Star Crossed Lovers
Chapter 4 Reasons and Decisions'My lover?' Atem thought in shock as he stared at Midoriko.
"What?" he said in a struggled whisper.
"Do you wish to see her again? The young woman that was here—"
"You know who that was? Was she just some illusion you made up?"
"Of course. And no, that was a hidden memory of her surfacing. You thought harder and she appeared. I merely tweaked it so she would run here instead of you catching her."
'How dare she!' "Who is she? I know that I know her but I can't remember—"
"That's because of me."
He looked at the woman appalled.
"What did you just say?"
"I took away your memories of her. Me and your gods," she said; her tone never flattering from its calmness.
"But why? What right—, "Atem shouted angrily before being cut off.
"She was not meant to stay here. She fulfilled her reason for being here, with you, and had to return to her rightful time."
"Time?" Atem questioned in astonishment.
"Yes time. This is neither her proper time nor place for her to fulfill her ultimate destiny."
"Who are you to decide that?" Atem was seething with anger. How dare this woman take someone who was clearly so precious to him away. Then her words struck him.
"My gods?" he asked uneasily.
The elder priestess nodded.
"Yes your gods. You see for her, ancient Egypt's history has already been written and she was not a part of it. If she had continued to stay with you any longer, it would have thrown the balance of space and time off with huge ramifications. Your gods understood this and, as much as it pained them to rob you of love, they helped me return her to her time by opening a portal."
"How did she come to be here in the first place if this wasn't where she was meant to be?" The Pharaoh was going to get some answers. It seemed like the love he had forgotten was being used like a puppet for this woman's own purposes and it bothered him greatly.
Her eyes narrowed at him. As if hearing his thoughts she answered, "It is not my decision where and to when she goes. She has a destiny to fulfill just like you did and, as much as I may not like it, that is the way fate has designed it. I am merely her guide to help her through it. If I had a say she would be doing none of this and lively a happy life."
Atem was taken aback by her response.
"So you are not a goddess?"
Midoriko shook her head no.
"No, I was once a human priestess on a path similar to hers but with a more deadly ending. I was, however, chosen as her guide because we are distantly related. We have a similar ancestor."
"Who?"
"The Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu. She rules the Japanese heavens and is an ancestor to all emperors in existence. She herself came to me in the afterlife and asked me to be Kagome's guide on her journey. She is also the reason I am here now standing before you."
The priestess's earlier words came back to him and he felt his anger fading.
"Can you really return her to me?"
"Return her to you? No; but I can return you to her," she said with slight amusement.
Her logic left him baffled.
"How is that any different from what I just said?"
For the first time sense their talk began, a smile found its way to Midoriko's lips.
"Because to return her to you would mean bringing her here; to the land of the dead. I cannot bring someone to the land of the dead if they themselves are not dead," she said with a slight smirk.
"Isn't that the same thing though for the world of the living? I am dead; I cannot be brought back to life."
Another chuckle. This brought a tick mark to the side of Atem's head. Just what was so funny?
"Bringing you back would be child's play. That is however, only if you desire it."
Once again the Pharaoh was shocked silent.
'I could come back? How? Well there might be a way with Aibou but—'
He stopped his thought though when Midoriko shook her head again.
"No dear Pharaoh. If you do come back to the world of the living, it cannot be while sharing a body with Yugi Moto. If he fell in love with someone else but you wanted to just be with Kagome; how do you think that would work out?"
She had a point.
'But wait! That would mean—'
"Yes. Should you decide to return to the land of the living, you will be given your own body. I was also able to make it so you returned with your Millennium Puzzle."
"Enough reading my mind; and how am I able to use the puzzle? After I entered the afterlife the temple crumbled. The items were lost forever."
"Despite the tragedy that led to the creation of the items, they remain in existence. I was, however, able to purify any evil spirits that rested within them so that any future wielder will not be led into temptation."
"But if you're only giving me back my puzzle why even purify the rest of the items?"
"All seven Millennium Items will be needed in the future so it was imperative that they were purified. Their power still resides inside them, simply without the essence of evil."
Atem smirked with contempt at the woman.
"The more you talk it sounds as if I have no choice but to accept your offer."
"I didn't realize refusal was even an option."
Atem raised his eyebrows at that. Would he have refused to return? A chance to find out who that woman was? To see his Aibou and old friends again?
"Go my son."
Atem looked at Midoriko to find her looking behind her with a blank look on her face, causing him to see the Pharaoh before him and his father, Pharaoh Aknamkanon.
"Father? How long have you been standing there?" Atem said in shock at his father sudden appearance.
The elder former king chuckled and smiled gently at his son before walking towards them.
"I couldn't help but hear your voice and a young woman's laughter and had to investigate. I've listened to your whole conversation and I feel it is your destiny to go to this woman. In all my years as your father I have never seen you be so affectionate with anyone like you were her."
His father's words brought a smile blush to Atem's cheeks.
"Also," his father continued; "as much as I know you love us, you are not happy here. You have lost a spark you once had and just seem to be floating on, as if waiting for something more to happen. The gods clearly wish to give you a second shot at the life you deserve and you would be a fool not to take it."
"Father…"
Aknamkanon smile once more at his son before shifting his gaze to the woman behind him.
Speaking with authority his was born with he asked, "Lady Midoriko, can I make a request?"
Midoriko raised an eyebrow and regarded the old Pharaoh with guarded respect.
"You may," she answered.
Aknamkanon took a few more steps forward till he stood next to his son and stared the priestess down before speaking.
"If you say that the Millennium Items will be needed in the future, then I believe it is safe to assume that a battle will be taking place where the items will come in handy correct?"
"You are."
"Then may request is this. Please allow a few of my servants to transfer their souls into the items so that they may help fight whatever threat is coming in the future."
Atem looked at his father in shock.
"Father! You cannot ask someone to do that. Let them remain at peace."
His father did not even look his way and continued to eye the priestess.
"The moment they hear what you plan to do and what is coming they will volunteer their services themselves and you know it. I am simply making sure that when that time comes it is ok for them to do so."
Midoriko furrowed her brows in uncertainty, making Aknamkanon speak to further plead his case.
"Chances are that, while you know a threat is coming, you do not know exactly when it is coming. Those Millennium Items require months if not years of training before they can be used properly. To give them to individuals who neither understand nor appreciate the magic behind them is asking for failure. However having someone inside the items to help guide the user along and possibly take control when things are too rough would be beneficial and in the end give you the advantage."
Midoriko's expression returned to its usual poker face.
"The holders of the items have already been chosen."
"Who are their wielders?"
Midoriko narrowed her eyes and was silent for a moment before speaking.
"While I cannot give you all their names; I will grant you two and it is only two of your servants that will inhabit those items…The Millennium Rod will be given to Seto Kaiba and the Millennium necklace will be returned to Ishizu Ishtar."
Atem's eyes widened for a moment at the news before returning to normal.
"Father," he began turning his father's attention to him; "Those two are the reincarnations of Isis and Seto. If you are serious in using any of the servants, I believe they should be the ones."
Aknamkanon looked at his son for a moment before nodding.
"So then young pharaoh…does that mean you will return?"
Atem looked at Midoriko for a moment before nodding.
"As you said priestess…no was never an option. I want to see her; all of her. Know her name and remember my life with her in it."
"Remember though, this isn't your destined fight…it's hers. She must be the one to deliver the final attack. Will you stand by her side?"
"Always."
Midoriko gave him a warm smile at his answer before turning towards the painting that was still engulfed in shadows. With a flick of her hand the picture illuminated to a portrait of a young woman dressed in clothes neither pharaoh was familiar with. Surrounded by a glowing pink aura flowing around her like the wind. Her black hair covered all but the tip of her nose and her mouth.
'It's her,' Atem thought as he gazed at his goddess's portrait.
Aknamkanon looked at his son's expression and smiled. While he was sad that he, once again, was losing his son, when he looked at the reasons why…it didn't bother him so much.
"Soon the picture will glow bright. That is when the portal back to the world of the living opens. I will place you in the city she is located in and after that you are on your own. Follow your heart and I guarantee you will find what you are looking for. It will take awhile to bond the souls with the items; however, after that I will send the rest of the items out to their destined holders. Oh—and Pharaoh? One last thing…"
Atem reluctantly looked away from the picture to regard her.
"Things are going to begin to change once you two have found each other. Even I am not fully aware what but it is important that you have your dueling deck with you at all times. It would also be good for her to get a deck assembled as well. Also…the longer you are around her, your memories of your time together will naturally return to you so do not worry."
Atem nodded before seeing a bright light in front of him. A bright light took over the once beautiful picture; the portal was ready. He looked back at his father who looked at him reassuringly.
"Good luck my son. May you find in this new life what you couldn't find in your last…I love you."
Atem smiled and nodded.
"I love you too father. Tell mother I am sorry I didn't tell her goodbye."
"She will understand."
When Atem looked at Midoriko, he noticed she was gone. With a new destiny awaiting him Atem took a deep breath and stepped fearlessly into the portal and onto his new life and love.
Yay! Lol. Side note: Just to give you all a heads up the next two chapters will revolve around Seto Kaiba and Ishizu getting their Millennium Items. I may decide to cut them down to one I have decided but just in case; if you read the next chapter and it's only about Kaiba then you know.
I also already know who the other 3 holders will be but I am however stuck on the last one. The holder of the Millennium Eye. So here's me involving my reviews. Whether it's the whole review or just parts of it give me your opinion on who should wield the Millennium Eye. Requirements: this person must be part of Atem or Kagome's past (preferably male to even out the male female ratio. And not evil, saving all the evil people for later) and then I create their reincarnated name. Names that can't be used: Inuyasha (Conflicting loves is not in the story line), Sesshomaru (you'll find out later), Koga (same as Fluffy), Shippo (same). Now I know that doesn't give you a lot to choose from with Kagome but I know you can do it. Sound good? Great I can't wait to read them ;)