Strangers When We Meet

STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET

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AN: THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO NEW CHAPTERS THAT WERE ADDED TODAY.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THIEF

Seto took a deep breath as he pushed open the hidden door that led to the pharaoh’s chambers.

“You wanted to see me?” Seto nervously spoke, averting his gaze as he saw Atem was still changing. A slight blush crept to his cheeks, fiddling with his millennium rod as he waited for the other to finish.

“Hey…” Atem smiled, moving to where Seto stood, he looked at him a moment, as if there was something he wanted to say but instead said nothing, clearing his throat and looking away.

“Have a seat.” He said. Seto nodded, hesitantly moving to the empty seat next to the pharaoh. He tried to steady his breathing. He could already feel his heart begin to pound. He never knew what was going to happen when he was around Atem like this. It felt awkward and confusing and it scared him shitless.

He turned his gaze to Atem, taking a breath for whatever was to come. The pharaoh twisted his hands nervously, looking to the ground as he spoke.

“I just…” He took a deep breath. “I just wanted to apologize for my behavior. It was completely inappropriate and I’m sorry for putting you in that situation.” He spluttered.

“Oh…um…okay.” Seto stuttered in response. Atem nodded, still not meeting the priest’s gaze.

“Well, actually, I-uh…it wasn’t too bad.” Seto quickly spoke.

Atem’s head slowly rose, “What…wasn’t too bad?”

“What…you know, what happened.” Seto could feel his face begin to heat to up.

“Really?”

Seto nodded, giving a shy smiled, “Yeah, I liked it.”

“Me too.” Atem giggled in relief.

“I’m sorry about how I was before. I was seeing someone…but we’ve just been growing apart.”

Seto didn’t know why those thoughts made him feel so sad. He didn’t know much of anything these days, he still loved Bakura but maybe he just wasn’t in love with him like he’d thought. He didn’t see how he could love someone that stood against everything that Seto had to keep meaning to his life. When Seto looked at Atem he saw hope and justice. He saw his God. Any imperfections Atem had were a work of Ra himself. The tiny freckles that dotted Atem’s nose that you could only see when you were this close. Seto wondered if he was the only one that knew they were there. Or if anyone had even bothered to notice. He was perfection, he was the God’s reincarnated, he was the pharaoh of the lands—Seto’s God and King.

Atem leaned in close to Seto, the priest could feel his hot breath brush across his face, his lips inches from his. Seto’s eyes slid shut, breath quickening, licking his lips in anticipation. He leaned in close, anticipating the feeling of Atem’s soft lips to be pressed against his in wanting.

A pounding at the door interrupted whatever was to come, Atem sighed in frustration, throwing the door open. Shada stood on the other side, breathless as he spoke.

“Pharaoh,” He bowed, “there has been a breach, someone has broken into your father’s tomb.”

“What?” Atem gasped, looking back at Seto in shock.

“We must go.”

They hurried down the halls, Seto trying to keep up with Atem as they hurried to the throne room. The other priests were already gathered, speaking quickly and in quiet voices, they all stopped as Atem entered, looking to each other.

“Tell me what’s happened.”

“Sir, we believe the thief is on their way to the palace.” Shimon answered.

“Extra security has been placed at all entrances.” Aknadin added, “We will bring him to you when he has been caught.”

“Very well.” Atem nodded, nervously pacing the floor.

A loud, thunderous bang echoed off the high ceilings, everyone’s heads quickly turning to the main entrance. Another bang emitted, followed by the doors slowly being opened. Everyone looked on in confusion and anticipation. Atem quickly sat in his throne, waiting for the guards to appear.

The first thing that could be seen was a mane of tangled white hair, Seto barely managed to hold in his gasp as the rest of Bakura appeared, laden with gold treasures and dragging some behind him. Seto’s heart raced so hard he thought it should explode, what was Bakura doing? He couldn’t let the others know he knew this thief, but what if Bakura told them?

Bakura chuckled wickedly as he made his way to the pharaoh, everyone else standing stock still as he slowly moved, the only sound the jingling of gold and the click of heels echoing off the walls.

“Where are the guards?” Atem commanded.

Bakura looked up, smirking at the pharaoh, his eyes slowly traveled down the line of priests, barely pausing to look at Seto before looking back to Atem in disdain.

“Your majesty.” Bakura growled, bowing before throwing his treasures down.

“These treasures do not belong to you! You have commited a crime punishable by death!” Shimon declared.

Bakura just laughed, the priests looking to each other in confusion, gripping their millennium items tighter. Seto’s eyes however never left Bakura, looking at him in shock and confusion.

Atem’s eyes widened as he saw what Bakura had dragging from behind him. The thief caught his look, smirking as he swung the sarcophagus of the pharaoh’s late father around, placing his foot on top of it.

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Seto quietly raced down the darkened halls, his heart racing and mind reeling from the events that had occurred. He had known what Bakura wanted, but he never thought he would go that far or that Bakura was that strong. None of the priests could defeat him.

He still knew his way through the city effortlessly, weaving down the empty alleys, pausing as he made his way to the front of the familiar building. He quietly stepped inside, moving though the dark rooms, following the small, dim candle that flickered through the dark.

“I thought you’d come.” Bakura spoke, not bothering to look up as he marveled at his newly found treasures.

“Bakura…what the hell was that?” Seto yelled, pounding his fist against the wall.

The thief scoffed, “You knew what I wanted.”

“YOU COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE!” Seto screamed, kicking Bakura’s gold away from him. The thief looked up angrily, seething as he spoke.

“That’s the point.”

“What’s happened to you?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Bakura spat, looking the priest up and down, “You fucked me over Seto just so you could have more power!” He yelled, standing up angrily.

“That’s not true, I loved you!” Seto defended.

“LIAR! You never loved me! You never FUCKING loved me! You love that…that…fucking monster!”

Seto shook his head, his eyes stinging as he spoke, “He’s not a monster! You never think of anyone but yourself do you?”

“He won’t even know you tomorrow.” Bakura quietly spoke.

“What? What the hell are you talking about?” Seto was tired of Bakura saying things that couldn’t be understood by anyone but him.

“I said…he won’t remember you tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

Bakura scoffed, “This night…in the palace, was the night the pharaoh returned from his life 3000 years in the future. He’s lost his memories, he won’t remember you or any of the precious little moments you’ve had together.” Bakura vehemently spoke.

“You’re insane.” Seto spat, shaking his head in disgust.

“You’ll see. I’ve waited 3000 years for this, Seto. I won’t stop for you.”

Seto scoffed, leaving Bakura behind, seething.

“You’re a fool.” He hissed.

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AN: I apologize for not replying to reviews the last couple of chapters, I've just had no time to do so--barely enough to get the chapter out to you. However, I will make time to catch up on Thursday. Hopefully giving you two chapters today will make up for that. I do love and cherish each and everyone of you! xxoo