Author's Note: This chapter is so much better than my last one, it hurts.
Time to work on the chapter. Sorry, Mr. Procrastination, anime-on-replay is busy working on a story. Hang up or try a different author. ;)
Please read and enjoy! P.S. The beginning is a lot more happy and cheery than this story's tone usually is. :)
Chapter 8
Isis hung back, hiding behind the garden wall. To say she was "spying" was such a strong word… She preferred the term "supervising".
A warm smile was lingering on her face as she watched Crown Prince Atem approach Lady Yugi. Hopelessly a romantic, Isis was always using her Millennium Necklace to predict couples and relationships.
Oddly enough, though, her Necklace had been acting a bit peculiar ever since Lady Yugi had arrived at the palace. The item had stopped supplying her with visions of the future, and instead, chose to only show her tidbits of the past, whereas, she was used to a medley of both past and future. Isis wondered about this as she gazed at the couple in the garden. Perhaps she should have alerted the Pharaoh-
"What are you doing?"
"Mahad!" Isis exclaimed, clenching her heart. She turned judgmental eyes on her lifetime friend and fellow Item Bearer, scolding, "Don't you ever sneak up on me like that again!"
Mahad lightly chuckled and informed, "Well, I am the head of security at the palace. It's my job to sneak around and find out what's going on." He leaned in closer and asked in a hushed whisper, "So, why are you spying on the Crown Prince? You realize that is a crime punishable by death, right?"
"For you're information, Mahad, I was assigned to watch over the Prince by the Pharaoh himself." She narrowed her eyes. "And, it's not spying. It's supervising."
"Why did the Pharaoh assign you to supervise?" Mahad questioned, genuinely curious, "And, who is the Prince out in the garden with?"
"A-ha!" A sly smile slipped onto Isis's features. "So, you were spying as well!"
"It's my job to know what's happening, Isis. We've been over this before." Mahad shook his head. "And, so many servants around here spy; it shouldn't even be considered a crime."
"It would be if you turned them in," Isis commented, "Admit it, you don't turn in everyone who breaks the rules."
"Like I said, spying shouldn't be judged as a offense." Mahad pulled the previous question back to the surface. "Tell me, who is out there with the Prince? She doesn't look familiar to the palace; although, she could be related to the Prince. I've never seen two people look that close in relation!"
Isis smiled at this and enlightened, "That is Lady Yugi."
"Oh, yes, I've heard a great deal of this notorious 'Lady Yugi'-" He smirked. "-from both Prince Atem and Priest Seto."
"Priest Seto?" Isis narrowed her eyes. "What did he say about her?"
"Only that he thought Lady Yugi was eerily familiar to him," Mahad reported, putting Isis's fears to rest.
"Really…"
Suddenly, a floodgate of memories burst in Isis.
She cried, "I remember now! A vision from the past of Priest Seto- No! Several visions!"
Mahad shushed her and ordered, "Keep quiet, or your spying position will be discovered."
"It's not spying, it's-"
"Yes, yes, supervising," Mahad dismissed. He asked softly, "Now, what about these visions?"
Isis closed her eyes to concentrate and described, "I saw a few visions- visions of Priest Seto as just a child- with some boy who looked nearly identical to our Crown Prince… One involved a child whose age did not exceed a few days if even that. One didn't occupy Priest Seto at all and only that other boy and… Lady Yugi, I believe."
"Why didn't you tell anyone about these visions?" Mahad asked, almost frantic.
"Sometimes," Isis explained, "I receive visions while I sleep. I don't usually recall them until later…"
"We should report this to the Pharaoh," Mahad commanded more than suggested.
Isis nodded in agreement then told him, "But I need to continue watching the Prince and Lady Yugi."
"Spying," Mahad coughed.
"Supervising!" Isis corrected, her face shifting to a shade darker.
Mahad smirked but didn't say another word and steadily walked away.
Isis shot a glare in his direction as he disappeared, but it was one more playful then angry. She shook her head and turned her watch back to the couple in the garden.
Her breath got caught in her throat.
Prince Atem and Lady Yugi were sharing a sweet kiss.
Isis blinked a few times, just to make sure she was seeing correctly. Once assured that she was, she smiled genuinely, a smile that felt comfortable and real. But, the smile was short-lived, for soon, a question was asked by Lady Yugi.
"What is the Prince going to say about this?"
-transition-
Atem felt the color draining out of his face. But, before he had the chance to answer-
"Atemu!"
Both 'Atemu' and Yugi turned to the direction that the call came from. Isis sprinted towards them, looking just as frightened as Atem if not more.
She reached the couple and said, "Atemu, I need you."
"For what?" Atem was barely able to articulate through his surprise of the question Yugi asked and then Isis appearing from practically thin air.
Isis quickly made up a lie and reported, "The Prince has returned from his expedition."
"What are you talking about? I am the-" Atem caught himself just in time. "Yes, of course. Yugi-" He turned back at Yugi, who looked as afraid as the other two at that moment. "-Do you mind if I go?"
"N- not at all," Yugi feinted in a frightened stumble.
Isis, normally, wouldn't have left until she was sure Lady Yugi was all right, but she immediately left the garden, Atem shadowing.
Yugi was left all alone.
"W- what have I done?" Yugi softly asked aloud, "How could I have been so foolish?" She began to tremble. All she knew was beginning to be ripped from her grasp. Again. First by her own brother. And now by the Prince. Not a hope in the world assured Yugi that the Prince would be understanding of her sudden interest in 'Atemu'. Should she leave like she had planned? Yugi shook her head. What kind of position would that put 'Atemu' in? The last thing she wanted to do was put him in any danger…
She almost laughed.
How had she reached the point that she preferred 'Atemu's' safety over her own happiness? Well, somehow, she had. So, Yugi decided to find her way back to her chambers and wait for someone to come collect her… The only issue was, she wasn't sure who would come. It could be the Prince. It could be 'Atemu'. And, in a chance that was steadily growing wider, it could be her brother.
Another shuddered escaped her.
Slowly, Yugi trekked back into the palace, leaving the beautiful warmth of the garden and exchanging it for an anxious wait for… someone.
-transition-
Isis stopped when she reached the courtroom. She had been basically sprinting, and her heart was threatening to leap up and out of her chest. Atem was just a little behind her and had a similar feeling.
"I- Isis, was it- it necessary to have us run?" Atem questioned through heavy panting.
Isis nodded, taking a deep breath herself. Finally settling her racing heartbeat, she told him, "I was afraid of what your reaction would be to Lady Yugi's question. We had to leave rapidly."
"Yes, I suppose," Atem replied. Then, he cried, "Wait, were you spying on us?"
"Supervising!" Isis corrected, her voice just as fierce. Then, she shrunk a little and apologized, "It was not my place to raise my voice to you, I am sorry, Prince Atem."
"I am not Prince Atem," Atem stated, "I won't be. Yugi hates the Prince."
"She doesn't hate you-"
"Yes, she does!" Atem felt hot tears rise to his eyes. "She's afraid of the Prince! She hates him!"
"But, you're the Prince, Prince Atem, and she doesn't hate you," Isis comforted. She suggested, "You could tell her that you are the Prince."
"And risk that she would hate me?" Atem looked horrified at the idea. "I'd never!"
Isis swallowed and asked truthfully, "But do you really have another option?"
Atem thought. Did he? No was the obvious answer. But he tried desperately to think of a different solution. Before he could, though-
"What is all the noise about?"
Priest Seto walked into the courtroom. "Priestess Isis, Crown Prince Atem," he greeted casually as he spotted the two.
Atem felt the tears of frustration prick his eyes once more.
"Hello," Isis returned the greeting. She looked at the floor again as if she was fascinated by it.
"Prince Atem," Seto observed, "You look distressed. Did something happen?"
All Atem could do was nod, emotion caught in his throat.
Isis turned to Atem and sighed. She advised, "You can see, Prince Atem, you only have one option. You should do it now, before anything else can happen to suspend it."
Atem knew she was right. Her advice was perfect, something he'd expect from an Item Bearer.
"What is going on?" Seto broke through, sounding frustrated that he knew absolutely nothing of the situation.
Atem shook his head, saying hoarsely, "It's none of your concern, Seto."
Seto hated being left in the dark, but something told him to leave this subject alone. He gave a sigh and muttered, "Whatever", leaving the courtroom in search of some place that would actually provide him information.
"Thank you, Isis," Atem told her as Seto disappeared through the courtroom doors.
Isis gave one nod with a pleasurable smile, replying, "Of course, Prince Atem."
Atem returned the smile with a weak one of his own but a smile, nonetheless. He left the courtroom to confront Lady Yugi.
Author's Note: Ahhhh! So much confusion and chaos! How the heck did this story get so complicated? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Anywho, so that's the cliffhanger I decided to leave on this chapter. Which means, it's time to review!
Did I ever tell you guys how much these reviews all mean to me? I didn't! A CRIME!
I love you, guys. Platonically. Seriously, though, stay awesome. 'Kay, thanks.
Review!