Gem of Life *~RPG~* (for LadyKeren and PharaohsAngel)

(Sorry I'm late. Had to give the cat her medicine before I took my own. ^^; )

"Atem, wait."

The pharaoh stopped and looked at Yugi.

"Where are you going to go?"

"I'm not sure. I'll figure something out-"

"You could stay here, for tonight."

Atem shook his head. "I don't want to impose on you any longer."

"It's no trouble-"

"Yugi? What's all that racket down there?"

Both boys turned to the stairs at the sound of Grandpa's voice.

Atem walked down the darkened street, happy that the shadows concealed him as he still wore his ancient attire. What did expect of his return? Smiles and embraces? No...that had been wishful thinking.

Instead, he got confusion and glares.

He didn't know how far he walked nor he care at the moment. then he felt something fall on his head...then another. Rain.

"Just perfect." He muttered. "What else could go-"

Atem felt his feet slip out from under him and he fell into the shallows of what seemed to be a lake. "...wrong." Wiping water from his face, the once pharaoh sloshed to the shore rubbing his arms as he was chilled from the mild breeze. He had to find shelter before he got sick.

"Are you alright?"

Atem looked up and his breath caught in his throat. There before him was a woman with the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. She wore a rain coat with a hood that covered her raven hair, and she held an umbrella in one hand. "I asked if you're alright."

That snapped him back to reality. "I...I um...I think so." 

"You took quite a fall."

"Yes..." He felt something slowly slide down one side of his face, after brushing his fingers across it did he find blood.

The woman opened her umbrella had held it over him. "Come with me, I'll clean that up. My house is over there." She pointed to the small cabin-like building. "You can get out of those wet clothes. I'm sure my Godpa has old things you can wear."

The inside of the house had a warm yet cozy feeling; the walls were painted in warm colors, pictures of castle ruins or lush green hills were on the walls. The kitchen, where they had stopped, had a dark wood table with matching chairs where people could eat after cooking. The room next to the kitchen was the living room where the couch and arm chairs were cream colored with plump pillows of blue.

Atem had to wonder if this was a good idea, but it quickly faded when the woman went to the hall closet and pulled out a teal colored towel. "You should dry your hair first then I'll see to that cut. Sit in one of the chairs."

"You don't have to trouble yourself, over me."

She turned those beautiful eyes to him again. It was amazing how those orbs of liquid gold made his whole body go numb...and not in a bad way.
"It's no trouble at all, young man."

Then there was her speech; her accent was strange to him.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Atem said slowly. "but where are you from? You don't look Japanese."

She smiled and came back with the towel. "I'm not. I'm Irish, I lived in Ireland before I came here to start another of my practices."

Atem began to dry his hair, removing his crown and earrings first. "And would be?"

"I'm a doctor."

He froze. "Doctor?"

"I may look young, but I started helping my Godpa at his clinic when I was little. After that I studied hard and earned my license." She saw his tense position. "Are you ok? Does your head hurt?" 

She nodded then retrieved something from the cupboard, a green plastic box. "Well then, let's have a look at that cut."

Atem put the towel on his shoulders and stared at the contents of the box. It was a first aid kit...but there were leaves, dried flower petals and bottles of strange tinctures. "What are these?"

"Oh, you probably haven't seen an Herbal First Aid Kit before have you?" She said.

"No."

"I use medical herbs to help people get better. Many say it's witchcraft but that's because they don't trust things they don't understand."

Atem had to nod at that. He watch her open an alcoholic wipe and let her dab at the cut, he let out a hiss of pain from the sting it brought. Once it was clean, the woman began to grind a few leaves while pouring a bit of tincture from one of the bottles...the pharaoh watched as it became paste that was white. And it smelled.....sweet?

"Marshmallow and Comfrey root and raw honey." She said, as if sensing his confusion. "The Comfrey Root will deuce swelling and the Marshmallow Root will draw out infection. While the Raw Honey will prevent infection." She put some on a flat stick before using it to apply the paste to Atem's cut. Once there was enough on, she covered it with a bandage. "There, all done!"

Atem reached up to touch, but she lightly smacked his wrist.

"Don't touch it."

"..."

"Forgive me for not asking this earlier...but what's your name?"

The pharaoh paused, he didn't trust her enough to tell her his name. But right now he had no choice. "It's Atem."

" 'Atem?' That's an interesting name. I've never heard it before."

"It's Egyptian."

"That makes sense." She giggled, while gesturing to his attire. Causing him to blush, much to the pharaoh's surprise. The woman put her Medical Kit on the counter and said, "I'm called Angela."

(No. He's all yours. I just wanted to do that one bit.)

"Now that your cut's taken care of, let's get you into some dry clothes. Follow me."

Angela led the way to a small guest bed room and rummaged through a cardboard box before pulling out a sweat shirt and sweat pants, plus boxers. "I washed these before I put them in here. They be slightly big but it's better than staying in wet clothing. Besides we were going to give these away next weekend. My Godpa won't mind if you use them."

She put them on the bed, and pointed to the door next to the closet. "Bathroom's there if you'd like to freshen up. Once you're changed let me know and I can wash your things." Angela paused a minute. "Would you like something to eat or drink? I get ready for work at this time anyway, so it's no trouble."

Angela went to the kitchen to find the kettle, all the while thinking how polite Atem was. He was like a gentleman from a different era. But she found that refreshing. Too many men were either full of themselves or treated others like dirt...it was rare to meet someone that treated others with respect...especially women.

Once the kettle had been found, she poured water into it and set it on the stove. Then she got a couple of mugs from the cupboard while humming the song she sang earlier that night. She didn't know that her voice carried to Atem who heard it.