A Whisper of Time || Yu-Gi-Oh Book 1 ||

Chapter 10

Téa obliged to go and see Teana. As much as Téa had no desire to see her, Téa had to admit Teana was the only one who could help her to learn more about the powers and the men who chased her. However, Téa refused to leave before her time was up with Atem. Atem chuckled but couldn't hide his satisfaction of having more of Téa's company. Atem knew Téa was a strong and determined girl, he had seen this for himself on numerous occasions, being a dancer had its advantages – her body was fit, and Téa could move quite efficiently. In this case, Atem was positive he could improve that.

"Téa, I have an idea," Téa looked at him questioningly.

"About what?" Atem looked at her gorgeous blue eyes, he always found them astonishing.

"You're in quite a good shape but still, besides your dance moves, you don't actually know how to defend yourself and I might be able to help you with that."

"So, you're suggesting you can teach me to... fight?" Téa sounded surprised, to say the least. True enough, Téa had seen Atem actually defend himself and with this body of his, having in mind his origins... Well, Atem definitely had enough experience.

"You said yourself you've been chased and in case someone gets to you... you need to know how to escape." Téa remembered at Battle City when the Rare Hunters kidnapped her along with Joey. Téa was basically helpless in their hands and a puppet in Marik's. The memories saddened and angered her at the same time. No, Téa wasn't going to be helpless again.

"Very well," Atem saw the familiar determination in her eyes. This was the girl Atem knew best. "But first, we need more time." Téa explained and caught the pendant in her hand.

How was Téa supposed to make the sand stop? Maybe... it had something to do with the way Téa made the time stop at the shop and in Ancient Egypt. Téa closed her eyes thinking about stopping, freezing in time. Blue light shimmered brightly, and Téa opened her eyes looking at the necklace on her chest. The sand was unmoving as if caught in place.

"Now, we have more time." Téa announced.

Atem chuckled before adding, "Alright, come with me." Atem offered his hand out of habit, but Téa accepted it eagerly.

Something had changed, Atem was sure of it. Atem had always valued Téa as a friend a lot but lately, Atem missed her greatly and felt like a necessity to have her close whenever possible. It was strange but oh so pleasant to be close to her, to touch her. Atem would find himself daydreaming about the way Téa hugged him when they met after such a long time. Téa felt small and delicate in his arms yet she clinched to him with all her strength as if her life depended on it. Atem brought her to an empty hall, it would suffice.

"Show me what you can do." Despite the motivation Téa gathered, she wasn't sure what Atem expected of her.

"What am I supposed to do?" Téa tilted her head in confusion.

"Try to hit me for a start." Téa looked at him startled.

"I don't want to hit you." That was the last thing Téa could ever want to do to him.

"Just try, you don't have to do it for real." Téa looked at him doubtfully but obliged. Her attempt was fruitless, to say the least, Atem moved so quickly Téa barely registered the movement.

"What... how?" Téa asked puzzled.

"First, you need to act quicker than that. You need to be as swift as the Nile."

As a demonstration, Atem moved behind her grasping her hands preventing her from moving. It was only for her training, Atem convinced himself. Yet, it was so nice to have her in his arms. Her hair was so soft, and he couldn't help but smell that nice perfume of hers. Téa tilted her head sideways revealing her neckline. Oh, it was so tempting. Her fair skin was smooth on her hands, would it be the same or even smoother on her neck? His mind was drifting to a dangerous and unknown ground. What was going on with him? It was Téa, Yugi's childhood friend, his friend but oh, it was all too tempting.