Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Return of a King

Chapter 13:

Vacations and Propositions

A week after the transfer of the ring, which Atem had made sure was handled with absolute care, he looked up as he heard a knock on his office door. "Yes?" he called out, nodding politely to the man who entered. "A package arrived for you, sir. It appears to be from Cairo."

Thanking the man, Atem accepted the package and, after the man had left, he opened it. The ring, enclosed in a protective case tumbled into his hand, along with a short note.

"It looks like our plan worked, brother. Make it memorable –

Marik"

"And," Atem thought to himself. "I think I have just the plan." Pulling up his computer, he quickly looked up the website for Domino City Airport, checking for available tickets to Cairo. Once he had found a set of First Class tickets, he purchased them immediately before pulling out his cell phone and dialing Marik.

Hearing his phone ring, Marik pulled it from his pocket and answered. "Supreme Council of Antiquities, Marik Ishtar speaking." As he heard Atem's voice on the other end, Marik couldn't help but grin. "So, I take it you got my little gift, brother?"

"Yes, I did, Marik. Thank you. I can only hope that the spirit of my mother will be pleased to have Ishizu bear this ring. By the way, I've got two tickets to Cairo on hold, so expect us soon. I have quite a surprise waiting for Ishizu. Do you still remember the way to my tomb?"

At Atem's question, Marik's eyes widened almost comically. "Atem, you're not going to propose to my sister at your tomb, are you? Don't you think that might be a bit morbid?"

Chuckling softly, Atem shrugged to himself. "I suppose you might have a slight point, there, Marik. But, once you see what I have planned, you'll understand. Bring Odion as well. I'll be bringing Yugi and the rest of the gang, as I wouldn't want them to miss this. I'm also going to invite Seto Kaiba and Serenity." Atem added with a laugh. "That should be interesting. And his opinions, as always, will be predictable." Once the two had said their farewells, Atem gazed down at the ring in his hand. "Mother," Atem prayed softly. "You once told me to give this ring to the woman I had chosen to be my Queen. And though I am no longer Pharaoh, I now know that I wish for Ishizu to be that person. I can only hope that by giving her this token of my love, your memory will live on."

Pocketing the ring, Atem smiled softly as he closed his eyes, a vision of his smiling mother entering his mind. And in that moment, he thought he heard her voice, a single tear falling. "I am proud of you, my son."

Dialing Yugi's number, Atem quickly laid out the details of what he planned to do, instructing Yugi to bring the others with him the day of the flight.

As Atem and Ishizu walked into the apartment after work, he pulled the printout of the ticket purchase out of his pocket, handing it to Ishizu. "What's this, my love?" Opening the paper, Ishizu gasped as she read what it said.

"I thought you and I might take a little vacation. I have a surprise waiting there for you as well." Looking to Ishizu, Atem grinned as her face displayed a mix of emotions. Happiness at the prospect of visiting their homeland, but also confusion. "And what might this surprise be, my beloved?"

Laughing softly, Atem shook his head. "Ah, ah, you'll have to wait until we get there to find out. Yugi, Téa, Joey and Tristan are all coming as well, as I won't have them miss out on this. I also invited Kaiba and Joey's sister Serenity to join us, which should be fun. I'm hoping Serenity will keep Kaiba in line."

Ishizu suppressed a squeal of excitement, instead, simply nodding as she spoke. "Though I'm still a little confused as to why you'd bring them along, I trust you, my King."

Soon enough, the day of the flight arrived and Atem found that he was more nervous than ever. But, that nervousness was quickly abated as he heard the familiar voices of the gang.

"So, what are we doing here again, Yug?" The unmistakable accent of Joey asked through the crowds, Téa answering in a slightly annoyed manner. "Do you ever pay attention, Joey? Yugi said that the Pharaoh wanted us to come along to Egypt with him because he wanted to share something with us."

As Atem spotted the group, he called you, waving them over. "Yugi!"

Hearing Atem's voice, Yugi grinned widely, motioning his friends to follow him as he rushed over to Atem and Ishizu, enveloping Atem in a brotherly hug, which Atem gladly returned. Bowing toward Ishizu, Yugi spoke. "It's nice to see you again, Ishizu. You look well."

Lowering her head in thanks, Ishizu smiled. "It's nice to see you again, Yugi. I'm glad you all could make it." Smiling knowingly, Yugi looked between Atem and Ishizu before speaking cryptically. "Trust me, Ishizu, we wouldn't miss this for the world."

"Miss what?" Joey and Tristan asked simultaneously as they followed the others to the plane.

As they landed in Cairo, the group disembarked the plane and headed onto the tarmac. But, not before spotting a jet shaped like the Blue Eyes White Dragon, Atem musing with a chuckle. "Oh, good, Kaiba made it. This should be fun."

As Kaiba climbed out of the jet, he noticed the group waiting for him as he rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, good, the Geek Squad is here." Walking over to them, Seto looked between Yugi and Atem. "I don't know which is more ridiculous, Yugi. The fact that you actually paid some groupie to get reconstructive surgery to look like you, or that the idiot would be willing to go through with it."

Shaking his head, Atem thought to himself with a bemused chuckle. "Damn you, Pavlov." Just as Kaiba spoke, a soft voice piped up from behind him. "Now, now, Seto. Be nice, dear." Waving to the others, Serenity stepped forward. "It's nice to see you all again."

Nodding, Atem smiled. "And you, as well, Serenity. Keeping Kaiba in line, I hope?" Taking Seto's hand, Serenity smiled as she popped up onto her toes to peck his cheek. "Seto's really not so bad once you get to know him. Under all the swagger and self-confidence, he's just a big puppy, really."

This earned a heavy blush from Kaiba, which had Atem struggling to resist the urge to laugh. Turning as he heard a car approaching, Atem smiled as he saw Marik and Odion pull up in two separate cars. "Well, there's our ride. But, before we get going, I have something for you, my love."

Pulling a strip of black cloth from his pocket, Atem grinned as he looked to Ishizu before tying it around her eyes. "Atem?" Ishizu asked questioningly.

Taking Ishizu's hand, Atem smiled as he guided her to the car and, once everyone had climbed in, Atem motioned for Marik to lead the way.

After a six hour drive from Cairo, the cars finally found themselves in the Valley of the Kings, the sky a deep orange as the sun had begun to set. Once everyone had climbed out, Kaiba was the first to voice his opinion. "And why the hell are we here?"

Shaking his head as he laced his fingers with Ishizu's Atem chuckled. "All will be revealed in due time, Kaiba." Motioning for Marik and Odion, he nodded as the two joined him, motioning for them to take Ishizu. "I'll be right back. Marik and Odion are going to take you and the others to that surprise I mentioned, but don't take that blindfold off until I say so, alright?"

Nodding hesitantly, Ishizu allowed Marik and Odion to guide her and the rest of the group as Atem returned to the car. Pulling out a duffle bag, he opened it to reveal his tunic and robes that he'd worn as Pharaoh, as well as a pair of sandals. "Well, Marik, you said to make it memorable."

Once he had changed, Atem ran to catch up with the group. Stopping to stand behind Ishizu, Atem smiled as he inhaled slowly, steadying his nerves, the ring held in its case behind his back. "Alright, Marik, you can remove her blindfold."

As the blindfold fell, Ishizu's eyes were met with the sight of the entrance to Atem's tomb. "What the…" Ishizu gasped, her eyes wide in confusion. "Atem, what are we-" Her speech halted, her breath caught in her throat as she turned to see her King standing behind her, looking just as he had five millennia ago. Ishizu was vaguely aware of her hand flying to her mouth as he knelt before her, his strong baritone seeming to echo through the valley as he spoke.

"Ishizu Ishtar… Five thousand years ago, you served me faithfully and protected me from any and all dangers when I ruled as Pharaoh of this land. Then, for the next five millennia, you and your family tirelessly worked to keep and defend my tomb in the knowledge that I would one day return. Upon my return, you were there once more to protect me and guide me back to my memories. Once I had regained my lost memories, your love for me shone once again. For this, I cannot thank you enough, my beloved."

Moving his hand from behind his back, Atem opened the case to reveal the ring. "This ring was gifted to me by my mother, the former Queen, before her passing. She instructed me to give it to the one woman I loved above all others. And now, after five thousand years, I have found you once again. Ishizu… Isis… Though I am Pharaoh no longer, I have but one question. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my Queen?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Ishizu could do nothing but extend a trembling hand as she smiled, tears of happiness and joy flowing freely as she finally found her voice. "Yes. My Pharaoh, my King. Yes!"

Slipping the ring onto her left hand, Atem stood as he pulled her to him, capturing her lips in a deep kiss as all of the men, except for Kaiba, cheered happily, the women wiping tears from their eyes.

A/N: There's the big proposal chapter. Now this was so much fun to write and I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.