After leaving my clothes in my sarcophagus now dressed in just my bandages and the cloth that hung down over my waist I walked across the room, facing Armon who grinned at me. Remembering that he had promised to teach me Egypt-Tsu Armon called to over. Though my first lessons didn't go as well as I hoped.
"Almost, Jade but you need to react quicker." Ja-Kal commented as I lay on the stone floor, rubbing my head as Armon stood there.
"Ow. That really hurt. Alright this time I'm going to be faster." I said and Armon laughed, waiting as I struggled to my feet. As I rushed towards him he blocked my kick grabbing my leg and I yelped finding myself hanging upside down. "Time out."
"Still not quick enough, Jade." Armon said as I tried to smack his leg with my fists which did nothing except make him laugh. "Stop that! That tickles." He laughed, dropping me and I groaned as I found myself flat on my back. "Oops."
"Maybe you should take a break, Jade." Nefer-Tina suggested as I lay there groaning.
"I'm fine just give me a minute." I groaned as I climbed to my feet holding my head in my hands. "Or maybe not." I added when I almost tripped over my own feet.
"Yes you should take a break. Who wants to fight me next?" Armon agreed as I stumbled towards the steps taking a seat while I waited for my back to stop aching. As Nefer-Tina stepped up Ja-Kal gave me a pat on the shoulder.
"You are getting better, Jade." Ja-Kal told me and I brightened, Rath moving away from his work to stand at my side.
"The pyramids were not built in a day, Jade. You will have plenty of time to practice so why are you in such a rush?" Rath asked as I stretched, wincing from the ache in the base of my spine. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Just my pride's hurt. That and my backside. I think I might have broken it." I complained and he fixed me with a raised eyebrow staring at my back for a few seconds. "I was joking, Rath. You can stop staring at my backside now."
"I was staring? My apologizes, Jade but I was worried you had really hurt yourself." Rath replied, taking a seat beside me to watch our friends sparring. "But you are improving."
"Thanks, Rath. I know I shouldn't be so eager to get my butt handed to me but I just want to learn to defend myself." I admitted and he just nodded, lightly patting me on the back.
"I could teach you as well, Jade." Rath suggested and I immediately nodded liking the way he blinked at me before he broke into a smile. "Thank you."
"Too bad I can't transform like you guys. Then I wouldn't have any problems." I muttered as I rested my head on my knees.
"That would be impossible, Jade. You know that only the four of us have amulets." Ja-Kal answered and Rath nodded, moving his attention back to me.
"Yeah I know, Ja-Kal but wouldn't I look amazing in that armor?" I commented and Rath nodded getting a smile from me as well as a slight frown and a slow head shake from Ja-Kal. "Well I would." I grumbled once I saw the look on Ja-Kal's face.
"You would make a fine guardian but it is not our decision to make, Jade." Rath said when I lifted my head. "Now would you like to learn something less painful?"
As soon as I agreed to learn from Rath next he brought me over to the stone table, pulling down several scrolls. "Now since you don't know any hieroglyphics this will be difficult." Rath said, selecting one of the scrolls before he unrolled it.
"Maybe not but you could teach me." I suggested and he fixed me with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure someone as talented as you could, Rath." I insisted and he rubbed his chin thinking.
"Alright but you will need to listen carefully. I should begin how we came to be Presley's guardians." Rath began as I leaned over his shoulder to peer at the scroll spread out on the table. "It started several months ago..."
As Rath spoke I listened carefully already knowing how and why they woke up though I kept quiet, liking the way Rath told the story. Once he stopped talking he stared at me for a few seconds breaking into a smile when he noticed I hadn't stopped listening at any point, not breaking eye contact. "Well. It is nice that someone enjoys my lessons." He commented and I gave him a smile when he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Rath, we know what happened. We were there remember?" Nefer-Tina commented and I giggled when Rath snorted at her, looking back at me when I giggled.
"Of course I remember, Nefer-Tina but Jade wasn't there. I just thought it would be nice for Jade to learn that as well." Rath shot back, feeling a pat on his shoulder from me this time.
"It was a great history lesson, Rath. Thanks for telling me." I told Rath as Nefer-Tina rolled her eyes and Armon snorted covering his mouth with his hand. "So what are you going to teach me next?" I asked trying to focus his attention back on me when I saw him glaring at Nefer-Tina and Armon. Even Ja-Kal was smiling at us and I sighed, gently picking up a scroll between my hands.
"Yes well how about our gods? Oh that might take a while. On second thought I have a better idea." Rath suggested, going over the gods that appeared on their sarcophagi. Even that I already knew but I kept it to myself listening instead to someone with greater knowledge than mine.
Later Rath and I took a break sitting on the steps leading to their sarcophagi. "You are a very good listener, Jade. I am glad that you wanted me to be your teacher." Rath told me and I nodded, looking at the amulet he wore around his neck. "Ahh you are interested in this aren't you?" He asked and I gave him another nod as he held it out.
"Yeah is that what makes your armor appear?" I asked him and he nodded, giving me a closer look at the green stone on it. "Cool. I remember you transformed to fight Scarab."
"Yes it is...cool. But I cannot transform all the time." He answered as I touched the amulet tracing the snake with my fingers. "When my power runs out I will change back and then I need to recharge."
"In your sarcophagus right?" I asked getting a nod. "I suppose even mummies need to rest once in a while."
"Even humans transformed by a spell." He added and I giggled, swatting him on the shoulder. "I am still working on changing you back but it may take longer than I originally thought."
"Take your time. If being a mummy means I get to spend time with you I'm perfectly happy with that." I replied and he blinked at me, two green eyes widening when I coughed. "Oh I mean I enjoying spending time with everyone here. Not just you of course, Rath."
"Oh o...of course that's what you meant." Rath agreed when I turned my head slightly, unable to meet his gaze after I'd admitted that I enjoyed spending time alone with him.
"How did the repairs on the Jetcycle go?" I asked, hoping he hadn't noticed my slip-up. "I hope it wasn't too badly damaged."
"Actually the repairs are finished. Thankfully it wasn't too badly damaged." Rath told me and I grinned already thinking about taking another ride on it. As if he could read my thoughts Rath shook his head. "Oh no. No more joyriding."
"Rath, you enjoyed racing around the streets as much as I did. Just for a little while. I'm sure that Scarab won't attack us again." I asked him and he shook his head, crossing his arms and I chewed my lip staring at him.
"Oh no I won't fall for those eyes again." Rath insisted, shaking his head less than ten minutes later when he sat on the Jetcycle my arms wrapped around his waist. "I cannot believe I fell for those eyes again." He complained, now wearing his disguise.
"Don't feel so bad, Rath. No one can resist my puppy-dog eyes." I teased, dressed in my own disguise and he just snorted as the platform raised the Jetcycle into the air. We shot out of the entrance and I laughed as Rath sped along the road unable to mask his grin as we raced away from the sphinx.
While Rath drove a lot safer and slower than Nefer-Tina I still enjoyed the ride and when we stopped to take a break on the grass near the museum I lay back. "Jade, are you tired?" He asked, alarmed until I raised my head shaking my head at him.
"Just relaxing. Thanks for going for a ride with me, Rath." I answered and he smiled, sitting at my right side as I stared at the sky.
"Well I could not say no to that face you pulled on me." Rath agreed and I giggled, patting the grass beside me. "But I am already sitting."
"You should try lying on the grass. It's comfortable." I suggested and he just shook his head at me peering up at the sky instead.
"Not unless you like getting grass between your bandages." Rath replied and I giggled, looking up at the moon. After a nearly a full minute the grass shifted under him as Rath lay back and I smiled to myself. "Though it is nice to take a break from fighting Scarab. Thank you for convincing me to come out here, Jade."
"You're welcome, Rath." I said, shifting slightly closer and he froze when my hand brushed his. "Sorry didn't realize how close I was." I apologized when he didn't move. I started to pull my hand away when Rath reached over and after a slight hesitation his fingers brushed mine. Which I knew wasn't an accident like mine as we lay side by side on the cool grass.
Time passed and when I yawned Rath cleared his throat, sitting when I rubbed at my eyes. "Yes we really should go back." Rath suggested as I sat stretching my arms and back. "This was a nice idea, Jade. Thank you for suggesting coming out here." Rath added as he climbed to his feet reaching out with his left hand and I reached up, gripping it in mine. But as I started to climb to my feet one of my feet slipped on the grass and I yelped falling forward and with a crash I knocked Rath over.
"Sorry! I really didn't mean that, Rath but my foot just slipped out from under me." I stammered as I raised myself up by my elbows, cringing when Rath rubbed the back of his head with an open palm.
"That is alright, Jade. I know you would never try and injure me on purpose." Rath sighed, not realizing how close we were until he lifted his head and we bumped foreheads. "I am so sorry, Jade." He apologized as we rubbed our foreheads.
"N...no it was my fault, Rath. I should probably stop sitting on your chest." I stammered as I climbed to my feet reaching out for Rath's hand once I was steady on my feet. "At least this time I didn't fall on you."
"It was not that terrible, Jade." Rath muttered his fingers brushing mine before he gently released my hand walking back to the Jetcycle as I stared down at my hand not expecting his fingers to be warm. Once he noticed I hadn't followed Rath paused, waving towards the Jetcycle and I snapped out of my daze hurrying to catch up.
Rath drove us back the only sound coming from the engine and with my arms wrapped tightly around the mummy's waist we sped through the streets only slowing when the sphinx came into our view. I barely registered that we had arrived back inside the room that served as a garage though when Rath cleared his throat I blinked as he turned his head slightly, giving me a tiny smile.
"We have arrived back, Jade. You may release me otherwise I will not be able to leave the Jetcycle." Rath teased and I coughed, removing my arms from around his waist so that Rath could climb from the Jetcycle. "That is better thank you. Now we should probably get some rest in our own sarcophagi this time." He added as he helped me from the vehicle, his hand holding onto mine for long enough to make me feel lightheaded.
I followed behind him, depositing my disguise on the stone table along the way. Folding it neatly I turned to see Rath doing the same and now back to our bandages and cloth we moved towards our sarcophagi. I pulled back the lid of my own as Rath climbed the steps, opening the lid of his sarcophagus and I gave him a wave as he stepped inside poking his head out.
"Goodnight, Jade. Sleep well." He called out and I smiled at him, blowing him a kiss just to see his reaction. He blinked at me though after a pause he gave me a slow smile, disappearing inside and as the lid creaked closed I smiled to myself.
"Goodnight, Rath. Sleep well." I called back slipping into the darkness of my own sarcophagus not knowing that as I closed the lid behind me he heard me, closing his eyes with that same smile on his lips.
The very next day I slid open my sarcophagus, climbing out and after I carefully slid the lid closed I stretched. "Now that was a nice rest." I said, spotting Presley and Ja-Kal who waved at me. Feeling pretty good I hurried over watching as Presley leaned back, throwing something that looked somewhat like a boomerang into the air.
I followed the path of the boomerang for a few moments as it headed for the stone wall until I heard a familiar voice. "Jade, there you are. I wanted to ask if you would like to...look out!" Rath shouted and I spun around in time to see the boomerang making a return trip having bounced off the wall. As it spun towards me I froze forgetting that I should run until Rath rushed forward, diving at me and we rolled along the floor as the boomerang rebounded off the floor directly where I had just been standing.
"Sorry, guys! I didn't think it would come after you!" Presley called out as Ja-Kal caught the weapon, handing it back to Presley.
"Whoa that was really close. Don't know why I froze up like that." I muttered only realizing that Rath had me pinned to the floor when I tried to sit.
"Jade, are you alright? The Boomer-Ra nearly hit you." Rath asked, looking down at my face. "Thank goodness. You are unhurt." He sighed, relieved until I slowly blinked at him and he finally realized that he had me pinned.
He froze unable to look away when we locked eyes and we would have stayed that way if Presley hadn't rolled his eyes at us. "Guys? Hello?" He called out and I shook my head, Rath quickly climbing to his feet before he offered me his hand. Now back on our feet we shifted away from each other as Presley made a gagging noise in the background.
"It is good you are unharmed now I must get back to my studies." Rath said to me moving back to the stone table and I sighed to myself, having liked being that close to Rath however brief.
"Keep practicing, Presley. But you are getting very good at using the Boomer-Ra." Ja-Kal told Presley as he slipped the weapon into his backpack. "Now Armon will test your Egypt-Su skills." He said as he and Presley walked out of the room.
"That was embarrassing." Rath sighed, looking at the scrolls resting on the ledge above the table. "Now let's see where did I put it?" He muttered to himself forgetting that we were alone so once I was sure he wasn't even looking in my direction I slowly made my way towards him. He didn't even glance up when I was standing right behind him though as I reached up a small smile crept onto his lips and I yelped as he spun around.
Seconds later I had my back pressed against the stone table, my eyes wide as Rath stared down at me with his arms crossed. "Jade, you cannot sneak up on me." Rath teased giving me a faint smile as I blinked at him. "Though that was a good attempt."
"I was just having some fun. You are very difficult to sneak up on, Rath." I admitted and he smiled at me, reaching down and I grinned when he wrapped his left arm around my waist. "What exactly are you doing?"
"I am not completely sure but it feels right for some reason, Jade." He replied as I draped a hand around his neck. Though as we started to lean in someone coughed and Rath released his hold on me, gently untangling my arm from around his neck.
"Sorry! I'll leave you two alone." Nefer-Tina said as I moved away from the table, both arms crossed against my chest as Rath grabbed the scroll he had been looking for.
"That is alright. I have work to do anyway." Rath answered and once I saw his attention move back to the scroll I rolled my eyes moving quickly from the room. Seeing my eyes staring at my feet as I walked away Nefer-Tina sighed, following me. Hearing her footsteps I slowed enough so she could catch up and once we were walking side by side she gave me a tiny smile and I frowned at her, my eyes moving to the floor again.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you two, Jade." She apologized and I just shrugged slowing to a stop when I reached the room with the large stone table.
"If you really want to know I was trying to sneak up on Rath." I explained as I stood in the doorway, looking at my hands for several seconds. "The next thing I knew he had an arm around my waist and I had one around his neck. I...think we almost kissed but..." I trailed off rubbing one of my arms.
"So I noticed. Jade, Rath obviously likes you but he's not the best at showing his feelings. Don't let it get you down." Nefer-Tina answered and I nodded, trying to forget about how quickly he returned to his studies after.
"I know I shouldn't let it get to me but I really do like him. You saw how quickly he went back to his scrolls after we nearly kissed." I commented, wrapping my arms around myself. "Why can't he admit there's something between us?"
"It will take time for Rath to understand his feelings. Besides he's been in love before though it turned out to be a spell and not real love." Nefer-Tina explained and I raised my eyebrows at her, already knowing the answer.
"Her name is Chontra." Rath answered and I spun around to find him standing in the doorway. "I could not help overhearing your conversation." He explained as he looked at me.
"I'd better get back to helping with the Hot-Ra." Nefer-Tina said, excusing herself with a wave. As soon as Rath and I were alone he beckoned me to sit at the table so I did, watching as he stood at the front of the table.
"She was my greatest student and the one woman who I had feelings for. When I was called away to the palace to become Prince Rapses' teacher she grew angry, thinking I was abandoning her for the prince." Rath explained, eventually sitting beside me.
"But you weren't were you?" I asked Rath and he nodded. "It was a spell that made you think you were in love with Chontra." When he blinked at me I just shook my head. "Nefer-Tina told me that."
"Yes I did believe once that my feelings were real. Now I know otherwise when she came back to this world and I found out that my feelings weren't real and that she had cast a love spell on me." Rath finished looking at the wall for a moment.
"Rath, I can't even use magic and even if I could I wouldn't do that to you. It's not right using magic to make someone fall in love with you. You fall for someone because of them and not some spell." I insisted and he turned his attention back to me a faint smile on his lips. "Well it's the truth." I stammered unable to look him in the eyes when he reached across covering my hand with his own.
"Wise words. Yes it is wrong to use magic to control someone's feelings. I wish to make it up to you somehow." Rath said, giving my hand a squeeze and I finally looked back at him cracking a smile.
"Maybe we can go for another ride on the Jetcycle. Hopefully this time Scarab or those Shabti don't ruin our fun." I suggested and he nodded at me, releasing my hand.
"I hope so as well, Jade. It ruined what was a nice ride." Rath agreed after we climbed to our feet. "Now would you like me to continue our lessons?"
"Of course. Lead the way, Rath." I replied and he grinned at me, walking alongside me as we headed back to the room with the sarcophagi.