I wanted to see if I could figure out this cut thing, so I decided to use an old fanfic of mine as the guinea pig. It's the first fic I ever posted online, back in 2006 when I'd only just started getting involved with online fandom and was heavily into Yu-Gi-Oh. G-rated silliness set in ancient Egypt, with the past-versions of Kaiba (Seth), Isis, and Yami (Atemu) being children together. I wasn't very imaginative with the fic names back then, apparently. Anyway,
A/N: In this story Atemu, Isis and Seth are all being raised together in the palace. I don't know the actual age difference, so I've made Seth 13, Isis 12, and Atemu 10. Kiya is the woman who looks after them.
"Now remember, children, this is a formal banquet," Kiya said. "It's important that you all look and act your best. Which means Isis, stop twisting your collar, Seth, no loud arguments with anyone, and Atemu, please do try not to spill the red wine on the Minister of State's best white tunic this time."
"I didn't mean to!" cried Atemu indignantly.
"If you hadn't stood up on your seat, it wouldn't have happened," Kiya admonished.
"I wanted to see the dancers," Atemu grumbled.
"Well, don't do it again. Now, the three of you, go to the garden until I come for you."
"Can we wade in the fountain?" asked Isis.
"No," Kiya said.
"Can we play tag?" Seth asked.
"At least one of you always tears or stains your clothing, so no."
"Can we play soldiers?" asked Atemu.
"That always ends with someone getting hurt. No playing soldiers. And no sitting in the dirt, no trying to catch the fish with your hands, no hitting each other with anything, no running, and absolutely no climbing on anything," Kiya stated.
"Can we play ball?" Isis asked timidly.
"Yes. Play a nice, calm game of ball." Kiya took the ball out of the toybox and gave it to Isis. "Now shoo!"
The three children went out into the garden.
"She won't let us do anything," Seth complained.
"Yeah, I bet she does whatever she wants when she's dressed up," Atemu agreed.
"Guys? Ball?" Isis said. The three of them began to toss it back and forth and it went pretty well till Seth threw the ball over Isis' head, and in running backwards to catch it she tripped and fell into the fountain. She sat there, soaked, with a look of surprise on her face.
"Uh oh," Atemu said. "You're gonna be in trouble, Isis."
"It wasn't my fault!" Isis protested, standing up in the water. "Seth threw too high."
"You could've turned around," Seth pointed out.
Isis moved her feet around. The cool water felt wonderful in the heat. She splashed a litle and laughed.
"Is the water nice?" Atemu asked wistfully.
"Very," Isis answered. Atemu hesitated, then deliberately stepped into the fountain and sat down. Isis giggled.
"C'mon, Seth!" Atemu urged. "It's great!"
"You guys are gonna get yelled at," Seth said, shaking his head.
"You're the oldest, y'know," Atemu pointed out. "So you're gonna get blamed anyway."
Seth sighed and came in. The three of them then proceeded to have a lovely time, involving water-fights, breath-holding contests, and trying to pet the terrified fish, until Kiya, having dressed herself for the banquet, came out to fetch her charges and shrieked, " CHILDREN!"
"Um," Seth said weakly.
"Hi, Kiya," Atemu added.
"You look nice?" Isis offered hopefully.
"Which is not something that can be said for you three." Kiya marched over to the fountain and fixed the children with a death glare. "What did I tell you?"
"You never said we couldn't go swimming," Atemu said.
"To your chambers, all of you!" Kiya ordered. "And you will stay there until tomorrow." She pointed towards the doorway to the palace wing where the children lived. "Go!"
The three of them sloshed out of the fountain and started off, followed by Kiya's parting admonition, "And change out of those wet clothes or you'll ruin the furniture."
When the children got to their rooms they separated. But not before sharing a mischieveous grin at the memory of the fun they'd had.
Fin