Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Return of a King

Chapter 14:

Lifetimes remembered

As Atem and Ishizu basked in the glow of their engagement, the former Pharaoh smiled as he held Ishizu in his arms, her head against his shoulder as her hand rested on his chest. It was then that Marik stepped forward, placing a hand on Ishizu's shoulder as his other hand clasped Atem's arm. "Congratulations, you two. I see you took my advice to make this memorable, and indeed, it was. I'm honored to welcome you to our family, brother."

"And it is an honor to be a part of your family, brother. And thank you. For without your help, I would have never gotten this ring." Gazing down at Ishizu, Atem lowered his head, capturing her lips once more.

It was then that Kaiba spoke up. "Alright, I've had just about enough of this love fest. So if you don't mind me, I'll be going home now. Let's go, Serenity." As they turned to leave, Atem called out. "Kaiba, Serenity, wait."

Stopping in their tracks, the two turned as Atem approached. "What now?" Kaiba asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance. Stopping just in front of Seto, Atem smiled lightly. "You and I have had many encounters, most of them not so pleasant, I will admit. But, nonetheless, I consider you a friend. I know you do not believe in our shared past together, cousin. However, allow me this parting gift before you go."

Reaching up slightly to press his hand to Kaiba's forehead as he did the same with Serenity, Atem closed his eyes as he silently prayed. 'Lord Ra, I beg you. Guide my hand. Help me to make these two remember their pasts so that they may be whole once again.'

It was then that Atem heard the voice of the Sun God. "Look into their hearts, my son. Though the boy's is shrouded in hatred and callousness, if you break through, you will find what you seek." Offering a silent prayer of thanks, Atem first felt his way through Kaiba's heart, indeed finding it encased in darkness. Pushing past the barrier, he soon found an inner light that he knew to be the memories of Kaiba's ancient past, as well as a love for someone he had lost.

Willing the memories to come forth, he then moved on to Serenity, repeating the same process. Though, instead of a hard heart, surrounded in darkness and hatred, he found a pure soul. Looking further, Atem once again found memories, images of a young woman with skin of alabaster and hair white as snow, her eyes a bright blue.

Opening his eyes, Atem lowered his hands as he looked to Seto, the man's face a mixture of shock, confusion and disbelief. No doubt due to the memories and emotions he had spent a lifetime repressing now flooding through him. No sooner had the shock washed over him then a voice beside him called out uncertainly. "Seto?"

As the voice snapped him from his stupor, Seto turned to look at Serenity. As he did, the appearance of a young woman faded only for a moment, to reveal a woman. Someone Seto had thought lost to him forever. "Kisara? Is it really you?" Laughing joyously as she launched herself into his arms, Kisara held tight to him. "Seto, it is you!"

Smiling softly, Atem stepped back a pace as he beheld the newly reunited lovers, Seto turning to him after a moment, his voice displaying his confusion. "I don't understand. How can I have all these memories? Memories of a life I've never lived?"

"But you're wrong, Seto. It may have been your life five millennia ago, but it was a life you lived, nonetheless. I simply helped you to remember. Quite frankly, I was starting to get tired of waiting for you to stow your crap, accept your past and remember on your own, so I decided to step in."

After the drive back to Cairo, the gang had decided to rent a hotel for the night, as it was already late. Relaxing in their room, Atem smiled as he held Ishizu, lightly rubbing her arm as she used his chest as a pillow. "So, you and Marik cooked up this whole scheme, my love?"

"Really, it was mostly my idea." Atem confessed, chuckling as he elaborated. "After Marik found the ring and I had told him of its significance and what I planned to do, his only request was to make the experience memorable for everyone involved. The trip here and the location were all my ideas, as I know how important your family was to you. So I thought that, by proposing to you in front of my tomb, I would not only be acknowledging the past, but also doing honor to your family and their legacy."

Wiping away a tear at his sentiment, Ishizu was suddenly reminded why she loved him so much, pressing a kiss to his chest. "And, my love, you succeeded marvelously."

As Seto and Serenity lay in their room, Serenity lightly pressed a kiss to Seto's shoulder as she spoke softly. "After so many years, Seto, we've finally found one another again." Sighing softly, Seto shook his head. "I don't know how you can so easily accept this, Serenity. It doesn't feel right."

Looking up to him, Serenity simply smiled as her finger glided down his chest. "It certainly feels right to me, dear. Now, just lie back, relax, and let me help you remember, my love."

As Atem and Ishizu lay in each other's embrace, Atem could not help but smile as he heard the muffled cries of Serenity in her ecstasy, mumbling softly. "It seems like Serenity has her own method of helping Seto to accept his past. Hopefully, those two will finally find the happiness I know they deserve."

Gently lifting Ishizu's hand, Atem pressed a kiss to the back of it. "I know that I am glad to have finally found my happiness in you, my beloved."

"And I, my King, have found completion in you. Now that we are united, my dearest, nothing will ever separate us again." Pushing Atem onto his back, Ishizu swung her leg over him to straddle his waist, her hair falling around him as she dipped to press her lips to his.

The next morning, as the sunlight streamed through the windows, Atem slowly awoke, blinking his tired eyes as he looked down to see the olive skin of his fiancée pressed back against his. Brushing his lips against her shoulder, he slowly disentangled himself from her before making his way to the bathroom to shower.

Exiting a few minutes later, a towel wrapped around his waist, his eyes fell upon the bed to see his love gazing back at him, the bed sheet wrapped around her chest. In all honesty, he could not remember ever seeing a more beautiful sight. Smiling, Atem lowered his head slightly as he spoke in Kemetic. "Good morning, my Goddess."

Opening his duffle bag, Atem smiled as he changed into a black, sleeveless shirt and dark blue pants before tying his hair back. "How would you like breakfast, my love? I will let you choose the restaurant, as it's you who's live here most of your life and I'm not as well versed in modern Egyptian food."

As Ishizu stood from the bed, Atem forced himself to suppress a groan as he beheld the sight of his beloved walking into the bathroom for her shower.

After they had dressed, Atem and Ishizu had escorted the gang back to the airport in order to see them off, as they had decided to let the newly engaged couple have time to themselves before they returned. Once everyone had been seen safely to the plane, Atem took hold of Ishizu's hand as they walked back out into the city.

As they walked the streets, Atem could not help but marvel at how Egypt had indeed changed in five thousand years. What once had been empty desert sparsely peppered with small villages was now a sprawling, modern metropolis. "It is truly magnificent to see how technology has advanced."

Nodding, Ishizu smiled. "It is, dearest. I imagine that it must come as somewhat of a shock to you, seeing how drastically your homeland has changed." Linking her arm in his, her hand rested against his bicep as they walked, discussing the various technological advancements of modern Egypt.

Shaking his head with a small smile, Atem spoke. "As long as I am with you, my love; be it here in Egypt, Domino City, or anywhere else in the world, I will consider it home. As the saying goes, 'Home is where the heart is.' And my heart, beloved, will always be with you."

As they found a small street-side café, the two looked through their menus after ordering drinks. Sipping his tea after it had arrived, Atem smiled as he looked toward Ishizu. "I'm glad we could come here, my love. While the nation may have changed greatly in the many years that I've been gone, I cannot help but still feel a powerful connection to Egypt. I suppose that, no matter how time has changed it, this land will always be a part of me."

Soon enough, work beckoned their return and, as they arrived back in Domino City, they made a stop at the museum to let them know that they'd returned. Upon seeing the ring on Ishizu's finger, the director smiled knowingly and congratulated them.

Luckily, it was a weekend, so they did not have to worry about returning to work immediately, instead opting to continue looking up listings for apartments in Domino and, after finding one that looked promising, they contacted the owner of the property to set up a viewing.

Thankfully, the owner had an opening for the next week and, after confirming the appointment, the two began discussing details of their upcoming wedding.

A/N: If anyone familiar with modern Muslim wedding traditions would like to submit ideas for Atem and Ishizu's wedding, please do. As both are Egyptian and Ishizu is presumably Muslim, it would only make sense to write an Islamic wedding. Though, as a Christian, I would not want to disrespect the Islamic faith by trying to write an Islamic wedding and either missing important aspects or describing portions of the ceremony itself incorrectly, as I want to handle the description of the ceremony with the respect and reverence it deserves. Also, I know that Kisara was never shown to have a modern incarnation, but I do like the pairing of her and Seto. She seems like she would be a great upbeat foil to his harsh demeanor. And also, comparing pictures of Kisara and Serenity, I do see a small, but to me, noticeable similarity. As always, I appreciate feedback from my readers. Reviews keep the story going as they say.