Sands of Time (Complete)

Chapter 20: I Refuse to Say Good-Bye

Tea was unsure what she was going to do. Could she really lie to the Pharaoh when she saw his concerned face when Aadila didn't show up for dinner? She walked through the halls, people still unaware of her and hadn't realized that she was walking through people and in such a daze. Tea made a promise to herself that she would never lie to Joey, Tristan or Yugi when they became friends during their first year of school and when she learned about the spirit living within Yugi's Puzzle, she made a promise to him too. Tea turned a corner and saw the Pharaoh looking out of a window at the moon and the stars that were clearly visible, unlike in Domino. At first she hesitated to go to him but she remembered what Aadila had told her and made her way to his side.

With a deep breath she said, "Hey Pharaoh!" putting a bright smile on her face. 

Atem turned and gave a friendly smile. "Hey Tea, what are you doing here?"

"I was just walking around. What about you?"

"Just thinking about something." He cocked his head back towards the window and the moon.

"Do you need someone to talk to?" 

"That would be nice, if you don't mind."

"Of course not! That's what friends are for." She always said that, that they were friends, but inside Tea was truly in love with the Pharaoh, even though he most likely didn't return the feelings.

"It's just, Aadila was supposed to die as a child because she was very weak when she was born. The last time I saw her days a few days ago, she only had a couple days left because the spell was wearing off. I've been thinking if she was to die soon, like the Gods said, that means I only have a few days left with her at most. Maybe I should worry about reviving the guardians so I should spend more time with her, don't you think?"

Tea thought for a second, wondering how she was going to tell the Pharaoh not to do that so he wouldn't go looking for her. Then she said, "But don't you think she would want you to revive her friends quickly? After all, it seemed like she didn't know that she was going to die so maybe she would become suspicious if you avoided the spell. And they are her friends too."

"That's what I thought too, I just wanted to hear someone make the same decision as me. Thanks Tea, you have always been someone I could rely on." Atem said,  first looking at his feet then to Tea's face. She saw this as her chance.

"Actually, Pharaoh, there is something that I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"You know, we have met a lot of people over the years and I was just wondering, have you ever liked any of the girls?"

Blush immediately came to Atem's face. "Umm, to be honest, I never really gave it much thought because I felt like if I had feelings for someone while I was 'borrowing' Yugi's body, it wouldn't be fair to him."

"I see." Tea said looking at her feet.

"Tea, is there something else?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure how to say it."

"It's fine, you know I won't tell anyone." Atem gave Tea a reassuring smile, one that she had often given him during tough duels and the strange situations they were put in. 

"Phar--I mean, Atem. I have to get this off my chest before it's too late." She kept her eyes to the floor, not daring to look at his face. "The truth is, I like you, I have from the start. Even though I know that you have never returned those feelings, I couldn't get rid of my own. I don't know how and I don't know why, but what I know for sure is that I......I love you."

Atem took in the information as slowly as he could so he would not hurt Tea with what he would reply. In all honesty, he assumed that she liked him but he respected Yugi, because Yugi had often thought about her and it didn't take long for Atem to clue in, so Atem made sure not to develop feelings for her and he didn't. Tea just stood there waiting for his answer and took a deep breath before answering.

"Tea, I am flattered by your statement, I really am, but,"

"You could never love me. Don't worry, I understand." She interrupted and began to turn to walk away, but Atem stopped her.

"No, that's not what I was going to say." He said, looking at her and seeing tears fall to the ground. "I was going to say that I can't. Tea, I'm a 5000 year old spirit and it's not exactly the most acceptable thing your world would accept. I also made a promise you someone else, so he could get closer to you." Tea still didn't lift her head and Atem quietly sighed. "Tea, I don't mean to sound hurtful but it's better knowing the truth then thinking otherwise, isn't it? Remember the day we went to the museum? You helped me so much that day and I have been trying to think of ways to repay you properly, but I could never think of anything because, to me, what you did was priceless. I don't think this will make my thank you any more meaningful but I know that unrequited love destroys faith and it hurts to feel ignored but we are just friends. That's all we are."

Tea realized that she had stopped crying and she decided to look at the Pharaoh. Lifting her head, she saw a worried look in his face and she saw that he truly did not wish to hurt her, even though he was. Then she was shocked at what he said next,

"Promise me that you won't change yourself for someone if they don't appreciate you. Even though I do appreciate you very much, like I said, I can never have the same feelings so, promise me that you will find someone who will. I remember my father saying that it takes a strong heart to love, but your heart is much stronger, Tea. Your stronger heart is capable of loving after being hurt." 

Tea let out a dry laugh, "I understand Pharaoh. Why don't we go and get something to eat? I'm sure everyone is waiting for us." Tea didn't even wait for a reply and starting walking towards the direction she thought the dinner was going to be.

"Uhh, Tea?" Atem said causing Tea to turn around in confusion. "It's this way."

"Right," She said swiftly moving in the direction Atem had pointed to and moved to his side. They had only been walking around for about a couple minutes before Mana came up to them.

"Hey Tea! Pharaoh!"

"Hey Mana!" Tea said happily.

"Pharaoh, we have translated the spell that Aadila used to create the item and we have found something that I think you may want to know."

"I never asked you to do that."

"Yes, but everyone was interested in the power behind it so we decided to do it on our own accord."

"What would you like to tell me?"

"We found a small inscription on the drawing of the item and we think that there may be something that Aadila does not know."

"Which is....?"

"The inscription translated to 'To where it is awakened, is to where the awakener shall die. Be absolute for death, either death or life shall thereby be the sweeter' We have figured out so far that, even though Aadila is to die, it appears she must die where she created the item in order to move onto the after life. If she doesn't, well, we don't really know what will happen."

"And is there a way to figure out where she created the item?"

"No, my King. Only the creator knows."

Even though Tea didn't know where Aadila had gone to, she felt guilty for some reason.

"Get Aadila, now."

"Yes, of course!" Mana ran off and Atem let out a sigh. 

"Pharaoh? What if we can't find her in time?"

"I'm assuming she still has a few days left, so we will find her and I guess I'll have to tell her."

"But what if she already knows and has left?"

This statement caused Atem to give a strange look to Tea. "Tea, what aren't you telling?"

"She trusted me not to tell you, so I can't say."

"Tea, this could be the last time I see her! Where is she?"

"Hey, guys. What's with all da shoutin'?" They turned to see the gang walking towards them along with an intrigued Kaiba following them. "Where's Aadila?" Joey asked after no one answered his first question.

"Tea please." Atem begged.

"She left about an hour ago. I don't know where she went though, she didn't tell me."

"What's wrong?" Yugi said.

"We found some important information inscripted on a drawing of Aadila's Millennium Item. I have to send a search party out."

"That won't be necessary, my King." A voice said. Everyone saw a boy around Aadila's age standing in the hallway.

"Ramses? What are you talking about?"

"My sister may be smart but I also inherited that intelligence as well. I translated the spell earlier than your magicians and I confronted her about it before she met you. Of course she denied it but eventually she told me the truth of everything that has happened"

"The punk looks exactly like Atsuko." Kaiba said.

"That's because I'm her twin stranger."

"Ehh! He can see us!" Tristan yelled.

"Aadila also told me about you people as well. Of course I didn't believe her but I saw you walking through people not too long ago."

"Ramses, do you know where your sister went?"

"To our home, back at the village South-West of here."

Atem didn't even thank him and he ran toward the stable, getting his horse ready and quickly rode South-West. The adrenaline running through him was so intense that he didn't realize that the everyone was following him, and by everyone, that means everyone. Yugi, Tea, Tristan, Joey, Kaiba, Mana, Shimon, Isis, Mahad, Aknadin, Shada, Seto and Karim. Clearing the hill, Atem looked down the ridge and saw the barren and ruined village. Possibly once full of life and beauty, but was now dark, dead and destroyed. Just when everyone caught up with him, Atem moved forward again, slowing making his way into the village and through the streets. 

"My King, are you sure we should be here?" Shada asked, obviously worried about something.

"I feel a strange aura as well." Isis said.

But, Atem ignored them and continued on looking for Aadila's first home. Everyone was silent until Tea yelled, "There! There's a light coming from that house!" Tea pointed to the house that looked as though it was the largest and also the one with the least about of damage. Atem jumped off his horse and ran to it, going past Aadila's horse on his away. As he got closer, he heard muffled cried and inaudible words being spoken. Moving through the doorway, Atem was welcomed to the sight of Aadila on the floor, kneeling before what appeared to be a shrine.

"Atem, you shouldn't be here." Her voice cracked as she spoke, trying to hide the saddened shake in her voice. But she never turned to look at him.

"How could you do this to me, again?! You did this when we were children as well! You never thought about how I was effected by the actions you took on your own, you always hurt me so! You think you are alone but you never saw the people who were here for you, the ones who love you and want to protect you. Why can't you let me do what I promised I would do?"

"Atem, you, above all others, should understand the most why I have troubles letting people in." Now she turned to look at him, but stayed kneeling because she could feel her energy fading. "Losing people at love and having to care for those who cannot care for themselves is something you always said that I never needed to do, but you still understood that I couldn't stop doing so. You saw how people tried to manipulate us as children and I know you slowly saw that I was beginning to hide my feelings around others. You were the only one I trusted because I knew that you felt the same because you too had experienced people trying to manipulate you. But after what happened on the last day I saw you and over the past few years I decided it would be best if I did this alone. I was meant to be alone from the very beginning, that's why it seems that whenever I get closer to you, the Gods push me away." Aadila began to have a coughing fit and Atem immediately moved to her side, cradling her in his arms. Before looking at him, Aadila noticed the guardians had returned and it caused a smile to form on her face. "At least you won't be alone like I was." 

"Aadila, you were never alone. Whether you believe it or not, I was always there for you, right here." He said, moving his hand to her heart and this caused Aadila to chuckle.

"This thou perceive, which make thy love more strong, to love that well which thou must leave ere long." Aadila's breathing became shallower as she stared at the tears forming in Atem's eyes. She moved her hand to his face and pulled him into a soft kiss that she would treasure for all her afterlife. Tears now left her eyes as she pulled away and gave a weak smile. "It's time to say goodbye."

"I refuse to say good-bye, because I know that you and I will meet again. When we are least expecting it, one day, in a far off place, I will recognize your face. I won't say good-bye, my love, for you and I shall meet again." Aadila gave a groan and a worried expression immediately manifested onto Atem's face.

"Don't fret, I don't feel any pain. Good-bye, Atem." With one last breath, Aadila locked her eyes onto the amethyst orbs in her view then to the direction where she noticed everyone was crying. "Farewell." With that, Aadila's eyes fluttered closed and her body became limp in the arms that held her strongly.

That was it. The last time Atem would see her smile, hear her voice, her laughter. The last time he would feel the true love from another. 
***********************************************
Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

What's that noise?

With eyes fluttering open, a girl looked around the room, only what she could see from the position that she was in. She felt to weak to try and move.

Where am I?

The beeping continued and suddenly a soft voice overpowered it.

"You're awake. Oh my...you're really awake!"

That voice sounds familiar, but who's is it?

A face came into view, a woman's, around the age of 50. "Atsuko, do you know who I am?"

Without think, she answered, "Mom?"