**Please Note: Hondo is the Egyptian name for Tristan/Honda from Yu-Gi-Oh I picked out.
**Hondo = Honda/Tristan (It's not a typo)
It is actually an Egyptian name that means War.
"So what do you know about Jono, Maibe?" Teana asked. She carefully observed Maibe as she noticed that Maibe's cheeks suddenly acquired a pink tint to. This took Teana by surprise. Maibe never became flustered in such a way before.
"Why Teana, are you asking about another man when you are already promised to another?" Maibe nervously joked trying to divert the attention off of herself.
Teana laughed with her. "Oh do not worry. I am not interested in him like that. Shukura is just curious about him for an undisclosed reason at the moment." She winked.
"Shukura ? What?" Teana looked at Maibe whose face was evident with jealousy.
Teana blinked and pursed her lips. "This Jono character, you have feelings for him." She said as if stating the obvious.
"What? Why would you think such a thing?!"
"Well for one thing your cheeks have turned to the brightest color of pink." Teana pointed out eyeing her.
Maibe covered her face. "What no... of course not! Me and him? Him and me? We could never work! His hair is blond. Blonds are not very trustworthy!" She fibbed.
"Mai." Teana said shaking her head. "You have blond hair."
"Blond men. Not women!" She hissed.
"Atem has blond hair, well... a third blond anyways. So is he one-third untrustworthy?"
"No of course not. I just meant..." Teana raised an eyebrow at Mai. "It is just that..I uh...oh what does it matter? He does not like me. If Shukura has romantic interest in him then good for her! Shukura is such a sweet, pretty girl. Jono would be perfect for her. He would take very good care of her."
Teana just shook her head while placing the palm of her hand at her cheek. "Well that would be disturbing if he romantically was interested in her."
"Wait. What?" Mai gaped expectantly looking at Teana.
Teana reached out for Maibe's hand. "Maibe, Shukura thinks that Jono may be her long lost brother."
"Hey Atem. Who is that new girl who is always around Teana?" Jono asked.
Jono, Hondo, Atem and Mana were talking in a circle near the terrace.
"Oh Teana's handmaiden?" Mana asked.
"Yes."
"So you find the new girl attractive too, huh?" Hondo questioned nudging Jono with his arm.
"Why you!" Jono harshly shoved Hondo.
" Jono? What is wrong?" Hondo asked shocked at Jono's behavior. Hondo slowly backed away.
"Nothing. She just reminds me of someone." He frowned. "Atem? What is her name?" He softly asked turning to look at him.
Atem started to think for a second drumming a couple fingers on his chin. "Oh my. Um it started with an S..."
Jono's eyes shined with hope. "An S you say? Can you think of the name?"
"Hmm. I am sorry I do not remember."
"Sorry. I do not know her name either! Atem hasn't even introduced me to his bride to be yet!" Mana gave Atem a look.
"Oh. Well thanks anyway." Jono abruptly turned and moped away.
"What is the matter with him?" Hondo whispered.
"I will try to find out for you my friend!" Atem yelled after Jono. He heard Jono mumble as he continued away.
"Find out what Atem?" A sweet high voice piped out.
Atem turned around to see Teana looking up at him. Atem stared at her. Her cerulean eyes were mesmerizing with her thick lashes adorned with kohl outlining them. She was wearing a long flowing midnight blue dress, that had thin straps. The color of the dress really brought out the blueness of her eyes, making them really stand out. Atem thought back to the warm feeling he had while embracing her in the moonlight. He couldn't get that feeling out of his mind since yesterday.
"Atem?"
"Huh. Oh sorry. I was just thinking."
"Hello!" Mana piped! Teana directed her attention to the short girl. "My name is Mana." She greeted while shaking Teana's hand. "I am a childhood friend of Atem and also his best friend! I am so glad there is another girl here now! I know we will have lots of fun!" She exclaimed.
Teana's eyes widened. Mana sure had a very bubbly and friendly personality.
"Ahem." The boy with the dark brown pointy hair coughed. " And my name is Hondo. I am the other best friend of the royal prince, and may I say Jono was right you are gorgeous!" He said taking her hand.
Teana blushed. She deduced that Hondo and Joey must be pretty close. They also some personality similarities between them.
"Hondo!" Atem scolded. Hondo gave a soft chuckle.
"It is nice to meet both of you. I am sure we shall become fast friends." Teana greeted.
"Yes, yes I am sure. However at the moment Teana and I must get going for our scheduled time together." Atem said.
"Oh. Well then goodbye then!" She waved back at them as Atem dragged her to the terrace.
"Your friends are very nice Atem."
"Yes they are." Atem mumbled.
"I was wondering if you could tell me about one of them." Atem froze.
"Mana?" He nervously asked.
She laughed. "Actually I would like to know more about Jono." Atem picked up the pace and they reached the terrace.
"Why? Why so interested in Jono?" He gruffly asked.
Teana blinked a couple of times as they sat down on the bench outside on the terrace. "Ah, just some personal reasons of mine." She didn't want to tell him her suspicions just yet.
Atem could feel jealousy radiating throughout him. Teana was his. His fiancé. His future bride. His future queen. So why the hell was she asking about his best friend? Atem had never felt this way before. He didn't understand when he started being like this. He felt his left hand curling into a fist and his other hand tightening around the bench.
He turned to look the other way. Atem was telling himself to calm down. He sometimes had a little trouble with his anger. It did not matter, Atem told himself. Teana was marrying him, not Jono. There was nothing they could do to change it.
"Atem?" Teana put her hand on Atem's shoulder. "Are you alright? What is the matter?" Her touch softened Atem's anger slightly. He sighed.
"Sorry love. I have just been out of it today for whatever reason."
Atem just called her love. Wait, he called her love? He called her love! Teana was trying to contain her glee. 'Love, what a nice thing to call someone.' She bit her lip, she felt rather silly. Why was she so excited for? "Oh?"
"But it matters not, just something trivial." Teana removed her hand from Atem's shoulder and then Atem took it and patted it. "But tell me what is it that you wanted to ask about my friend Jono?"
Teana hesitated. "Could you tell me about his background. You know, his childhood and family?"
Atem's eyebrows furrowed. Was she trying to find out more of Jono's background so she could see if he'd make a suitable husband? 'No. No. I mustn't think like that.'
"Well." Atem stroked his chin while taking a very deep breath. "He does not come from the best family background. His parents were separated at a young age. His father has passed on and he does not have any other known relatives except for a sister he had once and his mother. Of course he has not seen either of them since his parents separated long ago. Although he has been trying to locate them, especially his sister."
"Really?" Teana excitedly questioned. "That is wonderful!"
Atem looked at her puzzled. "How is that wonderful?"
"Because I think my handmaiden Shukura may be his sister!" She said excitedly grabbing his hand.
"Come on Atem!" Teana urged. "If I know Shukura, she will be still in my chambers possibly tidying up a bit."
Teana raced ahead slightly lifting the hem of her dress with one hand while dashing towards her room. Atem was surprised at Teana and the fact that even though she was a Princess, she did not care that she was running through the halls and it might seem unlady like. Atem broke into a grin, actually happy that Teana was not of typical princess nature and raced after her.
Atem ran up to Teana and when Teana looked to her side she saw Atem and smiled at him grabbing his hand as they made a turn. They just passed by some guards who were a little shocked at their behavior, but they laughed it off.
As they reached Teana's chambers, Teana flung open the doors in her haste. "Shukura!" Teana exclaimed.
Atem was a little hesitant in coming in, but walked in taking in his surroundings. He looked to see that Teana had met up with Shukura standing right in front of her. "I have wonderful news Shukura!"
Shukura widened her eyes looking at Atem, who stood a safe distance away and then back at Teana thinking to herself that it had to do with the royal couple. "You two have to tell me something about ...?"
Teana sensing Shukura's confusion, shook her head. "No, no, no. It does not have to do with Atem and I at all. It is about you Shukura!" She clenched Shukura's hands. "Shukura. I am convinced that Jono is your brother."
Shukura took in a sharp intake of breath and closed her eyes, tears spilling out of them in an instant. "Teana..." He voice quivered. "Arree... you... sure?" A tear flowed down her cheek. "I do not want to be hurt and discover it was all a misunderstanding."
Teana opened her mouth to respond, but Atem beat her to it. "I too am convinced that you are Jono's long lost sister. His story is almost identical to the one Teana told me of yours. In addition, Jono has been trying to locate his mother and sister he lost long ago that went by the name of Shukura. I did not recall your name until Teana told me and I am quite certain he must be your brother. It is too much of a coincidence too not be true." He reasoned.
Shukura was wrapped in Teana's embrace and she bit her lip. "Then let us go. I will wait no longer." She said coming out of Teana's embrace. "If Jono really is my brother as you say he is, I will wait not wait another minute to be out of my own brother's graces."
Teana and Atem smiled and looked at each other as Shukura now spoke with determination. "Take me to him."
Jono heard a knock at the door. "Atem? " Then looked next to him. "Teana?" He asked even more surprised.
Teana spoke first. "We brought someone to speak to you." Atem and Teana moved aside to reveal Teana's personal handmaiden. "This is my handmaiden Shukura . We had a feeling you might know each other."
"Jono? Is that really you big brother?" She timidly stepped forward.
"Shukura ? Is it really you? Shukura nodded and tears dropped from her face. Jono rushed to embrace her. "I have been looking for you for so long. I had not been able to find you or Ma."
Shukura cried back. "I know. I was trying to find you too, but I was so little when it happened. I did not remember where we lived or anything and Ma passed away a while back. I missed you so much Jono!"
"Oh Shukura ! I missed you so much as well." He rubbed her back calmingly.
Teana and Atem had stepped back a little during the exchange and looked at the two siblings who were quite tearful. Teana sighed as Atem wrapped his arm around Teana and she put her head on Atem's shoulder . Their action weren't entirely conscious, but what they did felt like the most natural thing in the world. "I am so glad they found each other after so many years Atem." She told him,
"Me too Teana. Me too."
Aw. Brother and sister reunited! :') Obviously in Ancient Egypt they didn't use the English writing system, so saying that Shukura's name starts with an S is inaccurate in that time period, but I couldn't paste the Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic for the modern day S, could I? It actually looks like a candy cane! ^_^ So just pretend. I'm getting better at writing longer chapters, don't you think? I know a lot of you were asking for longer chapters. I also have a pretty big chapter in store next time, my longest yet so please be patient. (Sneak Peek: A trip to the market with Atem, Teana and Seto!) Hopefully you will be happy with the results.
***IMPORTANT NOTICES***I may be changing the title of this fanfiction, so please do not be confused. I may possibly change it to 'Betrothed' or something of that sort, I have not decided yet. Let me know what you think.
**In addition, I have a new section to my profile now. It's a Works In Progress Section. You can check out future works in the making, all of them of course being either Peachshipping, Vanishshipping/Revolutionshipping and now Spiritshipping too! I'm going to be trying some different types of genre though, so please check it out for more details about future fanfics.
**'Arranged Marriage', however is not very close to being finished. It was supposed to be a summer fanfic, but obviously that isn't working out so we'll see how it turns out. I have lots of stuff planned for this including a surprise or two! ;)
*Lastly, thank you so much for my beta Akai22878 for proofreading this for me! Please be sure to check out her AnzuxAtem stories as well! She recently updated. Also a huge thanks to all my followers and especially reviewers! It means so much when you guys review. Thank you!
Til Next Time!
~Startistica