.

..

...

Part II

...

..

.

Chapter 13

Atem walked to the empty throne room. With his father not in attendance, there was no need for the court to be in session. There were no priests, priestesses, courtiers, or servants. The throne itself was large and regal. A lone monolith in a vast and empty space. Atem placed his hand on the golden armrest. It felt cold.

"Do you love her? As someone who isn't just a good friend?"

Dammit. Damn Nefret and her pointed questions.

Did he love Mana?

"I wish to ask you to share with me everything that you are," Mana's words rang in his ears. What had she really been asking? Share with me everything… At the time, he was sure he knew what she had wanted.

"It appeared to me that you have taken Mana as your lover,"

He didn't need anyone to tell him about sex, he was well aware. Sex was almost everywhere in their culture. They even had a goddess who resigned over fertility, womanhood, and sexual intimacy. He had thought that when the time would come, he would know when he was ready for such an act.

He didn't feel ready now.

It didn't feel like it was the right time to awaken such feelings.

But you have to find a potential queen before you're sixteen. That was plenty of time. Wasn't it? He had two years to find someone.

The whole idea of having sex himself was so foreign to him. Most men his age had at least a few lovers under their belts, maybe a child on the way. He hadn't had the luxury of time to do such a thing. He had bigger things on his mind, especially since his mother's passing and his father's desire to prepare him as Pharaoh.

Atem looked down at the Millennium Puzzle. It no longer felt heavy or burdensome. In no time at all, he had grown accustomed to its weight. He never took it off, only removing it for sleeping or bathing. He tilted it so he could see the eye of Wadjet. It stared back at him, silent. The other wielders of the Items could express amazing abilities through the Item's powers. So far, the Puzzle hadn't shown him anything special, other than allowing him to summon monsters to do battle with. He wished he could see the future like Nefret could with the Tauk, or have the ability to read minds like the Eye.

Alas, the Puzzle did not give him any special knowledge or insight into this conundrum.

He wished he had someone he could talk to. He was too embarrassed to talk to his father about this. An ache settled in his chest. He would have asked his mother if she had still been living. He would have gone to her in a heartbeat…. He could ask Mahado, but it was his cousin that Atem was having romantic thoughts about. It seemed like a stab in the back to ask him about how to engage in such things with Mana, like he was throwing it in his face. He knew he had to have a talk with Mahado, later, when he was recovered. Much later… Atem was not looking forward to that conversation. Mahado had always been a fierce mentor and protector of Mana. He didn't want to go to any of the other adults and ask them. He simply didn't trust them to keep their mouths shut. Or the other scenario was possible, they would patronize him and tease him. He didn't want to be ogled at. He got enough of that already. It was none of their business and he wanted to keep it that way.

He had questions. Questions that demanded answers.

Well, he thought resolutely, When in doubt, start back at the beginning. Ask the right questions…

Did he love Mana? Love her as someone who was more than a friend? Like her as a boy was supposed to like a girl in that way?

He thought back to his parents' relationship. His mother and father had always appeared to be a team, on the same page, even when they disagreed. His mother had a sharp tongue and a wit to match, but she had never used it against her husband, at least not in public. He couldn't say how they were behind closed doors. She had shown nothing but love and support for her husband while in public.

A partnership…

Did he consider Mana to be a good partner?

Of course, you do.

That question was easily solved at least. Mana had always been by his side, supporting him, keeping his secrets, helping him to get out of and into trouble and mischief. She was always there ready to offer support or help. He thought now that he had sometimes taken her for granted in the past. She was like a monolith in his life. Always stable, always with him. The thought of her suddenly being removed from him filled him with angst and a feeling in his chest akin to fear and panic.

If she were suddenly ripped away from me…

He didn't like it.

Thinking back on his mom and dad's relationship he tried to analyze it again. They had always kept a level of affection obvious between them. Everyone could see how playful they had been with each other, teasing each other in loving kindness.

Did he think of Mana that way?

She's my best friend…There isn't anyone else that I can feel as open with, not even Mahado…

Another question answered.

He wanted Mana. He wanted her to be near him, always there, helping him to get into and out of trouble.

I want Mana.

But wanting someone close or to stay with you didn't necessarily mean that he wanted her romantically. He could just want stability after so many things have changed. What did love look like? When was he supposed to know these things anyway? Did the answers just fall in someone's lap or was it like everything else, where you learned by trial and error?

He groaned and slumped down on the steps next to the throne. Placing his hands on the cool stone and carven images he knew it would be his someday. Then it would pass to his own children, and so on and so on.

Suddenly it hit him. He knew who he could ask, a friend who would help to keep his confidence but give him the honest answers he was looking for. He had experience with women, Atem had seen how smooth and brazen he was towards the opposite sex. He had also heard rumors of his…trophies.

Picking himself up, he dusted his clothes and went out in search of him.

He was the perfect one to talk to.

The Space Between Spaces

"I'm…dying?" The statement sounded wrong to his ears. How was that possible? Yugi had never felt more alive. He felt like he was limitless, that he could go anywhere and everywhere at the speed of thought. He had never felt so strong, so capable.

"It feels like that," Atem said. "If everyone knew what it was like, they would completely change the way they lived their lives. They would never be afraid of death,"

"Did I say that out loud?" Yugi was thoroughly confused.

"There are no limits here, no walls in between relationships," Atem said.

There were no limits, no boundaries…. Why did Atem look so—

"I'm fucking pissed," Atem said, answering Yugi's unexpressed question. His face reflected the seething rage that boiled underneath the surface. Yugi had never seen such strong negative emotions in his partner's face, not against any enemy or otherwise. Now that Yugi was focused on him, he could feel it. He could feel what Atem was thinking and feeling as effortlessly as he could his own in an unobtrusive way. This felt natural, effortless, and easy, like it was the way relationships between people was supposed to be. Even when Atem had resided in the Millennium Puzzle, he had never felt this close to him. There had always been a hallway in between their two souls. Yugi had always been capable of hiding his emotions and feelings from Atem if he wanted to.

Ok. So Atem was angry. Why?

"Because someone has tried to murder you. You are not meant to be here yet,"

"Tried to murder me?" Yugi finally said aloud.

"I'm here to make sure it was only an attempt. If you so choose it,"

"Can you do that?"

Atem shrugged.

"Who's gonna stop me?"

Ancient Egypt

Atem found high priest Seti in the middle of a battle.

Where else would he be? Atem thought. Seti had an almost insatiable appetite for combat and for opportunities to prove himself. He found Seti utterly destroying his opponent, a very unfortunate Karim. Karim was a capable warrior both with summoned monsters and with swords, but it was only a few more turns and Seti had obliterated his opponent. Karim was forced to accede the match to Seti. Seti had a ruthless streak that Atem found simultaneously irritating, riveting, and alarming. The new high priest could make a very scary enemy.

Atem gave them both a few minutes to collect themselves and for Karim to depart before he asked.

"Seti?"

Seti bowed to his prince.

"Your Highness," Seti nodded towards the battleground. "Here for another match?"

"No," Pulling Seti to the side, Atem lowered his voice. "I need some advice,"

"Oh?" Seti looked intrigued. The prince had never come to him before with such things.

"Will you keep my confidence?" Atem knew he would, but he still felt it wise to state the obvious.

"Of course,"

Atem hit his leg with an anxious tapping motion. Why does this have to be so fucking difficult?

"I have a problem,"

"What sort of a problem?"

"A, uh…amatory-type problem,"

"An amator—

Atem hated how red his face probably looked. He could feel the heat in his cheeks, but Seti's reaction wasn't patronizing, merely matter-of-fact. Just like he always knew Seti would.

"Did you get someone pregnant? That's an easy solution,"

"Did I—

Why does everyone assume I'm not a virgin?

"I didn—

"Add her to a harem. Don't you have one? She'd be cared for during her pregnancy."

"But—

"So would the child. It wouldn't be an heir of course," Seti continued.

"I didn't get anyone pregnant!" Atem seethed.

"Then what is the problem?" Seti sighed.

"I said I needed help with an amatory problem, not an erotic problem,"

"What's the difference?"

"Sex doesn't mean love, Seti,"

"Doesn't it? I've loved every woman I've ever been with,"

"Loving that act of sex doesn't mean you love the person you're having sex with,"

Seti sighed and Atem pinched the space in between his eyes out of irritation. This was getting him nowhere.

"You know? I suddenly realized how ridiculous I was to come to you with this problem. You've never loved anyone,"

"I've loved before," Seti folded his arms, but everything told Atem he wasn't taking any of this conversation seriously or personally.

"I mean real love Seti, not like one of your, your… sexual conquests,"

"Why don't you just tell me your actual problem and let me decide if I can be of benefit to you or not?"

Atem rubbed his face aggressively, frustrated with this whole situation. He immediately regretted the decision to talk to him about this. This was a mistake.

"How do you know if you're in love with someone or not?" He forced out.

"Oh," Seti said. "I have no idea,"

Of course you don't.

"You know what? I think you've already answered my question,"

"Happy to be of service,"

Watching Seti walk away, Atem was more frustrated now than he had been at the start of the conversation. But he had helped Atem to find some clarity. Atem walked off, seeking some room to himself to think. Coming to his living quarters, he paced back and forth in front of his balcony. He had the answers to some of the questions he had, except for the most important one.

I'm thinking too hard about this. He said to himself. He needed to give himself a break, an outlet.

He needed a distraction.

He walked over to the area of his room that housed some of his things and removed a worn leather belt and sheath. Strapping them to his waist, he walked towards the arena that he had just left. It was empty and dim, no longer brightly lit by candles and mirrors. He walked into the room and tilted the mirror in just the right position to bounce the light into the space. At once, it was bright allowing him to see all that he needed. He found a few dummies, 'enemies' made of straw and fabric, and put them in strategic places. Warming up, he moved to loosen his joints and increase his heart rate. He moved into the familiar stances, offensive and defensive, taking apart his strawed opponents. Fifteen minutes went by before he took one of the blades off the wall and threw it, dead center at his opponent's heart.

He thought of Mahado's near-death experience and envisioned his enemy as a snake. He took his khopesh and cut off the dummy's head in one stroke.

"My, my, my. I had no idea the prince of Egypt was so lethally agile,"

An unfamiliar girl's cooing purr echoed in the chamber. Sounds of clapping and applause bounced off the stone walls. Turning, out of breath and burning up from exertion, he turned to see who had interrupted him. She was older than he was, but only by a year or so. She was dressed elegantly, with expensive and ornate jewelry. She wasn't Egyptian. Atem cared to guess whether she was Macedonian or Assyrian. She had displayed her body in such a way that was both suggestive and uprightly modest. She knew how to stay within the decent boundaries of prudence while exemplifying her many assets.

Which were plenty. Atem had to admit that she was very pleasant to look at. He gulped but made sure it was subtle enough for her to miss it. Sitting in front of him was a dangerous woman. Just how dangerous was yet to be seen.

"You have me at a disadvantage, lady," Taking a towel, he wiped the sweat out of his eyes. "You know who I am, yet I do not know your name,"

"Oh, I am wounded Your Highness," she purred in feigned hurt. She reminded him of a Mau cat, similar in coloring and playful nature. "We met just days ago,"

He vaguely remembered her facial features out of crowds of girls and women that he had been introduced to over the past week. Her expression had been just as calculating then, as it was now. He dared not lower his guard in front of this woman.

"Apologies," he said, bowing his head politely. "Many things have happened since,"

"Yes," she said, lengthening the way she said Yeeess. "I was informed of your friend's unfortunate meeting with a horrid asp. I hope he recovers,"

"He will recover," He said adamantly.

"Good, good," She displayed as much concern as he expected someone like her to express for a complete stranger.

It wasn't much.

"I am Marija," Pronouncing her name Mah-ree-sha, she extended her hand, palm down. "Pleasure to remake your re-acquaintance, since our first meeting was so ephemeral,"

Definitely Macedonian. He thought, tracing the accent.

Atem politely took her offering and kissed the back of her hand as someone in his position was expected to do.

"I am prince Aknatem, son of Aknamkanon and future Pharaoh," relaying this in Macedonian for her benefit.

"Oh!" she said "You are a master of tongues as well as an agile warrior. I am impressed. Do you speak any other languages?"

He did. Several, in fact. It was necessary in politics. He spoke Chaldean, Hieratic, Macedonian, Syrian, and Atlantean.

He just nodded curtly to her question.

"Are you lost?" He asked, trying to be diplomatic regarding her presence. It was rude to reference her presence directly to her face, but all of the palace guests were restricted to certain areas of the palace and this arena was not one of the approved locations. "I know the guests are supposed to be in the east wing,"

"Funny phrase, 'supposed to be,'" she was teasing him, dancing around the question. "I've heard many 'supposed to be's' about you Prince Aknatem,"

"You don't say," He turned away from her, keeping her in his line of sight. He started to clear away the mess he made. Frankly, he didn't care about her opinion, but he allowed her to continue speaking. Nothing started a war faster than a woman scorned. Peace was something his father had solidified for Egypt and it was a legacy he wanted to preserve.

"Mmm-hmm," she said. "For instance, most princes I know don't clean up after themselves,"

"I guess you know many princes then?" He didn't know any other princes, never having the desire or need to leave Egypt. People seemed to come to him.

"A few," she said flippantly. Rising from her perch, she moved towards him for a closer look. She liked what she saw. He was firm and toned in all of the right places, the sweat only made him glisten. He didn't look fourteen.

"Another 'supposed to be' about you is your age. Frankly, I was expecting a weedy little fourteen-year-old child, but you… you are more than mature for your years, Your Highness,"

"Hmm," he said. His cheeks were starting to heat up and he moved to hide his blush. He had never before spent so much time around someone who was so overtly sexual towards him. Most of the people he lived with had known him since he was very small. He had to fight to be seen as an adult sometimes. His father's words rang in his ears. Never show them that they can get to you. He wasn't going to give this girl an inch. He placed the dummies back in their corner.

"Forgive me," he said, turning once his face was neutral. He took and kissed her hand as a proper goodbye. "I must take my leave. It was a pleasure to remake your acquaintance. Do you need an escort?"

"Oh, yes," she said. Taking the time to let her eyes slowly assess him up and down. She made sure that he was watching her. "Oh yes, I am very pleased to make your very ample acquaintance, Your Highness. I would love for you to show me your fine palace. Thank you so kindly for offering to escort me,"

He felt cornered. He'd meant that he would have her escorted back by someone else, not escort her himself. He inwardly chastised his lack of foresight for allowing himself to walk right into her trap. Feeling like it would be boorish to not escort her back to her side of the palace himself, he offered his arm. She snaked her delicate hands around his left bicep.

"I look forward to seeing all that you can show me, Your Highness,"

I'm sure you do, you minx. I see you for what you are.

…

Mana was mentally and physically exhausted. She had helped to change Mahado's sheets and his bandages. Wiping his brow frequently to help keep him cool had made her hands wrinkled and sore. Both Nefret and Mahado had urged her to get some rest. Now, Mahado had fallen asleep and hadn't stirred for more than forty-five minutes. He finally looked like he was resting comfortably. Moving towards the exit she gave one backward glance at her cousin.

He will recover. Nefret had told her before she'd left. I have seen it. He will be a high priest for Pharaoh Aknatem someday.

Magical guarantees aside, she still fretted over her cousin.

She had been so ugly towards him lately. He had said such unseemly things to her regarding her affection towards the prince that she hadn't felt able to forgive him. It didn't seem so important now. She would make the extra effort to be kinder to him, maybe calling him 'Master' wouldn't be so difficult after all.

A high-pitched fake laugh rang out from somewhere nearby. She was confused at its source. She had never heard it before and it agitated her insides. Moving to find who had irritated her so fundamentally she walked closer to the source.

As she rounded the corner, she was so surprised to witness the scene in front of her that she had to quickly dash back to stop from being seen.

"Your home is truly beautiful, Prince Aknatem. It's almost as handsome as you are," the girl cooed, putting her head on his shoulder. She seemed very familiar with him.

Mana couldn't see their faces, but she could hear them perfectly.

"You don't say," he said, humoring her.

"I just love Egypt," she murmured. "And you know what else?" Tipping his face towards her mouth she whispered something in his ear. To Mana's horror, the prince laughed at whatever she had just whispered. The girl giggled too. The prince had never behaved towards her like that… She was witnessing the prince flirt with someone else. Something she had never experienced herself. Shifting her weight, Mana leaned backward to escape, to flee from the terrible scene in front of her. She felt like her heart was being ripped in half. She struggled to inhale.

Mahado was right!

Mana was just a friend to the prince. A convenient hole… Mana was just a girl to the prince. Something to be used. A convenient hole…

She was in such a struggle to run away that she backpedaled into a precariously placed vase that shattered into tiny jagged pieces behind her. Dirt, roots, and broken branches crashed everywhere. To her complete disgust and revulsion, she heard familiar footsteps racing in her direction. She'd recognize him anywhere. She found herself still on the ground, her legs were cut up from the broken vase. She turned over to try and run, but her hand slapped on a jagged edge of broken pottery that deeply cut her hand.

"Mana?" Prince Aknatem said, looking down on her.

Don't look at me. She thought. Do not cry. Do not cry. Steeling herself, she moved to free herself from this mess.

"Are you ok? What happened?" He reached for her and she recoiled from him. The other girl quickly rounded the corner seconds later.

"I don't need help," Mana said firmly. "It's just a broken vase,"

"Don't be stupid," He snapped. He wasn't taking no for an answer. "You're cut, let me help you,"

"I said, I don't need help," She snapped. "It's just a few cuts," Atem grabbed her hand. Intending to unceremoniously drag her to the medical bay if necessary.

"Stop being so damn stubborn!" He yelled.

"You're the one being stubborn, you fool,"

Atem glared at her. He barely gave her a warning. Faster than she could blink, he wrapped his arms underneath her legs, swooped her up, and planted her on his right shoulder. He grunted with minimal effort and had her firmly over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Her head faced behind him. She got a good look at the other girl's legs and feet, ornately covered in fancy, expensive colored fabric.

"Let me go!" She commanded, hitting his back with her fists.

Gripping her backside and bare legs with his forearms. She was too angry and hurt to be embarrassed at how dangerously close to her heat his hands were.

"I said no!" she yelled. She started kicking, trying to make it as difficult as possible for him. She wanted to hit him, to hurt him as badly as he had made her feel.

"I'll thank you for your time, lady Marija. I trust you can find your way back?"

Without waiting for a proper dismissal, he bowed his head curtly, turned, and left his guest aimlessly in the hallway.

Marija could still hear the Mana girl's expostulations down the hall and into the medical bay. She clicked her tongue against her teeth.

"Hmph," she said. "Well played little girl," she said to no one. Turning on her heel, she turned and huffed her way back to the guest's wing.

"Let me go," Mana said venomously into Atem's ear. She lowered her voice to not disturb Mahado.

He threw her down unceremoniously on the furthest unoccupied bed from Mahado with a 'oof' from her. Being sure to drag a privacy curtain, he gave them the illusion of privacy. She moved to get up off the bed, but Atem firmly placed his palm on her sternum to force her down.

"Sit!" He seethed.

"You can't—

"I order you. To. Stay. Put,"

"Prince—

"Mana!" his voice rose to a fierce growl. "I can't believe it has to come to this! I've never ordered you to do anything before, yet here and now you fight me over something as asinine as—

"Keep your voice down," her ferocity met his, tit for tat. "You'll wake Mahado,"

He stared at her, glaring. She glared right back.

"Stay," he said. Grabbing bandages and oily herbal medication, he sat next to where she was and grabbed her right leg forcefully enough to leave bruises. Locking her foot firmly in his armpit, he dabbed at the cuts dousing them in alcoholic-laced medicine.

"Seshh," she winced at the bite of the alcohol.

"Don't be such a baby," he muttered. "It's not that bad,"

"Hummph," she said turning her head away from him. Comfortable to look anywhere but directly at him. Ignoring her, he continued to roughly dab at her wounds. There weren't many, but there were a couple that were deep enough that threatened to leave scars if she wasn't careful.

"Some of these will have to be glued," he muttered. He hadn't even seen her hand yet.

"I can do that myself,"

"Oh, really?" he said caustically. "And you have training in field wound care, do you?"

"No, do you?" She sneered.

"Of course I do," Reaching for honey wax, he used a small wooden pin and dabbed some of the honey on her larger cuts, and held the wound closed with his fingers. He sat there, holding her skin together for several seconds before she asked, curiosity getting the best of her,

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting for the honey to solidify. It glues the skin together,"

"Oh,"

This is awkward… They both thought, still refusing to look each other in the eye.

"Why are you so angry with me?" He finally asked. "When I last saw you, things were…fine," A tinge of a blush lined the tops of his cheek when he thought of tracing her skin with his fingers.

"Why did you laugh?" Mana asked.

"Hmm?" He asked, genuinely confused. "When?"

"With…with her," she said, pointing in the last direction she saw Miss 'fit-of-giggles'.

"She said something funny," he said, point-blank.

"What was it?" she asked, needling.

"I don't remember,"

"Oh, really," she said. She didn't believe him at all.

"Really," he muttered back at her. He knew what she was thinking. "After I saw you, it didn't seem so important,"

Her heart flipped.

"Oh," she said, deflated.

"Are you going to answer my question or are we going to continue this game?" Atem said, irritated.

"I'm not playing a game,"

"Yes, we are," He finally let go of her skin, this time to wrap bandages around her legs. She hated how she reacted when his hands danced round and round her calf. She wanted more and hated herself for craving him. "I don't like playing it whatever this game is, but it's one that I'm pretty sure I'll win, just like every other game we've played,"

"You don't win every time,"

"Yes, I do," He risked a smile at her as he tied the bandages tightly. "You're a sore loser,"

Mana gripped the sheets and the sting of her hand made her wince.

"Ouch,"

"Your hand too?" Grunting, he took a hard look at it. He cleaned off the blood and repeated the actions on her hand as he had on her calf. "This will have to be glued too,"

A heavy uncomfortable silence settled between them as he worked.

"I don't like this," He said as he stared at his work.

"How do you think I feel? You're gluing my hand back together,"

"No," he said, slightly annoyed with her. "I meant this," pointing between them, "between us. I don't like fighting with you. You're my best friend,"

"Who's fighting?"

"Mana, come on," He started to bandage her hand. "Why are you so mad at me?"

She thought that it was obvious, but what may have been obvious to her could not be for him. She didn't like fighting with him either. He was helping her after all. The reality of his royal duties and his situation started to sink in. He was a prince. He had the freedom to be with whoever he wanted, or with how many women he wanted. Could she be happy watching him love other women, and have children with other women? No, but she could accept it. She would have to accept it if she was content to be near him.

"Aknatem…" she whispered. Perhaps now, here, is where she would draw the line on their relationship.

He perked up, so much so that she was a little alarmed at his reaction, afraid that she had offended him with her informality.

"What?" she said.

"You've never called me by my name before," He said, squeezing her now freshly bandaged hand. "You just surprised me,"

"Well," she admitted. "It isn't the easiest name for Chaldeans to pronounce. I came up with a nickname for you years ago, but calling you Prince always seemed effortless to me so I just never used it,"

"What was the nickname?" He asked curiously. Thankful that finally, finally some of the hurdles that had appeared between their friendship magically seemed to fade away.

It's always so easy for Mana. He thought with warmth.

"Atem," she whispered.

He stopped breathing for half a second. Atem… No one had called him that since his mother had died. No one but his parents had even known about the name, much less used it. His father didn't even call him by name. It was always 'my son' when Pharaoh referred to him. An ache rippled in his heart. Mana had come up with it on her own, wanting to share it with him.

He wanted to share this part of himself with her, this secret, tender place.

"Atem," he said, hearing his pet name from his own lips.

"Do you not like it?" she asked, a little afraid that he would hate it. "'Atem'," she whispered the attempt again. "Much easier for me to pronounce,"

"No," he said gently. "No, I love it,"

He kissed the back of her hands, with careful tenderness. Her heart fluttered at the touch of his lips. Once again, he was thankful for her. Without him even realizing it, she had torn down his defenses. Obliterating the walls that he had built that kept everyone else out. He quickly realized that she had always been there, next to him, keeping him warm. Safe.

Loved.

"You may call me that," he said. "Just you. I want it to be something special. Something just for you and me,"

Just for you and me… Mana thought dazedly. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was supposed to fade into the background. Support him from afar, be his friend.

And nothing else.

"Mana?"

She stared at him, expectant. Did he have to be so damn charming?

"Stay with me," he asked.

"Of course," she said, "I already promised you I would. I don't break my promises,"

"No, Mana, that isn't what I meant," Rising, he put his face to hers, so close that their noses could touch. "Stay with me. Allow me to share with you, everything that I am," He asked, using her own words.

He kissed her then, pulling her face into his more tenderly than any previous motion. His eyes were closed but hers weren't. She was paralyzed by him, struck by his kiss. Unlike last time, now they knew who had initiated it. He had pursued her. Her hands were frozen, she had no idea what to do with them. He did though, his hands were still framing her cheeks. One of his hands, curled around to the back of her neck, pulling her in deeper.

He pulled away for a split second to breathe.

"Mana," he whispered. He never opened his eyes, but he danced his nose against hers. He craved her, wanted her with him always.

She pulled him in this time. Clutching his robes in her hands, she brought his mouth back in for another kiss. He allowed her to consume him, melding into her, fitting to her perfectly like a puzzle piece. She was made for him and he for her. Lights sparked behind their eyes. This is special. This is promised. This is wonderful.

This is love.

Domino City

Jounouchi hadn't stopped moving since arriving at the hospital. He had always been impatient, but it was the time that he spent sitting in two different waiting rooms that he firmly decided that he abhorred waiting. Patience wasn't a virtue, it was torture. Patience be damned. Sugoroku and Kaoru were exhausted from crying, their eyes were red-rimmed just like Jounouchi's. Sugoroku's head was in his hands and Kaoru was slumped in her chair in a light sleep.

Jounouchi moved back and forth from sitting with his knees bouncing to getting up and pacing the intimate surgery waiting room. They were the only ones in the waiting room, giving Jounouchi plenty of room to make a track in the hospital carpet.

"Jounouchi,"

Honda and Mai appeared from around the corner. Jounouchi rose to greet them, but the Mouto's didn't move. Sugoroku was snoring.

"What the hell happened?" Honda whispered, trying not to disturb the sleeping Mouto's. "I was at work, then Mai shows up demanding to see me saying that Yugi's been hurt,"

"What about Ryuji and Bakura?"

"I couldn't reach them," Mai said. "I'll try again soon. I promise,"

Jounouchi nodded. He had trouble processing what he had seen in his mind, much less telling anyone what he had seen and experienced. He didn't think he could relay the story more than once or twice without gagging.

"Yugi was attacked,"

"Attacked?" Honda was incredulous and furious. "When? By who? Whose ass do I need to kick?!"

"He was hurt sometime after I… left," Jounouchi replied slowly like he was having difficulty putting the words together.

"Hey, don't go there," Mai said as she watched Jounouchi. "I can see it all over your face. This is not your fault Jounouchi,"

"If I had been there—

"There's no way to know what would have happened," Honda said. "It's no use blaming yourself, Jou,"

"The fucker had to have already been there," Jounouchi said. "Waiting in the shadows like fucking rat. Waiting to…"

"How do you know?" Mai whispered, trying not to disturb the Mouto's. "How could you know?"

"We were too close to the game shop before I left. The timing…it's the only thing that makes sense,"

A loud snap of hospital doors opening cut off their conversation. Every head turned in the doors direction. Hoping it was the surgeon coming to give them some news, they paused. Anxiously waiting, they watched as a nurse shuffled away from them heading in a opposite direction.

No news.

"Damn," Jounouchi said. "Every time those doors open, I keep expecting… It's been hours! Can't someone come out and give us some news? We haven't heard anything since he was transferred from the ER to surgery,"

"These things take time," Mai said. "All we can do is wait, and pray,"

"I know that!" Jounouchi snapped. "Sorry," he said quickly. "It's just…"

"We know man," Honda said, "We know,"

Approaching footsteps from behind them nabbed their attention. Two men in suits that they didn't recognize approached them. The Mouto's still rested in the hospital chairs undisturbed.

"Are you the family of Yugi Mouto?" One of them said.

"We're his friends," Honda said. "But we're like family. His mom and grandpa are sleeping there,"

"I am told that one of you was present with Mr. Mouto before he was taken to the hospital?"

"That was me," Jounouchi said. The unfeeling tone of the two men irritated him. It was pretty obvious they were cops, attempted murder was just another Tuesday for them. They were probably detectives based on their suits. One of them took out a small notepad and a pen, poised to write. The two men took out their credentials and showed it to them.

"And your name?"

"Katsuya Jounouchi,"

Scribbling down his name the detective glanced at Jounouchi's hands.

"I'm Detective Koiichi Tachio. This is my partner. You have dried blood on your hands, Katsuya. Is that from Mr. Mouto?" Jounouchi's fingers twitched. He had tried to get most of it off, but in his rush to be present at the hospital, he'd missed his fingernails.

"Yeah, it is," he growled. "When I got there, I tried to…" It was difficult saying all of this. A lump the size of a melon stopped up his throat. Tears threatened to flow from his eyes. "S-stop the bleeding,"

"Care to give us the full story?"

Jounouchi described the moments from the time they left their apartment to the nightmare of Yugi bleeding to death in a dirty alley. Detailing everything from the time they left their apartment, his departure to meet Mai, and the time they waited at Kame Game.

"Something didn't feel right," Jounouchi said. He glanced at Honda. This was the first time he'd heard the story. As Jounouchi outlined every detail, the more horrified Honda's face turned.

"I ran out to where I last saw him. That's when I saw the crowd and the man who was trying to stop the bleeding. I nearly knocked him over. Shit, he may have helped to save Yugi's life and I didn't even get his name,"

"Someone else tried to help him?"

"Yeah, he was a big guy too. I nearly bowled him over in my rush to see Yugi, but it may as well have been a gust of wind. He didn't even flinch,"

"Hmmm," The detective hummed, thoughtful. "Can you describe him?"

"Nothing beyond his size, no. I had more important things on my mind at the time,"

Jounouchi didn't like the look on Detective Koiichi's face. It looked pensive and skeptical.

"Excuse me," A woman who looked to be in her early forties was wearing scrubs and a scrub cap. "You are the family of Mr. Yugi Mouto yes?"

Mai walked over and shook Yugi's mom and grandpa awake. Immediately snapping to attention, shaking the sleep from their eyes they joined the small cluster. Their faces were grave.

"I'm the surgeon who was working on Yugi," she said. She offered her name, but Jounouchi didn't care enough to remember it.

"How is he? How is my son?" Kaoru's voice cracked as if worn from overuse.

"He is stable," she said, offering a consoling smile.

"Oh, thank goodness," Kaoru said, collapsing into the nearest person for support, which turned out to be Mai. The only dry eyes in the room where the two detectives and the surgeon's. Relief washed over the waiting room.

"The next forty-eight hours are critical," the doctor said. "He will have to stay in our intensive care unit for a while,"

"Is he awake?" Sugoroku asked.

"He's sedated and on heavy pain medication,"

"We'd like to talk to him as soon as possible. Mr. Mouto's case is being investigated as attempted murder," Koiichi said to the surgeon. Jounouchi watched Karou and Sugoroku when he said this, both of them looked grieved and terrified, especially Kaoru.

The surgeon nodded. Based on what she and her team had been reconstructing for the past several hours, she had presumed as much.

"I'm afraid that will be impossible for now. He's intubated and on a ventilator," she said, "It's important that we allow his body as much rest as possible. We can't give you a set time when he could communicate with you,"

"When he wakes up, can he write answers to our questions?" Koiichi asked.

"If he's right-handed, no. His right hand was severely damaged. I would be… surprised if he could use it like he's used to. It will take a special orthopedic surgeon to help save the hand. We have done the best we can for now, but he will have to have another surgery on it once he has recovered,"

"He's going to be crippled?" Honda asked, incredulous.

"He will have to learn to write with his left hand for a while. With time and physical therapy, he may get limited range of motion back in his right hand,"

He may never be able to duel again.

"Oh no," Mai said, shocked at Yugi's condition. A hand covered her mouth in shock and outrage. Jounouchi's hands curled into fists. Yugi's attacker had maimed his best friend. He was having trouble reigning in his rage at this news. He needed to punch something. Soon. Or he would explode.

"Can we see him?" Kaoru asked.

"Perhaps just two or three of you, for now. He's going to be asleep. He may not know you are there," she said.

"He'll know," Sugoroku said.

Kaoru and Sugoroku moved to go see Yugi, but Jounouchi and his friends stayed back.

"Oh no you don't," Kaoru said to Jounouchi. Grabbing his hand in hers, she forcefully pulled him after her. "Yugi would want to see you as much as he would us. I heard what you said, Jounouchi. You may have saved my son's life,"

So she hadn't been sleeping like I thought she was.

Jounouchi nodded and didn't fight her, but he didn't feel like he had saved Yugi's life. He'd shown up too late to help him. What kind of friend am I?

Following the surgeon, the grieving trio followed obediently down the maze of hallways and hospital doors. The smell of antiseptic barely covered over the smell of human filth and frailty. They were escorted into the ICU, which required a hospital badge to enter or a hospital escort.

They passed a busy and bustling nurses' station and approached a room where a hospital security guard sat outside of Yugi's room.

"We've placed Yugi in protective hospital custody," the surgeon said, answering the unasked question. "I wouldn't be surprised if the police post someone too,"

Kaoru, Sugoroku, and Jounouchi all took a big breath before walking into Yugi's room.

Jounouchi would have collapsed if he hadn't prepped himself. Kaoru wasn't so prepared, and fell into him, struggling to hold herself up. Sugoroku ran to Yugi's side.

"Yugi?" He asked.

Yugi looked like he had been through a giant weed-whacker or an industrial paper shredder. The only part of him that wasn't bandaged was his left arm and parts of his face. The rest of him was covered in hospital blankets. He had a tube going into his throat, two or three IV lines in his veins, and a paced ventilator was helping him to breathe. An arterial line was reading a moment-by-moment blood pressure reading. The monitor above him showed his heart rate, his oxygen level, and his heart rhythm. He didn't appear like he was sleeping peacefully, despite the sedation. His eyes were closed, but they were furrowed as if in confusion.

Or in pain.

The nurse who was already in the room pretended not to notice the tears of Yugi's family as she adjusted the settings on the monitors.

The Space Between Spaces

"Who's gonna stop me?" Atem said.

"I don't understand," Yugi said. "I don't understand anything,"

"You will," Atem said. "I'm here to help you,"

"Help me to live?"

"No," Atem said, sadness ringing in his voice instead of anger. "To help you to choose whether or not you want to live,"

"I get a choice?"

"Of course," Atem said. "Everyone does,"

"And if I choose to fight, that I want to live what will you do?"

"Then I will do everything in my power to help you,"

"What if I choose to stop fighting?"

"Then I will help you with that too,"

Author's Note: Honey was used as an antiseptic in ancient Egypt. It has natural anti-bacterial properties and the wax was used to sew skin back together.

Please Review