Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Return of a King

Chapter 8:

Recovery begins

After nearly a month of being in the hospital, Ishizu was beginning to feel the stresses of immobilization and her confinement to the restrictive brace cradling her spine. Though, she would admit, she was grateful for the support of her brothers, Marik and Odion, as well as her friends. But, most of all, she was grateful for the unending love of Atem.

Through all of her pain and personal suffering due to her restricted movement, he was the constant reminder that she was loved unconditionally, despite her injuries. As always, a constant companion ready to lend an ear, as well as emotional support if she needed to give voice to her inner turmoil.

Soon enough, the time came for her to start her physical therapy regimen, which at first consisted largely of transitioning from a wheelchair to standing. She had been proud to find that, other than a few moments of unsteadiness due to not bearing weight on her legs for so long, she could stand without the use of support mechanisms, such as crutches.

However, Ishizu found, walking was a slightly different story. It turned out that there had been some minor nerve damage to her legs. However, with time and patience, Ishizu was walking almost as well as she had before the crash. This process, however, was not without its low moments.

There were many times, she admitted, that she had been resigned to giving up, feeling that she was damaged beyond repair. But, as always, Atem would have none of it, always a voice of encouragement when she began to doubt herself, pushing her to rise above her fears and reservations. Reminding her of the inner strength that she had shown him many times at Battle City.

Today, unfortunately, was not turning out to be one of her good days.

As Ishizu felt her legs begin to give, she hurriedly caught the bar she was standing beside, leaning heavily on it for support, her eyes displaying a sense of hopelessness. "This is useless, Atem. My spine has just been too badly damaged."

"No, Ishizu. I won't hear another word of that, my love. I know that you can do this. Have faith in yourself. Do not think about how you want your legs to move, simply trust that your body knows what to do and let your legs move themselves. Remember, 'If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.' Yes, I realize that's a Bruce Lee quote, Ishizu, but you cannot deny that it applies."

Laughing softly, Ishizu took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, willing her legs to move. After a moment, she felt herself collapse, fearing that she had once again failed. As she opened her eyes to catch herself, she felt herself fall into Atem's arms. Glancing around, she noticed that she had somehow crossed the room.

You see, beloved? I told you that you could do it."

Another week of intense rehabilitation later, and after examining Ishizu's spine, the hospital finally deemed her medically fit to return home, though advised her to take work slowly so as to not overexert herself and start out with a lighter schedule, working her way up to her previous work load, to which she agreed.

As the nurse removed the back brace that had quickly become cumbersome, Ishizu heaved a sigh of relief, fighting the urge to stretch her back. Seeing this, Atem smiled. "Come on, Ishizu, let's go home. I think you need a massage."

At the mention of a massage, Ishizu could not suppress the involuntary moan that escaped her at the thought of her King's calloused hands on her skin. "Lead the way, my King."

As Atem and Ishizu pulled up to Ishizu's apartment, Atem climbed off of his bike, lifting Ishizu gently into his arms, carrying her inside and up to the bedroom before carefully setting her on her feet. Obliging as she told him to turn around, Atem faced the wall behind him as he heard the rustling of clothing and the sound of weight on the bed.

Turning around once she gave him permission, Atem felt his mouth go dry as he beheld the goddess before him, clad only in a pair of dark panties that seemed to be a combination of lace and silk. Reining in his desire for the vision of beauty before him, Atem licked his dry lips as he spoke. "Truly, my beloved, you beauty outshines even that of the goddess for whom you are named."

As Atem's fingers grazed her soft flesh, expertly kneading into the tight, tense muscles of her back, Ishizu exhaled forcefully as a wave of relief and pleasure washed over her. "Oh, my King… You flatter your servant." She spoke softly in a teasing manner, her voice clearly giving evidence to her pleasure.

Leaning down, Atem's lips grazed her shoulder ever so slightly as he spoke, his fingers gliding across her hips. "No, Isis. Never my servant." Brushing her hair from her shoulder, Atem's fingers trailed up her back as he pressed a kiss to her neck. "Were we five millennia in the past, my love, I would have you be queen. My Queen." To prove his point, Atem captured her lips in a deep kiss, his tongue swiping across her lip, to which she eagerly granted entrance, their tongues dancing as his fingers continued their work.

As they pulled apart, Atem groaned as he felt her backside move against his hips, desire flooding his body as he heard her speak, her eyes dark with desire as she glanced back at him. "Then take me, my King, my beloved. Make me your Queen. Yours, now and always."

"Are you certain, Ishizu? Are you sure you want this now?" Atem questioned as his hands caressed and kneaded her backside, drawing a deep moan from the woman below him.

"My dearest, I have waited five millennia for this. Now, please, take me…"

Grinning, Atem reached between her legs, drawing a finger, achingly slowly, along Ishizu's moist core. "Are you absolutely-"

"In the name of Bastet, Atem, fuck me!" Ishizu growled as her hips rolled back into his hand.

As he heard Ishizu cry out in such a vulgar manner, Atem could only chuckle as his fingers continued their torturous teasing. "But, Isis, it's so much more fun this way, isn't it? Besides, would you not want this to last as long as possible, my love?"

Shuddering heavily at his touch, Ishizu felt her arms weaken as her shoulders collapsed to the mattress, he fingers desperately clutching the bed sheets as she called out his name once again. "A-Atem, please… Oh, Ra!"

A/N: Whooo, things are starting to heat up, here! As for the earlier Bruce Lee quote I had Atem recite, I have always been a fan of Bruce Lee's work as an actor, a martial artist, and a philosopher. I know there are many more quotes of his that deal with the body and self-imposed limitations that fit as well, but this was the first that came to mind.