Téa returned to her time anticipating their next meeting. Finally, after so long, Téa felt better but only because she saw him and knew that she'd do it again. Téa was addicted to his very being. The pharaoh meant to her more than everything. Téa had no idea yet what would she give not to be separated from him again. Téa was far much readier to face the new day and all it came with it as she now had a better purpose than ever. Téa fell asleep with a smile on her face after such a long time.
*
Atem couldn't explain it but he was feeling... happier. As if some mechanism had been trigged and Atem felt like himself again. Atem tried to convince himself it was because of seeing one of his friends and knowing how they're doing but... deep down Atem knew the truth and it had nothing to do with that. Atem was simply happy because of her appearance in the afterlife. Later after Téa was gone, Atem went to tell Isis about Téa's state and that Téa might be visiting them quite often. The Priestess only smiled at that as if knowing something Atem didn't. Atem was so deep in his thoughts that never noticed his childhood friend Mana approaching him.
"Atem!" Mana brought him out of his daydreaming.
"Hey Mana," Mana noticed the change instantly. The news about the visitor from the mortal world was spreading quickly and they were all intrigued to know more.
"I heard from Isis you met a friend of yours today," Mana tossed it casually.
"Oh, yes. It's a bit complicated but yes." Atem couldn't help his smile.
"Now you're happier," Mana said as a matter of fact. Atem remembered her last outburst and didn't want to upset her with the truth. "It's okay, really. I'm sorry for reacting so furiously last time. I feel a bit jealous of them because I was your best friend back then. I guess we've been five thousand years apart, so I can't judge you."
"I do want to feel right here but my soul has been in the mortal world for too long, I feel too attached to that reality and the stillness here... I never thought I'd miss all the dangers and adventures." Mana chuckled.
"Well, that one I understand. At first, I found it so boring and almost made the gods angry because I was a bit naughty with magic and... everything." Atem suppressed a laugh. Atem could believe her; Mana was the type of girl who was always overexcited and full of energy. Being able to do nothing and stay still... that was the complete opposite of Mana.
"So, who was the friend to visit you?" Mana asked purposefully.
"It was Téa, she's some kind of an heir to an ancient princess and she has newfound powers allowing her to travel in time."
"I guess Téa will be coming again, then." Mana had a smug expression on her face.
"Yeah, I think so." Atem said but she almost heard 'hope' instead of 'think' in his voice.
Mana knew her old friend very well despite the time distance. Atem never had the chance to be an ordinary person; he had to save the world times and times again. Atem was all so powerful and everything but lacked what normal people or even royalties had: a normal life, family, usual everyday troubles... love. If nothing of this had happened, Atem might've been a great pharaoh and rule with kindness, marry, raise an heir, get old... But Atem never had the chance. Right now, Mana saw not the king or the hero, but the man with his bare soul.
"I remember her, it'd be nice to see her again." Atem nodded not so excited about this.
Atem wanted to spend every precious second, they had together with her and probably alone. Her spending time with the others... It was selfish of him to think like this, but Atem couldn't help it. It was a chance Atem was so lucky to have and didn't wish to miss any of it. Mana noticed his discontent towards her idea. So, her friend was jealous of her. Mana almost chuckled aloud. Atem had fallen so badly obviously.
"Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of time with her," Mana decided to tease him, and the effect was instant, Atem blushed deeply.
"No, I didn't mean..."
"Nah, you can't hide it from me, Atem. I promise I won't distract her from you." Mana winked leaving the stunned pharaoh assimilating her words.
It was a bit of an unsettling thought. Did Atem feel that way and was it so obvious to others? Truth be told, Atem wanted to spend time with her and even if her powers were something not very welcomed in her life, Atem was grateful Téa had them because now Atem had the opportunity to meet her. Téa was his connection to the friends and life Atem left behind when he went to the afterlife. Deep down, however, Atem knew he was fooling himself. It was anything, but pure friendship and Atem knew it. Atem would be happy to see any of his friends, true, but wouldn't change the fact it was Téa for any of them, even Yugi. This confession to himself shocked him a bit. Well, Atem did think about her first always. It was pure instinct, something inside him making him wish to protect her. A fit of primal anger overtook him if anyone wanted to harm her. So, no, Atem's feelings towards Téa were far much deeper and complicated than he dared to admit.
*
Téa was having a walk, feeling lighter and happier as never before, at least, not in a year. Téa knew she'd see him again and it was enough. Her pleads and praying were answered and finally, Téa had the means to visit him. It wasn't the perfect solution though and Téa knew it. After a while, this time travel visiting wouldn't be enough, but Téa didn't hope she'd be that lucky to find another way again. Well, Téa could be content with what she had at least for now then. Téa was so deep in her thoughts never noticing someone was hiding in the shadows. A movement caught her attention and Téa stopped abruptly. Her senses were on edge, taking all of her surroundings. Téa listened carefully when she heard the shifting of clothes somewhere near.
"Hello?" Maybe it was dumb to stay here and wait as helpless prey until they catch her. "Is anyone here?" Her voice was the only one to be heard though.
Téa straightened her back wanting to feel someone, anything familiar. Maybe Téa was making this up but the strange feeling when you've been watched was here. Téa was watched. By whom was a question Téa didn't have the answer to. Suddenly, a shiver went through her spine and Téa turned abruptly. A dark silhouette had appeared out of nowhere behind her. Slowly, his features became clearer and Téa could see him. He was wearing black clothes and a trench coat. What was it about the black colour and why did bad guys always preferred it to other colours? Téa knew instantly he was a bad guy and not because of the clothes.
"What have we here? A pretty little miss." He chuckled to himself. Something about him was unsettling.
"Who are you?" Téa asked carefully. Her question was unanswered, but a new voice caused her to look sideways.
"Ah, pretty indeed and familiar she is." And just like that, they were two.
"What do you want from me?" The first one tilted his head.
"Hmm, at least the other one was smarter, this one seems too dumb." The first one muttered.
"Answer me! What do you have to do with me?!" A third voice laughed behind her.
"I smell power and..." He stopped, smelling the air theatrically. "And pretty virgin flesh." Téa went pale. What was about these guys? They didn't seem the ordinary gang who might want to steal from her or... worse.
"Leave me alone," her command sounded more like a plea.
"Sure, give us what we want, and we'll be gone sooner than you think."
"And what is it you want?" They were gathering around her, three predators surrounding their prey. Téa had the awful feeling she wouldn't like the answer to this one.
"We want your power, sorceress." The last one who happened to be the closest to her said with a grin. He was the most unsettling of them all. Something in his looks and his eyes terrified her to no end. Her brain was working rapidly, and Téa gulped. These people were the ones Teana had warned her about. How did they find her so fast? Téa just uncovered all of this and they were already here.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Téa began to bluff desperately.
"I'm afraid we won't buy this, little miss. Your ancestor escaped us but you're far less of an obstacle than her."
If Teana had found it difficult to escape them, how was Téa supposed to do this? Téa was neither that strong nor as experienced as the princess. Téa was in major trouble this time.
"Surrender and give us the necklace and your power. If you do it nice and easy, I promise we won't hurt you... much." His words reminded her of his first comment about the virgin flesh. Téa gulped, no, Téa wouldn't let this happen, not in a million years.
"No, you won't." Téa looked determined and the same man who obviously was in charge sighed.
"Fine, I hoped you might be smarter than the princess." His posture changed, and he looked even crueller now. "I tried to be nice but you time sorceresses want us always to be the bad guys." Some kind of a sphere appeared in his hand.
Téa had no choice, she had to run now. Téa looked around in a panic for an escape route. In a horror, Téa realised she was surrounded. They planned all of this and now Téa was in their mercy. Téa gulped, no, they weren't taking this from her. It was her only chance and hope to see Atem ever again and Téa was not giving it away! He aimed it at her, but Téa leaned down quickly which resulted in hitting his own fellow. He was caught off guard and Téa immediately used her chance. Using one of her dance moves, Téa put her leg behind him and caused him to fall on his back. Without a second thought, Téa ran as quickly as she could.
"Get her!" Téa heard the shout from behind as well as more spells coming for her.
Somehow, Téa avoided them all or they missed her. Either way, Téa was unharmed for now. Téa turned around the corner looking for a place to hide or an escape route. Téa screamed when one nearly caught her. Wait, Téa could use some of her own.
Please, let it work.
"Freeze!" Téa shouted causing the time to stop.
It worked so Téa had to advance before the magic faded and they start pursuing her again. Téa needed to get somewhere crowded. They wouldn't dare attack her in a crowd, would they? Téa left this part aside aiming towards Domino downtown. Soon, the spell faded away as Téa expected and now, nothing could protect her. Seeing no other option as Téa was too far away from her destination yet, Téa entered the closest shopping centre. Téa burst into the toilets gaining a few puzzled looks. An idea had occurred to her and it might be her only hope. Téa couldn't escape them and had no idea what to do with her powers. They were useful mainly for one thing only and that's what Téa was going to do. Téa closed her eyes and imagined where she wanted to be, clenching the little pendant. Soon the air around her changed and when Téa opened her eyes, she was in this strange palace of his. Atem was there, talking with two of his priests. Was the one Kaiba? Téa simply left this thought aside. Atem immediately looked at her and soon his expression changed in concern. Was something wrong about her? Oh, Téa hadn't noticed but she was breathing very heavily from all the running.
"Téa?" Atem asked in confusion coming to her in an instant. "What happened? Are you alright?" Atem was pretty concerned really.
"Well, I was chased as a matter of fact." Téa babbled. Atem approached her putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Did they hurt you?" Téa shook her head taking several heavy breaths.
"Pharaoh..." The one looking like Kaiba tried to check if they can be of help.
"Leave us, please." Seto nodded sharply and turned away.
"Of course," the other one agreed then nodded his head towards her. "My lady," what exactly were they thinking of her? Téa realised he looked a lot like Shadi.
"Okay, let's take a seat then you'll tell me everything that happened."
They sat on opposite chairs and now as the adrenaline was fading, her body was almost shivering. Téa explained about the mysterious men who chased her using some kind of magic. It was pure luck she had escaped them, though. Téa was completely inexperienced and unable to defend herself. Atem listened carefully while Téa spoke, obviously considering something.
"I can help you learn to control your magic, but you still need the kind of knowledge I don't have. I can ask Isis to find more about these men, but I can't promise anything. However..." Téa understood what Atem meant, and her face darkened.
"I have to see Teana," Atem didn't know the princess' name but it had to be Teana.
"Yes, she knows more than me and can be much more helpful." The problem was, Téa had no wish to meet her again.
"Yeah but I... kind of don't want to see her," Téa replied hesitantly.
Maybe Téa wouldn't have thought of this as such an unpleasant experience if the girl weren't in love with the same guy as her. It was... awkward and it made her jealous. Yes, Téa was pretty jealous of Teana because if Atem knew her, he'd fall for the adorable princess and not... her.
"Why don't you want to meet her? Is she bad?" Atem asked a bit confused. Was Téa feeling uncomfortable with her doppelganger? Téa avoided his gaze before answering.
"She's so much more than me. I feel... small and insignificant. If... if you knew her before me... you wouldn't have seen me as... me." Téa confessed insecurely but Atem took her hand causing her to look at him.
"I would never ever look at you like someone else because I know you, I've always had." His words made her heartbeat faster. Something in his eyes made her believe Atem meant all of this. Atem knew her and would always do. Teana knew this somehow and never got in the way. Teana deleted herself off his memory so Atem would know Téa as herself. There was nothing to be worried about. Téa sighed in relief.
"Okay then, I'll go and see Teana." Téa agreed with a smile on her face looking lovingly at his eyes.