I had some fun writing this next part of the story...and I hope you enjoy it! -Shelby-
Disclaimer: I do not own the Yu-Gi-Oh! series.
Atem sat on his mount and watched her run through the scarce trees towards the picnic shelter. His breath came in excited wisps of silver smoke. If he was ever going to confirm that this girl was indeed the dream girl this was to be his opportunity. He urged his horse to walk slowly, almost at a stalking pace, so as not to frighten her. He stopped twenty feet from the shelter, dismounted and began creeping quietly to the picnic tables.
She sat there quietly, shaking and rubbing her arms. Atem wanted with all his being to rush over and offer her his cloak. As he stepped onto the paved foundation, she whirled around and began to run.
"No, wait!" Atem shouted and bolted after her, catching her elbow with his strong hand. "Please, wait, my love!" he panted.
"What the—Get your hands off me!" Anzu screeched, trying to wrench her arm out of his vise-like grip. "And what are you doing calling me your 'love'?"
"Oh, please forgive me." Atem kneeled before her and held her hand. "I am Prince Atem of Egypt and you are my heart's one true desire, my lily," he continued, raising her hand to his mouth and pressing his lips against her soft flesh.
"What? What are you talking about?" Anzu grunted while she retrieved her hand. The place where his lips touched her hand sizzled like hot coals.
"Oh, my love, don't you recognize me?" Atem stood and grasped her hands with his. She shook her head. "Oh, sweet maiden, how I love you! Since you first came to me I have loved you!" He took one and wrapped it around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Her light perfume made his senses reel and swim with pleasure. Her eyes, however, were crackling with anger and fear.
"Please, I don't know who you are, but if Yugi put you up to this, tell him your job is done because you are freaking me right out!" Anzu backed away from the intense gaze of Atem's eyes. Anzu was hesitant to reply until she looked into his eyes which expelled nothing but childish innocence and curiosity. He looked a lot like Yugi...
"Yugi is my best friend," Anzu replied slowly. A smile began to spread across Atem's face, revealing two perfect rows of white teeth. He stepped forward slowly and held her gaze.
"And what is your name, lotus?" He took to taking her hands in his, squeezing them gently.
"My name is Anzu," she replied warmly. She couldn't help but adore those boyish charms he possessed.
He kissed her fingertips gently and whispered, "Ah, my lovely Princess Anzu."
He brought her back to the shelter and draped a corner of the cloak over her shoulders. Her shaking had now ceased, which made him happy. Shyly he slipped closer to her, draping more and more of the cloak over her.
She in turn, could feel the approaching heat of his body as he drew closer and closer until he said immediately beside her. Never in all her sixteen years had she experienced such devoted attention from a boy, let alone this strange "prince". They sat quietly for a moment until Anzu turned to speak to Atem.
"Seriously, who the hell are you? Do you think you can just pop up out of nowhere, hunt me down like an escaped fugitive, proclaim your confessions of love and have me melt into your arms just like that?" She looked at him coldly for a moment, but then regretted her harsh look at the disappointment written across his handsome face.
"I did not realize that you felt this way," he started slowly. He wanted to hold her hand again, but with the fear of making her angry or worse, he restrained himself. "I only thought you would recognize me because you visited my dreams all the time." He looked in her eyes, wishing she could understand the severity of his love.
"I've never seen you before! Why do you keep saying that?" Anzu was growing furious at his persistent claims of these 'dream visits'. "I've never been in your dreams, I don't know who you are and I most certainly don't love you!" she screamed.
His breath came in too fast, too sharp. He couldn't believe he was hearing this. How could his one true love not love him in return? After all the things they talked about, after all the jokes and laughter they exchanged, all the things they did together…how could it all be a farce? Surely all those things had happened, surely! Grasping her hands tightly with his, he looked her sternly in the eyes.
"Listen to me, Princess of the Nile. I love you, I love you, and I love you! How can I say it more plainly than that? In my dreams you promised me that we would meet someday for real and that you would be mine, and I would be yours…forever." Somehow he couldn't expel the message to her as he hoped he could. Her face was still as impassive as it was before? What would make her remember him?
"Really, where are you getting this stuff from?" she asked him. "I mean, the costume was one thing but now this whole spiel about dreams and promises is just too much!" She backed away from the warm shelter of his body and jumped off the table.
"Wait, where are you going?" Anzu reached out to grab her arm. "Please tell me, I'm all alone here and I need someone to give me guidance."
Anzu exhaled loudly and stuffed her hands into her pockets. Should she help Atem? What did she know about him? So he said he was a "Prince of Egypt" but that didn't tell her much. She should just leave him to fend for himself. On the other hand, if this really was a prince, dating by his clothing a Ancient Egyptian prince, he would be lost and couldn't fend for himself; he could die. She sighed and shrugged.
"If you're gonna survive here you might as well follow me." She turned and started walking down towards the sidewalk. Atem beamed, leaping into his saddle and trotting after her.
"Oh thank you! Thank you! You have made me a very happy man," he said joyfully. "So tell me about this strange place, my love." Atem chatted jovially.
"Could you—never mind. This place is called Domino City." Anzu briskly kept her pace and sighed. "I love this city. The people are friendly, all my friends live here; including the filthy rich Seto Kaiba, and I was born here, which I suppose is as good a reason as any."
"Ah, this place sounds wonderful. I hope I can learn to love it just as much as you do," Atem breathed deeply. In all honesty he wanted to enjoy his stay here; he didn't know how long he was supposed to be there anyway.
Anzu whirled around and looked at Atem seriously. "If you think you're staying here a minute longer you are sadly mistaken. Besides, don't suppose that sweetening your words you can woo me any faster because you won't." She turned around and began walking again.
"But I truly mean the things I say! Do believe me!" He trotted quickly behind her and reached down to pull her into the saddle. "Ooofff! You aren't as light as you appear, darling." Atem readjusted her body in the saddle so she sat across his legs and her shoulders dug into his shirt.
"Well, look before you leap then! Ugh, this is kind of uncomfortable," Anzu replied, shifting her weight so that her eyes weren't at the exact same level as his open collar. She shuffled needlessly and cleared her throat. "Besides, it's going to appear very strange should anybody see us together like this."
At this she was greeted by a strange sound, a sort of low rumble that seemed to be coming from behind her. It was then that she realized that he was laughing, a deep throaty sound that she found more appealing than she'd dare admit to. He sighed deeply, reached over and turned her face gently towards his own. He stared at her for a time, how long it was she could only guess, but she felt as though she could actually feel his emotions pouring through his eyes; as if no words need be said.
"Je t'adore, Anzu, oh, je t'aime, je t'aime…how can I say it more plainly than that? No, I simply can't! Je t'aime!" He hugged her close to his body, as if she wasn't close enough already. He breathed the soft sweet fragrance that wafted up his nostrils to send his senses reeling. How it is that he could love somebody so much? He didn't care to answer; he was too focused on Anzu, purely Anzu. (Je t'aime means 'I love you')
"Um, Atem, I can't breathe!" Anzu's muffled voice broke the silence. He quickly backed away and let her breathe again. Her face was flushed and her hair was a mess, but he didn't care. How wonderful she looks when she's flushed, he thought. He helped smooth down the waves of wild hair, encountering such silkiness and shine that he found his fingers unable to leave their warm shelter. He lifted a curl that caressed her jaw line and held it to his nose, breathing deeply, relishing in the closeness and intimacy of the moment. He almost gave the lock back, but not before he pressed a warm and promising kiss into the silky strands. Anzu looked on in astonishment.
"Wow, you really know what you're doing," she said quietly.
Atem smiled and let the lock fall against her cheek. "When I went to school part of my education was studying the art of seduction, this was one way to ensure that I would find myself a bride one day." He gathered a small handful of hair and pressed more kisses into the strands falling between his fingers.
"No kidding, in what, Ancient Egypt?" She poked his arm and began to laugh.
Holy Ra, he thought. She is everything and more to me! He took her hands and said, "Yes, I am, from the Egypt. Pardon me, but what year is this?"
She looked at him gravely. She said quietly, "It's 2008."
Uh-oh! Now that the secret's out how will they carry on? Please R&R and I'll write the third chapter as soon as I can! -Shelby-