The Pharaoh's Champion

Outside the window, it looked ominous; a downpour was imminent.

 It had been a long time getting that second opinion, one which he suggested himself, not them. It felt like an age had passed until he returned, unable to make eye contact with them.

 Eventually, the tension was broken.

 "I-I honestly can't believe it," his arms went limp, hands clutching tightly to the flimsy beige folder, causing a dent as the white coat man moved dumbfounded to his leather, high-backed chair. "It's a miracle."

 Hiro, whose eyes had been leaking tears since they crossed the threshold to the consultant's room, pinched his nose and breathed. "What do you mean, doctor? Is it good news?"

 He felt a fool for asking, she could tell. Yuki however, had a feeling this would happen.

 Things had been different since they had encountered Zahra, a young girl who had travelled to Domino City with nothing but a passport and the clothes on her back. A woman with a thirst for adventure, who seemed to have the same faraway look when learning about history.

 It was the strangest dilemma, to mourn lost cultures, as an adventurer learning about the ancients, she couldn't help but feel her heartache at the thought of how many languages will never be spoken again. How many of the temples that once bustling with people, were now abandoned and forgotten? Often she pondered about the daily lives of those who lived before, in their own present, through the artefacts and ruins left behind. The sadness that overcomes you when you learn about history was something they both seemed to share, to want so desperately to be a part of it, but being so afraid to die, to be forgotten, like the thousands before you. She'd always sensed a kindred spirit in Zahra, someone who also looked for more in the everyday lives of those around her.

 Then there was the day Zahra stopped her from falling. That intense burst of energy that seem to hurt and soothe at the same time, every day since then she felt herself get stronger.

 In the silence between them, the consultant stuttered over a few words and spun his chair to pick up another, older look folder. Frantically flipping through the pages, he grabbed a black, slightly transparent page and compared it with another.

 "Your Emphysema was already stage three when we finally detected it, you can see it all here on the x-ray," he held it up to the window.

 Light began to pour through the clouds and spill into the room, illuminating both X-rays.

 "Here, the diaphragm looks lower and flatter and the structural issues in the lungs were stark," he moved a slightly shaking finger to the other, "it's not completely gone, but this… this is something I would see in a regular chest scan. We wouldn't be able to diagnose your condition on this alone."

 Hiro ran a hand through his sparse hair, puffing air out through tight lips, unable to hide excitement, but also unwilling to accept it.

 "What are you saying doctor?"

 Yuki looked at her hands, a secret smile spreading on her lips.

 "You still have Emphysema, that much is clear from your blood tests. The lungs still aren't transferring oxygen and carbon dioxide as well as we would like."

 The atmosphere in the room tensed, but the light kept shining through the window, warming her knees and hands.

 "I've never seen this before, somehow, your stage three has reduced to stage one, it's incredible. Even though you still have Emphysema, your lungs have somehow healed, your prognosis is looking much better."

 Hiro slid his hand over hers and squeezed it tight.

 "There's a good chance that, with the right course of treatment, you'll live longer than we originally thought."

 Upon hearing those words, a sob broke from her mouth, her shoulders lurched from trying to hold everything in.

 Hiro gripped her, pulling her in. The ever-familiar scent of his aftershave enveloped her and tears kept coming. She had savoured his smell, thinking that any moment could be her last. There was no telling when the disease would take her. Now, knowing that she would be able to smell him for longer than she thought, she couldn't hold back.

 A relaxed smile came over the consultant, as he walked over two them, placing two steady hands on theirs. "I'll give you two some time."

 With a quiet nod, she closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. The sound of the door clicking shut was her only indication that he left.

In the moments that passed, they just sat, every so often breathing deeply. They both came to a natural stop, unsure how long they had been there.

 Her face was stiff from tears.

 "H-how? How did this happen?" Hiro eventually managed.

 Yuki looked out the window, the clouds had cleared, as if there had been no rain approaching. She breathed in, letting the sun sooth her skin.

 She thought about when she heard her first prognosis, how alone she felt.

 She thought about Hiro, how guilty she felt that he had so much on his shoulders. Seeing how her illness affected him was worse than the illness itself.

 She thought about Zahra, how she offered her their home, and how for the first time in a long time she felt useful, helpful. And hopeful.

 Turning to Hiro, she reached out a weathered hand shaking from adrenaline. Months she had spent trying to memorise the details of his face, as if doing so meant she could take the memories of him with her when she died.

 Touching him on his slightly stubbled cheek, she smiled with her whole face.

 Her voice was cheerful as she spoke. "I guess I have a guardian angel."

 Her thoughts went to Zahra, always trying to figure out her next steps, she liked to think that she had found that small measure of peace that we all search for, but few have found.

 ****

Zahra watched as Mana scrunched her face in indecision, moving the piece between two squares, unable to decide where to place it.

 Everything you wanted here just seemed to appear, as though from shadow, except there were no shadows her, only light. It took only a few moments for the chess table to manifest when she arrived. She pleaded for distraction, to concentrate, no one ever disturbed her at the table and her thoughts were all muddled, they needed sorting.

 Father would talk about the Gods, and the afterlife, it always seemed so magical, an eternity with those you know and love. Never knowing hunger, thirst or pain. Little did she know that her mind would still be plagued by the same worries she had in life.

 No one seemed to know how long they had been here. Days, months, years; life before this place was a perpetual yesterday.

 I hope he's okay. Her mind wondered from the game again.

 She saw his face, his stern look and smirk. The eyes that held all the knowledge and the power of a kingdom. Her hand trembled as she remembered the feel of his skin on her fingertips. She couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes.

 Her breathing started to become rapid as she felt warm hands on her shoulders. In an instant she calmed and a thoughtful smile came over her face. Placing a hand over theirs, she looked up and was met by warm brown eyes and smooth skin that was wrinkled with age. Skin that looked younger than she remembered, but still held all the wisdom.

 "Mother," she whispered gently.

 A thumb came and wiped her eyes, aware of the sadness slowly growing there. There was a glint of the same sadness in them, the same wish for the sight of one particular face.

 Here she was, with people she knew, loved and respected. Almost all of them. The Afterlife held no connection to the Shadow Realm. Her father was still lost.

 "There, it's your go Zahra," the cheery tone of Mana pulled her back.

 Thankful for the distraction, Zahra glanced at the board.

 His face was all she could think about, all she could fathom. The Ghost of his touch made her shiver. How could she cope in this new eternity?

 Time without purpose is a prison.

 Desperate to clear her mind, she quickly picked up a piece and moved it. Holding her hand out, she gestured for Mana to make her move.

 With a finger and thumb to her chin, Mana pondered her options. Then a gleeful smile grew over her face. Without hesitation she moved a piece right over to her side of the board.

 "That's it, right?" Mana clapped her hands in excitement, half rising from her chair.

 It took a moment for Zahra to realise what had happened.

 "I won?" Mana jumped in the air, clapping her hands and singing her praises, "I won."

 Running a hand through her hair, she scoffed. She had lost.

 Bracing her hands on the table, she didn't feel the cold of the stone. Taking a deep breath, she didn't feel the warmth of the desert air. Even here, in a place of no feeling, all she knew was heartache.

 She couldn't arrange her thoughts. Her mind was focused on only one thing.

 One person…

 And for the first time in her life, or death as it were, she had lost.

 "Your father always said you were so focused and driven, that nothing could deter you, I had told him that one day someone would come and gain your attention," her mother gently leaned over and nodded towards her queen piece. "It happened to you, just as it happened to me."

 "What happened to you, mother?"

 "I found my peace. Your father would want you to find yours to."

 Understanding the gesture, Zahra laid her Queen piece flat on the board.

 A signal of defeat.

 There was a dull tingle in Zahra's feet.

 Mana was celebrating so hard, she almost didn't hear the sound of huge stone doors opening.

 Again, as if appearing from shadow, a doorway opened. It was instinct for her to place a hand over her eyes, the light coming from the other side was different.

 There was a whoosh of air as Mana ran past her, towards the horde of people cheering and calling at the doorway.

 Cheers erupted.

 "Pharaoh!"

 "You're here."

 "Welcome home, my Pharaoh."

 It hit her like a gust of wind, taking her breath with it.

 She had dreams of him finding her. Unlike everything else that appeared on whim, this had never happened.

 Until now.

 The tips of his tri coloured hair appeared over the crowd.

 She leaned back, placing her arms on the board to steady herself. It really is him.

 He exchanged pleasantries with everyone, ever the dutiful King. Soon his gaze snagged on her, and froze.

 A chill coursed through her blood, every part of her went taut.

 His stare was so intense, he wasn't surprised to see her, it was look that said ah, that's where you are. He suddenly stopped talking and bounded towards her.

 Her heart pounded in her ears, she gripped the table tighter.

 His feet didn't stopped until he was in her space, lifting her into his arms like she was his most precious possession.

 There was a time when she would have scolded him for this, demanded that he put her down or get a hold of himself. But not this time.

 It took a moment for her gather the courage to move her arms, there was still the barest chance he would suddenly crumble into sand.

 She felt his warmth, his heartbeat as he held her tight, and she wound her arms around him like she was drowning.

 The sound of him taking a deep breath, inhaling her smell finally made her believe.

"Y-you found me," she stuttered.

"Of course I found you," releasing her slightly, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, "that was my wish, that I would always find you."

She lifted tear filled eyes to him. How could she be anything but in awe of him?

"Really? That was your wish?"

"Yes," a deep, yet soft chuckle rumbled through his chest as she buried her face in him.

"I thought you would forget me." Her feelings kept coming, she had been defeated because of him, her walls were nothing but rubble, her soul bared to him.

"Did you think that I could truly forget? That there would be something, anything, through all of time, that would be stronger than my love for you?"

His thumb brushed away a tear that slipped down her cheek.

"You are my everything. My light and darkness, my moon and stars. I love you, and I could never be without you."

 "I love you too," she whispered, sobbing almost uncontrollably,

 Around them, their friends gathered, offering well wishes and heartfelt thanks. They stood, their arms around each other as they laughed with everyone.

 Here she was, with loving friends, a doting mother; and finally, her missing piece. The King to her Queen.

 She was finally complete.

 This was finally Heaven.

Thank you for reading <3  Stay safe, Lauren Price xx