Alia: So, I had a dream about an original character of mine. My character ended up dragged out of his house by Gandalf of all people and got shoved into another world (I must have read Hobbit Fanfic before bed). Anyway, long story short, this scene resulted from that dream (that also involved Scooby Doo and the gang, but we won't go there.)
FYI: I will be updating Shadow Illusions soon. I'll explain why the wait later though.
Enjoy.
Title: Broken Glass, Magic Sands
Part: Excerpt
Pairing: Atem/Yami, mentions of Kaiba/Noa
Warnings: Yaoi, Magic, mentions of suicide attempts
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh anime series, or the game or anything else that I might mention. I am making no money with this.
Author Notes: This is a story scene (Excerpt), but the story is not in the making. The location is based off this location: The Burg Hochosterwitz ( www. burg-hochosterwitz en/).
Broken Glass, Eternal Sands
Staring out the window, Atem watched the deep gray storm clouds stifle the sunlight and cover the usually cheery bright blue sky. He leaned languidly into the stone wall and gazed down over the rolling green lands below.
It was easy to spot the bustling city stand on the edge of the lush valley below. The buildings rose tall but were nothing like the skyscrapers Atem once knew. The city expanded outside the valley to leave the small town and various farms within at peace.
The castle the Egyptian-Japanese man now resided was built into and atop a large mountain on the other end of the great valley. The stone fortress stood above her subjects silently, watching diligently as the people within farms, town, and nearby city went about their day. It was a breathtaking view for Atem, who had only seen concrete city streets filled with people and pollution back in Domino.
But Atem was far from Domino, Japan.
The wind blew in through the open window, ruffling his hair. The air smelled heavy with fresh water. It was another signal for the incoming storm. It also explained the slower pace of both of the palace and the countryside below. Atem didn't mind the changes. It simply meant his evening would be better.
Atem's eyes drifted back up to the changing sky. The wind was steadily growing stronger with the thickening clouds moving by quickly. Another breeze rustled his clothes as Atem observed the changing colors of the trees. It was beginning of fall.
The young man smiled at the realization. Six months. He'd been in this enchanting territory for six months. Time had been swift with him. It seemed so many more days had passed. He'd lived within the large stronghold for five months after he'd acclimated to a whole new world and culture. Atem thought it was amazing that his life had changed so quickly.
He had only one real regret. Atem regretted that he couldn't come sooner and that it had nearly taken his death to finally arrive.
Trying to shake off the memory of heart-wrenching pain, deep burning grief, and a rage so dark it frightened him to remember, Atem yawned lightly. He turned and eyed the large four poster bed sitting in the majestically decorated bedroom. The servants had made it up for the morning, so the rich green comforter and crisp white sheets sat cleanly against the dark wood.
"I did finish my work for the day." Despite the progress in his studies, they still exhausted him, but Atem tried every day. He wanted desperately to please those around him. Rubbing his eyes, Atem wondered if he could slip a nap in for the day.
A warm chuckle cut through the silence of the room. "I see that the tone of the weather has caught you as well."
Jumping a little, Atem darted his eyes around the room for a long moment before pausing on a small darkened corner. More shadows had settled into the large room with the masked sky. The corner was clear enough to see into and barren of anything but the stone walls and floor, but as Atem had learned in months past, that meant nothing.
"Yami?" He called out hesitantly.
There was little shock as the lithe figure smoothly pulled itself from the gray shadows of the wall. It was a man of Atem's own age. He wore a sleeveless white shirt and a pair of black trousers shoved into a thick pair of boots. Over his shirt was a long, sleeveless hooded coat. It was a dark rose madder that reflected the man's eyes. Black and gold threading lined the cuffs and edges of the coat. It couldn't be seen from Atem's position, but a familiar royal coat of arms was stitched into the back of the long coat.
A pleased smile was directed at Atem. "You're getting better!"
Atem felt his cheeks flush a little as Yami strode over to sit on the window seat. "Noa is a good teacher. He yells at me a lot, but he's a good teacher."
Yami took the other cushion next to Atem. He snorted. "I'm sure. Don't worry about that too much. Believe it or not, he's just a little stressed with his betrothed. Their relationship is rather long distant." He saw Atem's curious look and laughed. "Not like ours was but distant. Seto is two cities over."
Atem nodded. The cities were spaced somewhat widely to prevent crowding and clashing of various guilds. He tried to smother his yawn, but he was forced to cover his mouth regardless.
Yami smiled. He dropped one of his scarred hands over Atem's softer one. Atem had only recently began his training, but Yami had been at it for years. He tilted his head while observing the other man. "I was right earlier, though I'm sure it's not the weather alone wearing you down."
"Don't start worrying again." Atem smiled. He loved watching the concern in the man's eyes. it had happened so rarely before they came together. He was really just happy to be with Yami. "It was one bad dream. The only one I've had in two months, and you said yourself that I'm getting better with my lessons. My health is fine and my core is growing with each of Noa's lessons. Besides, you have other things to be concerned with, my prince."
Yami blushed a little. Many called him by his title, but something special was there when it came from Atem. It was understandable. The man sitting beside him was his soul mate. "I worry about you because I love you, Atem. Of all my concerns, you are one of the most important."
The prince squeezed the slightly cool hand beneath his. Atem had been at the window for a while. "Nevertheless, I can see you are a bit drained. Why don't you rest for a while? It's quiet and the storm will break any minute now. It'll slow things down a bit more."
Atem thought it was a nice idea. He did feel rather sleepy thanks to the incoming rain. A short nap would do him well. He rose from the window seat then paused. Atem looked at the relaxed man sitting at his side. He found himself reluctant to ask.
Yami watched his lover's hesitance. Atem's eyes drifted from the prince to their bed and all Yami could do was smile. He figured out what Atem was too shy to ask. He really hated what Atem's life had done to such a strong, loving heart. It had broken his confidence and left his self-worth nonexistent.
However, Yami recognized that some of the current insecurity lay at his feet. With the king, his father, in a neighboring territory, Yami was responsible for not only his duties but his father's as well. He was constantly busy dealing with various matters despite the help from his grandfather and his little brother, Yugi.
And Atem was simply too uncertain to ask for Yami's time. Time the handsome man had every right to.
Yami stood, still cradling Atem's hand. "In fact, I'll join you. I have a little free time on my hands." Atem unknowingly beamed at Yami before pulling him along to the bed. The room was large enough that it took a few long steps. Atem smiled before he knelt to untie his boots.
Laughing softly, Yami pulled off his coat. With a snap of his fingers, both the coat and his boots were removed and sitting in a chair near the door of their bedroom. The once open window also closed. Yami jumped a little as Atem playfully struck his leg.
"You're such a show off." Atem was barely getting anywhere with levitation. Psychokinesis and teleportation were a different sort of monsters. With his boots finally off, Atem eagerly crawled into bed next to his lover. Yami pulled him in close and pressed a loving kiss to the warm tan skin. Atem laid his head on Yami's shoulder and curled over the future king's side. After a long comfortable silence, Atem whispered, "I-I missed you. I haven't seen you since lunch yesterday."
Yami hated being right. He wrapped his arms tighter around his soul mate. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be away from your side so much. Give me a little more time to get use to extra duties."
Atem grimaced. He did not want Yami to feel guilty. "I didn't mean-,"
"No, love. You're right. Atem, you may have been here for months now, but I know you are still adjusting to a culture shock. It was easier before because you were healing and we were isolated. Now you're being exposed to more magic and people."
"It's not bad!" Atem protested. "It can be a bit overwhelming, but I enjoy it here. Yugi, Mana, and Mahado and Noa are so helpful. You even more so." Sure it wasn't always pleasant. There were a few within the castle that suspected Shadi chose wrong and Atem wasn't Yami's soul mate because of his poor magic levels. There were also a couple of traditionalists, who lamented about difficulties Yami would have in producing an heir with a male spouse.
But overall, Atem was ecstatic with his life. Yami was doting, his parents were kind, Noa was helpful when he wasn't shouting, Mahado and Mana were both friends and guides, and Yugi was the little brother he always wanted.
The one Atem once had brought memories he didn't need before sleep.
"But you'd still like me around a little more?" Yami asked.
Atem was quiet for a moment. "I don't mean to sound needy. I'm just use to seeing you often."
Yami sighed, making Atem wince. The prince ran a hand down his lover's back. "Yes. I confess that I miss you during the day as well, but little can be done until I'm use to the heavier load. So, how about this? Mother and father should be home in two weeks. I was promised a short break then. After my parents have settled in, why don't we go back to the cottage for a short while?"
Atem lifted his head with a small smile. "Really?"
The castle was beautiful, standing majestically atop the mountain with the beautiful green hills and valley below. There were always so many things going on. The soldiers would train, the cooks and servants preparing the rooms and meals, advisers and nobles rushed around with their business matters, and the magic... The magic was breathtaking and filled Atem with so much wonder and awe.
But the cottage Yami owned? The little two story cottage in the forest behind the mountain was home. It was the first place Yami and Atem had physically laid eyes on each other. It was where Atem healed after filling his stomach with pills. The warm cottage was where he fell even deeper in love with Yami and realized that he finally had his wish. His home was where Atem had laid his past to rest and forgiven his brother, Malik, for crushing his hopes.
It was in that cottage that Atem's new world realized the power of Prince Yami Muto and what his highness' power would do for the man he loved.
"Really. Though, Noa will follow to continue your studies, and Yugi will never forgive me if he's left with my duties in my absence." As sweet as he was, Yami knew his baby brother had quite the temper. "It should only be the four of us unless Mahado and Mana sneak out too."
Atem closed his eyes and fully relaxed into Yami's shoulder. "That sounds wonderful. It's easier to concentrate when it's quiet."
Yami snorted softly. "You say that now. Wait until we're out of the castle and you lose the white noise you are used to. It was always very troubling for me. Sometimes, I'd have to start a fire in the hearth because it was just too quiet. Yugi's even worse. It drove his teachers crazy that he worked on spells in the busiest places in the castle, but he'll hide in his room or one of the quieter keeps with his puzzles. Mana's habits are even worse with the trouble she causes."
Unknown to the prince, Atem was already drifting into sleep rather than listening to Mana's habit of practicing her spells in the training yard causing frequent mishaps among the training soldiers. Instead, his mind was focused on an old image that had been the feature of his nightmare the night before.
He was standing in a room, surrounded by his brother and the younger man's friends. In his hand was a globe of fragile glass half filled with pure white sand. The moment had been filled with hope and excitement.
Yami looked down at his sleeping lover with a smile. He brushed a hand over Atem's hair, unknowingly banishing the changing image of a possessive hand and broken glass.
End
Alia: If you're confused by the background, let me clarify. I didn't do such a good job.
The glass globe was magical and meant to bring Atem to his soul mate Yami in another world. But, for the globe to work, no one could touch Atem when the globe activates. When the globe did activate, Atem's sibling refused to let go, causing the magic to fail and the globe to break. Because his life was shitty already, Atem tried to commit suicide. So to save Atem, Yami pretty much tore a hole between worlds and pulled his boyfriend over.
Questions?
Review.
August 30, 2013
