Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Return of a King

Chapter 4:

Destinies Entwined

As the two slowly pulled apart when air became a necessity, Atem smiled as he looked down at his love, lightly cupping her smooth cheek in his calloused hand. At this action, Ishizu shivered lightly at the oddly pleasurable friction.

She had finally regained the one man she had waited nearly two lifetimes for, and she could not possibly be any happier. Closing her eyes, she sighed as she leaned into his touch for a moment before resting her head on his chest to listen to his strong heartbeat. A heart that, she realized with joy, was finally his own once again as his strong arms encircled her slender frame, protecting her from anyone or anything that would dare wish her harm.

As he held her, her mind was flooded with past memories of their shared childhood. The evenings they would spend in each other's company on the banks of the Nile.

He a young Prince, only eighteen summers old, studying in the politics and customs of the land and its territories in order to assume the throne, and she a young woman only two summers younger than the Prince himself, charged with protecting the Prince as her mother was with the reigning Pharaoh.

Smiling at the pleasant memories, Ishizu attempted to draw herself as close to him as possible, afraid that he would somehow disappear before her eyes.

Looking down at her, Atem lightly placed his fingers under her chin, gently tilting her up to look into her dazzling blue eyes as he smiled at the faraway look in her eyes. "What are you thinking of, my darling?"

Reaching up to touch his cheek with the tips of her fingers, Ishizu's eyes sparkled. "Only remembering our times spent on the bank of Iteru. Do you remember, my love?"

Chuckling softly, Atem nodded. "I can never forget. Those evenings will forever be imprinted in my mind. The way your skin seemed to glow in the fading sun..."

Smiling broadly at her blush, Atem gently took her hand as he grabbed his coat, their hands remaining entwined as he paid for the meal and they left the building together.

As they stepped into the crisp nighttime air, Atem noticed Ishizu shiver. Taking his coat, he draped it across her shoulders, at which Ishizu smiled and pecked him on the cheek, which caused him to turn and pull her into a proper kiss.

As they separated, Atem helped her onto the bike as he climbed on in front of her, her arms encircling him as she prepared for the ride, her cheek resting against his back. Looking back at her, Atem asked where she'd like to go, to which she replied that she'd prefer to go to her apartment.

Nodding, Atem was suddenly thankful that she'd given him the address. Holding tighter to him as the machine pulled out of the parking lot, Ishizu closed her eyes as he drove.

Arriving at her apartment, Atem parked the bike by the curb, climbing off and walking Ishizu to the door. As they reached it, she turned to him. "Thank you, my love. I had a wonderful time."

Nodding, Atem smiled. "As did I."

Leaning down, Atem swiftly captured her lips with his. Pulling back, he gave her hand a light squeeze. "Goodnight, Isis."

As he let her hand go and turned to leave, he felt her retake it. "Wait..." Turning back, he looked at her questioningly. "Please... Stay with me tonight?"

Knowing he could deny her nothing, he nodded, walking with her into the spacious room. Draping his coat over the back of a plush chair, Ishizu looked at him over her shoulder, making her way to the bedroom. "Make yourself at home, dearest. I'll be out shortly."

Nodding, Atem called out. "I'll be back in a moment. I have something I need to get."

Making his way from the building, he walked out to his bike, opening a compartment on the side and pulling out a bag of clothing that he made sure to keep with him, just in case. Walking back inside, he quickly found the bathroom and changed into the clothing from the bag.

Soon, he was dressed in a pair of white pants and two pairs of gold bracelets. One just above each bicep and a larger pair for his wrists. Exiting the bathroom, he found Ishizu waiting for him in an outfit that left very little to the imagination.

The outfit his love currently wore, seemed to be made entirely of the finest silks, the outfit itself black in color, consisting of an opaque 'tube top' covering her breasts that continued into a sheer piece covering her midsection and ending in a long, flowing gown that ended at her ankles, a long slit up the side that stopped at her hip with gold accents around the neck and waist, gold bangles adorning her upper arms.

Seeing this outfit hugging his love's body, Atem could not stop his jaw from loosening involuntarily as his eyes glazed over slightly, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the goddess before him.

Finally finding his voice as he swallowed to moisten his suddenly dry throat, Atem groaned. "By Hathor... Isis, I swear you will be the death of me."

Smirking slyly at his reaction, Ishizu grinned. "And you, my King, are as pleasing to the eye as ever." Walking to her, he enveloped her in his arms quickly before moving to the sofa. "May I?"

At her nod, he sat on the plush cushions as she popped a dvd into the player and made herself comfortable on his lap as the movie began, her body curled into his, her head resting on his chest as he slowly combed her hair with his fingertips. "What are we watching, my dear?"

Leaning down, he kissed the crown of her head. Smiling up at him, she replied. "The Lord of the Rings". Nodding, the two settled in to watch.

As the films played, Atem, in his unfamiliarity with the movies or books, of course asked Ishizu quite a few questions, his mind enthralled with what was playing out before him, particularly with the character of Aragorn.

In the actor's portrayal of the man, the former Pharaoh could not help but draw certain similarities to his own life. He had been hesitant about taking the throne upon his father's death, feeling as if he somehow was not suited for such responsibility and, although it was not the case in the film, the similarity, Atem felt, was still there.

Some hours later, Atem looked down to notice that Ishizu was asleep. Smiling, he turned off the TV and gently carried her into the bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he tucked her in, leaning down to press a light kiss her forehead.

As he turned to make his way to the sofa, he felt her take his hand. "Don't go..." she pleaded softly, her eyes shining playfully as she smiled up at him. Smiling, Atem turned back, climbing in beside her.

Smiling, Ishizu turned and happily curled into his side, her head resting on his chest. Leaning up, she pressed her lips against his for a moment before returning to her original position. "Goodnight, my King. Sleep well."

Kissing the crown of her head, Atem smiled as his fingers gently caressed her back. "Goodnight, my desert flower. Sweet dreams." Soon enough, the two were sound asleep, the head of each filled with memories of the other.

A/N: Here's the next chapter. Sorry if it's somewhat short, and I know I changed a few details concerning the two, but I feel it worked to kind of enhance the characters themselves. By the way, Iteru is the Ancient Egyptian word used to refer to the Nile. Should I use any more terms, I will provide explanations as well.