Chapter 10

Yugi and Anzu said goodnight to each other as he dropped her off at her door. This time around Yugi didn't run off. He stuck around and he and Anzu took the time to talk about nothing, falling back and forth into an easy conversation. Yugi was thankful that Anzu had warned him about the ESPN article. He hadn't even considered such a thing and wasn't sure how to handle it. Maybe it would be worth talking to Kaiba about? He was used to being in the public eye and might be able to coach Yugi on what to say. It was this topic they were discussing when Amy peeked her head from around the corner.

"Yugi! I thought I heard your voice! How are you?" Amy glommed onto Yugi's torso, attaching like a python or a giant leech. Yugi huffed out a whoof as her body weight attempted to knock the wind out of him.

"I- I'm fine, Amy. How are you?" She was so small compared to Yugi that he had to resist the urge to pat her head like a child. When he had been shorter, he'd hated it when people had treated him like an elementary kid. It probably wouldn't go over well for her either.

"What do you think of ESPN?" she asked, a huge pretty smile on her lips. "Pretty exciting huh?"

Americans can be blunt. Yugi thought. Or maybe that's just Amy.

"I don't know what to think about it," He said looking down at her. She was still clutching his waist. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it,"

Yugi didn't see it, but Anzu looked very annoyed at Amy. Anzu recognized the feeling that twisted her core, but couldn't place a name to it. It couldn't be jealousy. Not after all of the heart-wrenching they had just been through. If anything, Anzu was feeling irritated for Yugi. Yugi was too polite to not tell Amy off.

She told herself it couldn't be jealousy. It couldn't.

Yugi pulled himself from Amy. She had that competitive look that he had seen in the faces of Kaiba, Jounouchi, Atem, and all the other duelists who had ever challenged him. Amy poked her finger at him with a wry smile.

"You still owe me a duel, Yugi,"

"Oh, right," He said, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, when?"

"Tomorrow?" Yugi nodded, giving a friendly smile.

"Done," he said, offering his hand. She shook it and the deal was struck. – "Oh good! I was hoping to duel you before I leave at the end of the week"—Making plans to meet at Domino Plaza, they were still yammering the meeting details when Mrs. Mazaki appeared to see who their guest was.

"Hi, Mrs. Mazaki," Yugi said with a respectful and friendly smile. He waved a hand at her, but she was flat and unwelcoming. It was like waving at a brick wall. She was like a barricade who refused to be supplanted by Yugi. She looked more and more annoyed the longer he stood in her entryway.

"Hmm," She said with an annoyed and frustrated tone. "Please close the door on your way out, Yugi. I was wondering why a draft had come through my kitchen,"

"Uh, ok," Yugi said, confused. He remembered their cold reception of him back at graduation. He hadn't known what their scowls had been about then, but it seemed that distance and time away hadn't helped their feelings for him. If anything, she seemed like she would rather not see Yugi ever again.

"Mother," Anzu said, seething. "That's very rude. Yugi is my best friend,"

"Hmmph,"

"It's no problem," Yugi said, not wanting to get in between Anzu and her mother. "I've got to be running anyway. See you tomorrow, Amy," Yugi waved goodbye, closing the door behind him.

"Amy, maybe you should finish building your deck. You have your work cut out for you against Yugi tomorrow," Anzu said. Amy understood the hidden message. She was able to read and feel the levels of tension rising between the two women. Taking the way out that Anzu had offered her, she ran upstairs away from the stress and conflict leaving Anzu and her mom to themselves.

"What was that all about Mom?" Anzu said, fists on her hips. She was confused over her treatment of Yugi. Her mom had always been so kind to him in the past. From the time when they were friends in elementary school, her mom had always been welcome and accommodating. Now, she was treating Yugi like he was a traveling salesman or a stranger who had brought something dirty into her home, someone who wasn't welcome in her home.

"I've seen that boy in the media," Mrs. Mazaki's arms folded. "I don't want you getting mixed up in his mess,"

"What could you have possibly read or seen that would make you think badly of the boy you've known since he was four?"

"It's not only that," she bristled at Anzu's comment. "Your father and I have seen the way he's looked at you. It's not friendship that boy has in mind for you,"

She had a point. Yugi had just told Anzu that he loved her less than forty-five minutes ago. What her mother didn't know, was that Yugi was willing to put those feelings aside to free Anzu from him. For Anzu, Yugi was allowing her time to chase her dreams and time to sort through her own feelings that had been muddied by Atem. Her mother also didn't know the type of peril Anzu and her other friends had been in because of the evil that had been attracted to Atem and the Puzzle. Anzu was going to keep it that way, choosing to let her parents remain blissfully unaware and ignorant. Through all of this, the horrors and life-threatening magic, Yugi had been nothing but a perfect gentleman to her and even to his enemies. Yugi was not expecting Anzu to give him anything but her friendship in return. He wasn't just some lust-craved teenage boy, he confessed that he loved her,

But her mother didn't know that and it seemed that she wasn't going to be able to understand that, much less accept it.

What Anzu didn't know, is that her mom had noticed how her daughter had looked at Yugi. She didn't like Yugi's time in the limelight or his title "King of Games". What kind of future existed for a boy whose only aspiration was to live a life that revolved around games? No. Anzu could do better. She could see the world and dance on any stage she wanted to because of her talent. A boy like Yugi wasn't going to trap her daughter here in Domino.

"Mom, Yugi isn't like that at all," As soon as it passed her lips, Anzu recognized the cliché, hearing how lame the explanation must have sounded to her mother. Anzu heard the 'Yugi isn't like all the other boys' implication. She could tell from her mother's skeptical face that she didn't believe her. Anzu watched her mom's left eyebrow raise dubiously. Yugi wasn't like most boys. He had been through more horrors and near-death experiences than most grown men had ever been through. Yugi had come out the victor on the other side and had never let his core values change.

"You have a wonderful opportunity to fulfill your dreams Anzu," Her mother continued. "You have a chance to dance at a world-renowned arts school. To dance on stages you've only dreamed of,"

"Mom—

"Yugi is a nice young boy, but he is not heading in the same direction that you are. If he has any modicum of success at all," She practically spat the word if. Anzu knew now that she had made a mistake in sharing the plans of her friends after high school with her parents. "The two of you cannot possibly expect a relationship. Now," she pointed to the living room and the mound of packed boxes. "Why don't you finish packing? You have a few weeks left before you fly to America. Make sure you have everything," she said in her overly-mothering tone.

Anzu didn't see the point in fighting against her mother's false premises further. She had dug her heels in and was rapidly trying to pull Anzu in another direction. She still glared at her as she passed her. Refusing to listen to do what her mother told her out of spite, Anzu went outside to fume.


Ancient Egypt

Mana was horrified. She ran to her room and buried herself in her blankets. Her face must have looked like it too. She refused to look at herself in the looking glass.

She had kissed the crown prince of Egypt. Thrown herself at him like, like…like someone loose with their morals. Was Mahado right? Was she putting herself in a position for Atem to use her? No! He wasn't like that. He couldn't be like that. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

But he had pulled me close… Prince Aknatem had pulled her in when they had kissed. Was that just a reaction? Did that mean anything? Was that a good sign? Or a bad one?

What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I DO?

It had felt…nice kissing Aknatem. She knew she could say that. Did he think it was nice too? Did boys even bother with such thoughts? He was warm like sunlight. Hearing him laugh again, even if it was at her expense, had filled her with such joy in the moment. She had so missed his laugh, especially the full-belly laugh he had made.

A knock came to her door, which she barely heard and chose to ignore. She kept agonizing over each and every second she could remember from start to finish. His eyes had gone wide at the end…What did that mean?!

Another knock.

"Mana?" Came a whispered voice.

"Prince?!"

"Can I come in?"

She didn't answer. She wasn't sure what to do. Would he be angry with her? He didn't sound angry, he sounded…sad? Somber?

"Y-Yes," she said, refusing to come out from underneath her blankets. Coward. She thought, chastising herself. She heard the heavy cedar door open and close and light footsteps that followed. A few moments later she felt the edge of her bed sink as he sat down next to her.

"Mana, is that you under there? Please come out," he cajoled her, trying to ease her out of her hiding place. When she emerged, he was sad to see some fear in her eyes. He was trying to give her a comforting smirk, but her expression hadn't changed. She sat up so they could be on semi-equal footing.

"What happened back there was…um," His lips pressed together. Mana knew it as his telltale sign that he was thinking hard. "A surprise," he finally said.

"I shouldn't have done that," Mana said, looking down at her hands.

"As I recall," he said pensively. "There were two people involved in that kiss,"

"I shouldn't have kissed you, Prince. It was wrong of me to—

"Are you sure that you're the one who started it?" He asked. She finally looked at him, his eyes were questioning her.

"Well, I—

"Because to be honest," He said, cutting her off. "I'm not sure if it was me or you who kissed first,"

She thought back. Had she been the one to kiss him first? She had thought she was, but now she wasn't so sure.

"I don't know," she finally said.

Atem reached for her hand.

"Can we talk? Somewhere else?" He asked. "If you're not ready now, we can wait, but I think it would be best if we talked now," It was awkward talking to her while she was lying in her bed. She nodded at his urging. Leaving her room together, Atem made sure that no one had seen them exit. They walked, hand in hand like they had so many times before. Eventually, he dropped his hand from hers. He led them to a different outer courtyard. This courtyard doubled as the palace orchard. A large pool rested in the center that fed the trees' roots through small river-like ground funnels. Fish danced under the ripples and the air smelled sweet around them. Many of the trees were already producing ripe apples and lemons, several of which had fallen and were littering the ground.

"Prince?" She was nervous. They sat, watching the fish swim to and fro. A few more apples thudded to the ground as the wind picked up.

"Mana, do you think what we did was wrong? Because I don't,"

"But—

"Mana," Atem's voice was polite, but firm. He was demanding her complete attention. "Do you think so little of me? I would never hurt you, no matter what the circumstances,"

She stared at him. He was smiling, giving her a trace of his kindness.

"I've never been kissed before," He said. "I don't know what I feel," Taking a breath and Mana's hands in his. "All that I know is that I am thankful for you,"

"Thankful?"

"Mana," he tilted her chin up. "You helped me to laugh again. When I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to again. You did it without even trying," Even now, he let out a chuckle at the memory. Mana felt embarrassed as she thought of the cursed fish.

"Lately it feels as if I can't feel happy, even if I tried. My mother… I miss her," He took a cleansing breath. "And…this stays between us, but I have felt nothing but rage towards my father as of late,"

Mana perked up at this statement. There had never been a time when the prince and Pharaoh weren't on good terms in their relationship. Aknatem shared with her the events in the temple the day his mother died. He shared with her the terrifying experiences of nearly falling to his death and the indoor lightning from the gods. He hesitated in telling her the prayer that his father had made – 'I am responsible for the loss of thousands of lives'—. He decided to keep that secret to himself for now. Instead, he focused on how angry he was that Aknamkanon hadn't prayed for Mer-en. Could she have been saved if only the Pharaoh had tried? Watching his mother the way she had died had been traumatic for him. He wished that he could forget the horrible picture of her withering away as she shared her final words with him. He wished he could sift the bad memories away from the good, like wheat from chaff.

"I had no idea," Mana said, crestfallen. She had been completely unaware of his internal struggles. He was so good at keeping his feelings to himself when he wanted to. Unlike her whose every thought and feeling was readable on her face, Atem had an amazing game face that could leave others completely unaware to the things beneath. She had been aware of his grief, but not the underlying anger that smoldered just below the surface.

"All of this to say," He said. "I don't know what I felt when I kissed you. I know that I felt something," He urged. "But I've felt stuck for so long that I've forgotten that I can feel something, anything else other than anger or grief. I know that what we shared was good. It felt…good to kiss you, Mana,"

"It did?"

"Well, it didn't feel bad,"

A blush tinged on his cheeks. She had never seen this look on his face before.

"Can I—

He paused. Would she allow him this next thing that he was about to ask of her? He struggled with some doubt, unsure if he was doing something wrong or right. He was used to knowing what to do. Even at such a young age, he had been able to correctly guess and anticipate what was needed from him, especially when he was pitted against an opponent. He was just a teenager, but he had already realized that the consequences of each choice he made would culminate and determine what kind of man he would grow to be. What would the consequences be after kissing Mana?

"Can I ask something of you?"

She nodded, unsure of his hesitancy.

"I don't know what happens now," he admitted. "I don't know what this makes us now." He said pointing between the two of them. "I don't know if we are more, but I can recognize that things are changing. Would you—

This next statement weighed heavily on him. He hoped that it was the right thing to say.

"I know the kind of man I want to be," he said rephrasing his statement. "I want to be the kind of man my mother would be proud of, the kind of king my people need. I can feel something changing here and I am not sure what it is." He pointed to the surrounding walls of the palace. He had been feeling a deep sense of foreboding ever since the day his mother died. It may have just been the melancholy of the loss of his mother, but he didn't think that it was only grief. The priests' ranks had changed. Lately, Atem had noticed the Item-bearer's anxious behavior, they all seemed as if they were on edge. Whatever was causing it didn't feel positive to him. He shared these fears with Mana. Atem could expertly read her face, she looked surprised by his theories and suddenly nervous about the coming unknown.

"I want to ask you to give me some time," He said gently. "So much has happened. I don't think I could bear to lose you and our friendship. Could you give me some time to sort through this um… kiss, on my own?"

It wasn't a rejection, but it wasn't an acknowledgment of her feelings for him either. Mana was starting to feel a familiar ache in her heart. He's asking for time… She thought. I can grant him this. She was starting to understand just a fraction of the pressure he must feel every day. Perhaps Mahado had been right to try and steer her affections away from the prince. She had inadvertently given him more stress to try to work through.

"Mana," Taking her hand in his, he moved to sit directly in front of her. Their knees touched and he pressed his forehead to hers. "Would you stay with me, no matter what comes? Would you stay by my side?"

Was he being selfish? Was he putting her in danger by asking her to stay? Did the right action mean sending her home to Ur? Atem realized now, that he both wanted and needed Mana. She helped to keep him grounded, she kept his secrets, and she was important to him. He wasn't sure what direction they were headed, but he wanted his friends to be with him, especially Mana.

Mana's heart pounded again in her chest, almost to the point of discomfort.

The prince's question didn't promise a romantic relationship. The prince hadn't made any declarations of love, but he had expressed his want for her company. He wasn't sending her away, which deep down she had been afraid might happen. He was asking for her to stay close to him. Aknatem looked like he was trying to bear the weight of the world and was struggling underneath its weight. If she could help him to stand tall, to bear the weight, then she would do it.

Taking a long breath she said without hesitation, "Yes, I will stay with you,"

"Where is my son?" Aknamkanon asked of Siamun. Nothing that went on in the palace went over his wise ears and eyes.

"I believe he was in the orchard when last I saw him," Siamun was sure that had almost witnessed an intimate moment between the young prince and the female magician. He had chosen to give them privacy, looking away from what he expected to be a first kiss. The almost-voyeur moment brought back his own first love memories. Oh ho! Siamun thought. I was a charmer in my day. He did not doubt that Prince Aknatem was going to be a charming young man. He expected a few broken hearts in the near future.

"Bring him to me," His Pharaoh said.

Not wanting to interrupt the young lovers in any possible precarious situation, Siamun took his time getting to the orchard. When he arrived, he had given plenty of loud audible cues to the young couple that they weren't alone. They either didn't realize they had company, or more likely the young prince was ignoring him on purpose. Their foreheads were pressed together, but finally after another loud cough –-cough, hack, wheeze! —, Aknatem acknowledged the third presence, pulling away from Mana.

"Siamun?" The prince asked, "Does my father need something?"

"The Pharaoh is requesting your presence,"

Siamun didn't miss the young man's pained and irritated expression. Atem squeezed Mana's hand and got up to leave, not asking for his father's location. He assumed that he would be in the same place he always was these days.

"Well Mana," Siamun clapped his hands. "I have some news for you,"

She seemed like she was in a daze, taking longer than normal to give Siamun her attention. Her eyes were on the retreating form of the prince.

"Hmm, yes?" She said nonchalantly, still completely distracted.

Ah, young love. Siamun thought.

"We have seen your progress. You will soon be made a magician's apprentice and we have selected the perfect teacher for you,"

"You have?" She finally gave Siamun the courtesy of her attention. "Really?! I am ready to have a master?" Could it be Nefret? She was the current bearer of the Millennium Tauk and she had been so kind to Mana as she had grown in her magic, guiding her and her talents. She would be perfect for her! She was already practicing calling Nefret 'mistress' in her head when Saimun dropped an anvil on her.

"Your magician's master will be your cousin, Mahado,"

Atem found his father in the throne room, void of his attendants and many servants. The only people who were around were a few high priests and Nefret, the bearer of the Millennium Tauk. All of their eyes were on him as he walked in. It was odd for his father to be left so minimally attended, but Atem didn't allow himself to ponder on the emptiness of the throne room for long. Upon seeing his father's face, his mother's death was made fresh in his mind. His hands shook with anger. His father was formally sitting before him, so Atem gave him a formal bow as he kneeled before the king.

"Son," Aknamkanon stood up.

"Pharaoh," Atem said with stony reverence, not liking the way 'Pharaoh' felt on his tongue. He had never referred to Aknamkanon as Pharaoh, even in formal settings. Yet, couldn't bring himself to call him 'father'. It hurt Aknamkanon to see his son treat him so distantly. Atem was cold to him as if he was trying to maintain as much distance from his father as possible.

"Rise Aknatem, I wish to have a look at you,"

Standing up, Atem raised his head and eyes but kept his gaze neutrally pinned on his father's chest instead of his face. The Pharaoh looked up and down at his only son. He had grown taller, his shoulders broader. Atem had all the signs of budding manhood. There was even a light graze of facial hair trying to grow on his face. It was Atem's eyes that concerned Aknamkanon the most. They were wearied eyes, already bearing the brunt of the world around him. An ache in his heart formed as he realized how fast Atem was growing up. He was aging faster than other boys his age. He wished he could slow the sands of time and give Atem more time to grow up at his own pace.

But that wouldn't help Atem to survive.

"Aknatem," Aknamkanon chose not to verbalize his concerns. "There are going to be some changes soon and I wish to prepare you for them,"

"What is it you ask of me, my king?" Atem said, his voice flat.

Motioning behind him, Aknamkanon summoned a servant to bring him the hassock. As the servant girl came forward, Atem realized that she was carrying a pillow with a golden pyramid lying upside down and on its side.

Is that—!?

"It is time," Aknamkanon said, taking the Millennium Puzzle from its resting place. "That this piece was passed to you, my son," Too late, Atem realized that his father wasn't wearing his Item. To Atem's utter bewilderment, his father took the rope that was tied to the Puzzle and placed it over his neck. It felt heavy and uncomfortable. The edges of the Puzzle poked at his diaphragm.

Why is he giving this to me?! Atem thought frantically. It wasn't supposed to be his until his father started to make his journey to the afterlife. It was a symbol of the king's authority as the centerpiece for the other Items.

"I have decided it is time to pass this to you," Aknamkanon said, placing his hand on Atem's right shoulder in affection.

"Father! Are you—?

"I am healthy," Aknamkanon said, thankful to hear Atem refer to him as 'father' again. He knew what Atem's fears were regarding the passing of the Puzzle. "I do not plan to make my journey to the afterlife any time soon. It is time, my son, for you to learn how to bear the burdens I will pass to you,"

Shortening his stature, Aknamkanon placed both hands on his son's shoulders. The coldness was gone from Atem's eyes, replaced instead with awe and stunned disorientation. It wasn't often that Atem was caught completely off guard.

"Your shoulders must carry the needs and worries of Egypt, Aknatem," Pulling his son into a hug, he continued, "I will help to teach you all that you need to know. You must listen to me,"

Atem's arms lay limp by his sides for several seconds. Then, they rose shaking until they rested, wrapping around his father's torso. For the first time since Mer-en had died, father and son met and together they bridged the emotional distance that had formed between them from her passing.

"My son, you must never turn your back on what you know is right,"

All was not forgotten or ameliorated, but the tendrils and threads of forgiveness started to mend in Atem's heart.


Authors Note: 1) The entryway of a Japanese home is still considered to be outside. It is where outdoor shoes are exchanged for indoor shoes and guests will gravitate towards until permitted to enter the rest of the home.

2) In the anime, (despite my displeasure of 4-Kids butchering of Yugioh) Atem was wearing the Puzzle while he was young before assuming the throne. So, in light of that, I made this the moment when Atem inherited the centerpiece Item.

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