night?"
"What happened last night?" He repeated. Yugi clasped a hand to his forehead, and I cringed. His form once again seemed limp, vulnerable, and I should have understood long ago that my light was a strong-looking bridge that at any moment could crack from the inside. "I…I yelled at Silent Magician. Priest Seth gave me a bath. That's about all I remember, though."
"You kissed me." The words left my lips before I had the chance to think of something less crazy to say. Yugi stiffened, eyes plastered to the ground and unable to look back up to me.
"I…I don't remember…"
"Yugi, you kissed me. I did not kiss you, and you were the one to initiate it." I continued, crouching down before him and vaguely did I remember this scene from my childhood, where he'd collected me, set my body on the bed and told me I was the new pharaoh. But things were different now. Very different.
"Atemu…" His eyebrows furrowed. Slowly shaking his head, Yugi's hands appeared between his legs and he bit his lip. "Atemu, I don't remember…"
"I know." He never knew. Smiling a bit, I cupped his face. If this was the last instance I would see him, then I wanted to remember it well. I pulled away, watching the surprise in his demeanor. "I missed you."
Yugi shivered. "I missed you too."
"I…I wanted you to know," I murmured softly, eyes closing shut. "I will no longer attempt to court you."
"I…I…what?"
"I will not put you in a position where you feel conflicted, my light." I continued to kneel, looking up to the beautiful light that'd captured my heart and generously smiled. "You have more to worry about than just me trying to seduce you. Yugi, for years you have overlooked my mistakes and as a person, I've learned so much from you. You are my everything. But what I may feel about you is not automatically what you feel of me, and you've treated me as a person. You've treated everyone as a person. My court loves you. And…I love you." Quickly, I added, "but that does not automatically mean you feel the way I do about you."
"A…Atemu. Ya…" I stiffened, fear in my stomach as I realized those words may have triggered something, but he continued, completely normal. "You…you can't do that."
Looking up, I caught sight of the tears streaking down his face. Standing, I quickly lowered myself and wiped the tears out of his eyes. He slapped my hand away. "Yugi?"
"Atemu." A whimper slipped from his throat and he ducked his head. "Atemu, I…I don't want you to…to give up on me. It's just…it's—gosh darn it, it's all just so n-new to me, and…you can't do that. Please…please don't do that." He fell forward, clinging to my neck and I stared at him, confused.
"But you love Yami," I murmured softly. "You belong with Yami."
Rubbing his back in order to sooth him, he fiercely shook his head and pulled me closer. "Please don't leave me…Atemu, please don't."
"Yugi—"
"Atemu!" He hugged me closer and I latched onto him in order to prevent myself from falling. Looking down to him, surprised, I gently rubbed his back and frowned. His soft sobs were chaos in my ears, and I had absolutely no idea how on earth to sedate him.
"I won't leave you. Shh, Yugi. I promise, I will not leave you." Falling into him, I pulled away and leaned over the bed. "I will not leave you. I promise."
"Why…why did you leave me in the first place?" He shut his eyes. "You…we promised each other. You and I were going to start over, and we were going to be real friends this time. And then…then you left. For the longest time, I thought you hated me. That you were lying. Atemu, I'd be in this bed and I tried so hard to be angry because now that Teana has passed away, I thought you'd want me as…a concubine."
"Yugi, I would never—" But he was right. I'd given him happy kisses and seductive glances all the time, flirting rather than getting to know my light. Faltering, I brushed hair out of his face and sighed. Why on earth was I born with so much stupidity? "Little one, in no way have I ever intended to make you mine in that sense."
He stiffened. "So it was fake."
"No, of course not—"
"E-Everything you did was fake. The kisses, the hugs...it was fake. O-Oh. Oh, Ra…"
"Yugi!" I shushed him, pressing a finger to his mouth and cupped his cheeks. He trembled, tears reforming in his eyes and I wiped them away as he stared at me, anticipating disgust. Rejection. Softly sighing, I shook my head and pressed my crown to his. "As I've said before, little one, I had no intention to make you my concubine. When I left, it was with worry. You were not yourself, and I had been the cause….I was the trigger to many of your memories and you suffered from it. I left because I had no restraint."
Closing my eyes, I ran a hand through my hair. "I have never been in a relationship before," I continued. "Your presence has overwhelmed me, little one. And as narcissistic as it is for me to say, it seems that as high up as I am in rank, the only thing that may ever happen to me is…fall. When it comes to dealing with you, I either overstep or understep. And for that, I am very sorry."
"A-Atemu," he stammered. He sniffled, wiping the snot that dare dribble down his nose and turned away, frustrated. "Please don't hate me."
"I could never hate you!" I stood up, shocked at his words and fell to my knees in front of his form. Yugi flinched, startled. "Little one, I have loved you since the day we first met. I have been intrigued, only by you. What I do, always, will always be to make you happy." I stared at him, pleading for a response and clasped a hand over his. "I love you. So, so much."
He was speechless. Yugi stared at me, surprise spread across his face and he looked away, red across his cheeks. "O-Oh."
"I love you." I repeated, pulling his face into mine. "I love you."
"I…I…" He tore away, shaking yet again, but I could not stop myself either. Softly kissing his nose, he'd turned a darker shade of red.
"Little one, I love you."
"Atemu…" Yugi softly laughed, head buried into his knees before shaking his form and looking up again. A shy smile reluctantly spread across his face and I caught a tear left over from his face. "I just…I just don't know how."
"What do you mean?" I busied myself with straightening out his form, brushing the dust off his coat and ridding him of the rest of his wet agony.
"It's too good to be true. Y-Your…loving me, I mean." He struggled to get that out, shivering, and caught my hand. "I mean…I've been watching you for years now. Watch you grow, make sure that you had someone to pick you up whenever you fell, and…I wanted to become that brother to you."
Oh.
"B-But," he continued, noting the disappointment that'd appeared across my features. "It's changed. All of it's changed, Atemu. Somewhere between helping you build the puzzle and making sure you were able to stand up, outside of your father's shadow…I started…f-falling in love with you."
He…what? My eyes widened, ears perking in disbelief. I'd been right. That earlier analysis of him, the one as sweet as honey was so right and it seemed as he said, too good to be true.
My light sheepishly reached out, catching a bang as it fell across my face and pulled the crown away from my forehead. He continued, eyes wandering over to the morning sun and became lost in his own thoughts. "I've always loved you. It was inevitable, Atemu. But with me in the puzzle and you out here, I never thought it possible and always shoved that possibility to the back of my mind. And Yami…Yami's not…I mean…" He struggled, incoherently babbling before he shook his head and leaned over. "Yami is not important to me. Yami is in my past."
"L-Little one…"
He tentatively leaned over, scooting by my side until our legs were touching and pressed a kiss to my lips. He continued chastely, his against mine so innocently and still trembling throughout it. When I didn't respond, he attempted to push away, and I demanded for him to stay.
A soft gasp left his throat and I deepened, tossing his arm around my neck and latched onto his waist. Unused to this sensation, he immediately tensed and bucked, but gradually got into it. Opening my mouth, I allowed him to timidly continue his exploration and urged him on. As I predicted, his tongue peeked through my mouth. A squeak left his throat as I slowly tongued it with my own and he tightened his grip around me.
In the long run, we toppled over, Yugi under me and holding on for his dear life as our legs tangled together. He froze for a moment and I stopped, pulling away to catch a breath. My light clung onto the front of my tunic, again trembling and I patiently waited for him to get a better sense of what was happening.
Stirring from that hesitant kiss, he squirmed again, eyes wandering everywhere but my face. "A-Atemu…"
"Yugi," I muttered back.
"Atemu, could w-we…?"
I stopped, staring at him as his eyes surfaced above me and looked toward the ceiling. The red again fell across his face, the heat of his body having risen hotter than the sands of Egypt. I tilted my head carefully, watching this happened and slowly raised his quiet question. A small smile broke across my face and he buried his head into my chest. "Would you like me to make love to you, little one?"
"U-Uh…"
"I," I murmured softly, pulling him off the bed and allowing him to straddle my lap, "am only happy that we have cleared some things up, little one. I love you, and I only want you to be comfortable. If…you will allow me to have you, that is."
"Atemu…" He stared at me, body still shaking and I pulled away, smiling. I had my light. 'Twas all I wanted, and despite how disappointed I was that I could not bed him, I felt complete. Yugi's heart was mine and mine alone.
As I pulled away, Yugi caught me, hand tugging at my tunic yet again and he kissed me. I opened my mouth to speak, but had been blocked. His wavering hands worked its way around my neck, shaking as they picked at my collar and I stared, startled. He continued, pulling it over my head and his gaze did not leave mine.
"Please," he whispered. A small trembling hand reached to grab my face and he stared at me, grave and serious. "I-I want you, Atemu."
I stared at him, contemplating these words and slowly nodded, one hand over his. Kissing him gently, I pushed his feverish form into the bed again, scrutinizing all that was my light and kissed his nose. "Alright."
He squeaked as I changed tactics, lips pressed against his cheek bone as my hand traveled down his torso and onto his lower belly. A soft breath left him and I pulled his arm around my neck. Yugi raised, slowly slipping the blazer past his shoulders and held onto me limply. Another squeak left his throat and he choked on what I assumed was a moan.
Warmth trailed down his body, tingling with each of my touches and I pushed the hem of his short black tunic over his belly.
"Haaaah…." He seethed, softly breathing and creating canyon where my hand was. I smiled, tickling his sides enough for him to squeak again and hold onto me tightly. Chills ran through my body and I stopped for a moment, staring at the Millennium Pendant against his chest. Softly panting, my little one followed my gaze.
"It has to be taken off," I whispered softly.
"O-Okay." His fingers strummed around the lace and I stopped him.
"Can you afford it? It would be bad if…I do not want our first time to be…" Frowning, I stared at it, shivering at the memory of my pale light being brought back to the palace, fainted and limp until we put the jewel around him.
"I-I can," he stammered weakly, eyes falling again. Yugi looked up to me, assurance flickering in magenta orbs again before he pulled it off his neck. "If…if I'm with you." To prove his point, my little one pulled me into another kiss.
Humming, I smoothly ran up his torso, fingers brushing against his nipple. He squirmed again, flinching and I took the initiative to pull his garb over his head. Yugi caught his breath and I looked down to it carefully. Lowering my head, I kissed his nipple.
"A-Ah—" He choked on his moan, clasping one hand to his lips and his other arm wrapped around my neck. I kissed it again, taking it within my mouth and lightly licked it. Yugi bucked against me, fingers digging into his own mouth and tensed.
My fingers traveled down to his belly, lower, until it was in the waist of his kilt. Surprisingly, there was a large enough gap between the cloth and his clenching stomach, and I dared venture further, but was careful when he froze. My hand was met with a different cloth, material thinner than a shenti and he squirmed again, eyes widening in fear.
I pulled up, kissing him again and plunged my tongue into his mouth. He gasped, writhing up against me and surprised me by sucking it. My fingers tickled the large bulge again, this time met with a soft moan and I rubbed against it.
"A-Ah…" Yugi pulled away, surprised, and I continued this motion. Softly stroking it, I watched him, confused as he writhed and squeaked, but...
"Yugi, you can moan if you want to." My fingers continued, restrained by the lack of space in there and he covered his eyes with his forearm.
"People will hear," he choked shyly.
A smirk fell across my lips. Pulling away and allowing him more room, I sat up against him, arm bent at an awkward angle as I continued stroking what little I could in restrictive area. The palm of my other hand clasped against his nipple, and he gasped, pushing up against the bed again.
Yugi bit his lip, shivering. "A-Atemu..."
"Please." Lowering myself to kiss him again, I buried my face deep into the crook of his neck and nibbled on what skin I could find. My hair tickled his face, and he crumbled. Hand down his kilt and squeezing the cloth more than stroking, he trembled against my body again. "Scream as loud as you want, little one."
"I-I…uh…ah….a-aah…." Hesitantly as he shut his eyes, Yugi's lips parted into a loud, soft moan and I took that as my sign to continue.
Pulling away, I stared at him and the kilt; the strange contraption and metal circle at his hips before frowning. I picked at it, unsure of how to get the thing off, but did not want to alarm him. I put him on my lap, kisses to his neck yet again and fumbled with unclasping it.
"A-Ah…At-t-temu…" Yugi whimpered softly, arms tightening around my neck and he pulled away. Leaning against the bedpost, Yugi pushed my fingers away and unbuttoned it with ease.
I frowned. "You will have to show me that the next time we do this."
He shivered, pulling me back above him and blushed. "N-Next time."
Watching as his kilt swayed back and forth as he shook his hips, I sat between his legs, pulling the strange garb off. Wow. Licking my lips, I savored all of my little one's form and stared at the blue shenti around his groin. They slid off with much ease, and he immediately clasped a hand over his eyes.
A soft whimper left his throat and in order to soothe him, I leaned over and pulled his hands away. "Why are you so scared?"
"I-I've never…I-I mean…," his voice dropped, and Yugi buried his face into my shoulder. "I-I must…look s-so wrong right now…"
"You look beautiful," I muttered back.
"A-Atemu..."
A grin spread across my lips and I cupped his erection for the first time. He gasped, leaning into me and a soft whimper left his lips. Slowly, I began to stroke it, squeezing liquids as it dripped from the slit of his cock and kissed him. He fidgeted, unused to the sensation.
That was right. My light was a virgin.
Eyes widening at that realization, I secured a hand around his waist and continued to slowly stroke, not allowing myself to overwhelm him and hesitantly went faster; hand rubbing what was entirely my light.
"A-Atemu," he breathed, a long drawn out moan escaping his lips. His eyes squeezed shut and he trembled. "Atemu, I—"
The burn of friction between my hand and the skin of his erection was amazing. I kissed him lazily, but most of my focus had gone to giving my light pleasure. Lips meeting his nipple, I sucked it again and heard him scream.
Hot liquid oozed into my hand, squirting against most of his belly and my thumb. Pulling away, I took in the beautiful sight of Yugi, who panted and crumbled. His heat radiated throughout the rest of him, eyes shut and sweat drenched against his pink body. Pulling away, I reached over to the high shelf above my bed and grabbed a small bottle. He whimpered, tugging at my tunic and I kissed his forehead.
A chuckle left my lips. "We're not done yet."
Yugi's tired eyes widened, more from curiosity than from terror. "W-We're not?"
I undid the belt around my waist and tossed it aside. He softly gulped, eyes glued to the discarded piece of cloth and pulled the tunic over my head. His eyes widened, and I leaned into him, skin against skin. The oil coated my entire hand as I pulled it open and I kissed him gently. He moaned, entirely comfortable now and I brushed against his entrance.
Yugi tensed, eyes shooting open. I pushed against him, lips nibbling his and pushed a finger inside. He bucked against me, alarmed, but I continued, finger searching for anything. It was better to make this quick and painless, rather than prolong it. He softly whimpered again, fear surfacing in amethyst orbs and hands on my shoulders.
"I love you," I murmured when pulling away. My finger continued, searching for that one spot would make him—make him shiver. He breathed again, and I tickled his prostate.
"A-Ah…" His voice hiked an octave higher and I smiled.
"Does that feel good?"
"V-V-Very…"
"Spectacular." I bit my lip, hesitantly kissing his sweaty forehead and pushed another finger through him. He clenched around me, and quickly did I wince. A soft cry left his throat, and it was a hard stretch between both fingers. Softly shushing him, I rocked back and forth, fingers tickling that spot time and time again before scissoring him. Yugi whimpered.
"O-Okay," he stuttered softly.
"Okay," I muttered back. Getting off of him, I pulled the shenti off of me and breathed, relieved to finally have its throbbing form unsheathed. Quickly, I lathered it, softly moaning as the cold liquid coated my cock. It felt amazing. All the while, little Yugi stared at me, mouth parted and speechless.
"B-Big." He blushed.
I nodded gently, softly kissing him with the head of my erection at the arch of his ass. My little one shivered again, hands swinging around my neck and urged me on. Softly penetrating him, he gasped.
"A-Atemu…" A loud squeal left his throat in pain as he tried to keep it in, and I kissed the crook of his neck. Slowly pushing into him, easing my way through as he clenched and unclenched, my hands played with his chest and I fondled his nipples. He softly groaned, and I continued until the tip of my cock touched something that made him shiver. "A-Atemu…f-faster."
Absolutely perfect. Doing as I was told, I quickly pulled out, noticing the discomfort across his demeanor and thrust in again. He screamed, arms tightening around my neck and I repeated this action.
Instantly, his cock became hard again between my belly and his. I clutched it with the other hand, thrusting and moaning. So utterly, delectably beautiful.
"A-Atemu…ah….uh….h-hah…" Yugi writhed, head buried to the side of me and a moan left my throat. "I'm not going to…I-I'm…I-I mean…g-guh…"
I thrust harder into him, a soft moan escaping my lips and he screamed, coming all over my torso and his yet again. His tightness around me clenched harder, taking me off guard and I groaned before releasing myself.
Warmth surrounded my arousal. I shut my eyes, breathing in the scent of my sweat melded with his before gazing over him. His form, feverish and red under me, tears at his eyes and I softly chuckled, sighing against the rest of my release and lowered my head to his. He panted, exhausted and wavering as his arms situated above me.
Yugi pulled me into a hesitant kiss. "I…I love you."
"Me too." Wrapping an arm delicately around his waist, I pulled the sheets over us despite Egyptian heat and breathed in his scent. Yugi pulled into me, head resting against my neck and arms around my waist. "I love you, little one."
He fell asleep instantly, a soft sigh escaping his lips and I held him closely.
The door slowly crept open, revealing my priestess. I gestured toward the door and she blinked. A soft laugh left my throat, assuming that it was another attempt in trying to convince me to have Yugi stay. She left the room, a knowing smile spread across her face. Never, I concluded. Maybe someday he would have to leave and I would never see hair of my light again, but never again would I make that decision for him. He may come and go as he liked, and I would still love him. Because, I concluded with a weary head.
Yugi was mine.
Author's Note:
Two things, if your mind is a bit clogged. Atsu means twin, which is why Atemu asked that, and Atsu is implied to be the AE incarnation of Ryou, so yes. :P Thanks for all of your reviews, and we're not done yet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and uh, reviews would be nice!