Return of a King Chapter 1: Of Returns and Discoveries, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Return of a King

Chapter 1:

Of Returns and Discoveries.

Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is ©2016 with all rights expressly reserved by its author unless explicitly granted. No portion may be reproduced in any fashion without the express written and notarized permission of the author.

Standard Disclaimer: This story contains adult themes and as such, it is not suitable for minors. If, due to your age, it is illegal for you to read or view such material, please leave now. This story and characters are purely fictional and any resemblance to events or persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental. If you are offended by adult themes, please read no further. These stories are just that, stories, and do not promote or condone the activities described herein.

"…." – Spoken word

'….' – Thought

'Italic' – Inner voice/Conscience

It had been a month since the duel between Yugi and Atem, and everything seemed to be returning to normal. The school year for Yugi, Téa, Joey and Tristan had ended, bringing with it the summer that they had all looked forward to.

Yet, the summer seemed boring without their former companion with them. True, they knew that Atem belonged in the Afterlife, but they still missed him. In spite of all of this, Yugi had finally built up the courage to admit his feelings and ask Téa out. To his surprise, she accepted, and they had been dating for the past two weeks.

Two other friends of theirs had also been fortunate in their respective love lives. Tristan had begun dating their classmate Miho Nosaka, and Seto Kaiba began seeing Joey's younger sister Serenity, much to Joey's displeasure and Seto's happiness, both at finding someone and Joey's obvious discomfort.

However, little did the group know, their world was about to change once again.

In the middle of the city, a figure lay motionless on the ground. Upon further inspection, we see that it is Atem himself. Opening his eyes slowly, the man stood, groaning softly in discomfort. Taking a moment, to clear his vision, he walked from the alley, surveying his surroundings as the smooth baritone of his voice demonstrated his obvious confusion.

"Domino City. I've returned? What in the name of Ra is going on?" Atem then noticed that all of the people that passed were giving him very strange looks including a small child that had asked his mother what he was wearing.

Looking down, he noticed that he was still wearing his royal attire. "This certainly won't do in this modern era. I suppose I could try and find Yugi and see if I could borrow some clothes. In fact, that's not a bad idea."

Keeping to the shadows to avoid attracting too much attention, he made his way to Solomon Muto's game shop.

Arriving there a few minutes later, he knocked at the door, silently wondering with a slight smile what Yugi's reaction would be to seeing him again. He didn't have to wait long however, as not five seconds later, Yugi opened the door. "Hello, how can I…"

His voice slowly trailed off as he took in the olive-skinned stranger at the door. Upon reaching his face, Yugi's face took on a mixture of shock and complete disbelief, his brain shutting down momentarily as he fainted.

Catching his former host as he fell, Atem lifted him up and carried him inside. Laying him on the couch, he walked to the kitchen, wetting a rag with cool water. Returning to the couch, he placed the rag on Yugi's forehead.

A few moments later, a familiar voice filtered into the room. "Yugi, my boy? Are you awake?" Solomon gasped, seeing his grandson on the couch. "Yugi, are you alright?" It was then that he noticed the strangely dressed figure sitting beside him. "I-I know you…. but… it can't be…"

Atem smiled, noticing with a sort of bemused curiosity that he had to look down to see Solomon instead of him being at eye-level, as he remembered. "Yugi will be fine. He's just fainted from the shock of seeing me again. And, yes, it has been quite a long time. Although, if memory serves, you were much younger when we had last met."

Suddenly, Solomon realized exactly who it was that he was speaking to, immediately taking a knee. "Pharaoh… You've returned."

Startled slightly, Atem looked at him as he gently placed a hand on the man's shoulder, a kind smile gracing his features. "Please, my friend, there is no need to bow to me. And also, call me Atem. After all, there is really no reason to call me 'Pharaoh' now, is there?"

Rising to his feet, Solomon sat beside Yugi. "How is it that you've returned, Atem?"

At this question, Atem shook his head in confusion. "In all honesty, I have absolutely no idea. But, I suppose I will find out eventually. By the way…" Atem looked at his clothes. "I don't suppose I…"

At this, Solomon chuckled, cutting him off. "Say no more. Go ahead and look through Yugi's closet. There should be something that fits decently at least."

Nodding in thanks, Atem made his way down the always, opening the door to the familiar bedroom. Opening the closet, Atem began leafing through the articles of clothing until he came across a simple black, short-sleeved shirt.

Removing his tunic, he slipped the shirt on, and while it was a decent fit, it was a little snug. Quickly finding a pair of dark pants, he noticed that these too, were a bit tight, though he decided that they would do while he did some shopping.

Walking back into the main room of the shop, he noticed that Solomon, after looking at him for a moment, reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and opened it, handing Atem his credit card. "Go ahead and get whatever you want."

Atem smiled, bowing his head lightly in thanks. "I'll be back shortly."

Walking from the shop, he made his way to the business district. Locating a decent shop quite quickly, he made his way inside and began looking through the various racks of clothing, politely dismissing an employee of the store who had come over to see if he needed assistance.

Pulling a black sleeveless shirt from the rack, he saved it to try on and moved toward the pants. After finding a pair that seemed to be more his size, he located a fitting room. Noticing that these clothes fit much better, he spent a good amount of time browsing the rest of the store for different styles of clothing in the same size.

He arrived back at the shop almost two hours later. Walking inside, he placed Solomon's card on the table. Noticing that Yugi wasn't around, he figured that he must be out with his friends. Atem then took his bags into the spare room and placed the new clothes in the drawer.

After showering quickly, he pulled on the sleeveless shirt and dark denim jeans and surveyed himself in the mirror, his usually wildly spiked hair now hung down, reaching just past his shoulders with two golden strands framing his face.

Liking this, he grabbed something to tie it back with, revealing the silver piercings in his ears that he'd gotten to replace the ones he wore as Pharaoh.

Smirking, he walked into the kitchen, intent on grabbing something to eat. As he was eating, he was running possibilities of why he had returned through his head. Perhaps he had unfinished business here, perhaps it was merely the will of the Gods. It was then that one person popped into his head. "Ishizu! That's it. Perhaps she has some answers."

Finishing his meal, he cleaned up and once again made his way from the house.

Walking the streets, he made his way to the museum. He smiled as the building came into view a few minutes later. "It will be great to see Ishizu again. I do hope she recognizes me, although it certainly will be fun to see her reaction."

Walking into the building, he made his way to the basement room where he had first met her, somehow knowing that she would be there. Entering the room, he immediately saw his tablet hanging in the case just as it had been when he was last here. Stepping up to it, he was now able to read it in its entirety. It spoke of his ascent to the throne of Egypt and his many great accomplishments, including the defeat of Zorc.

It then went on to say that after many years of peace and prosperity, he left the throne and his puzzle to his cousin Seto, who went on to become a great Pharaoh in his own right.

Suddenly, the familiar soft voice of someone that he considered one of his closest friends sounded from behind him. "Can I assist you, sir? I see you have found the…." Looking up at the handsome stranger, Ishizu felt as if there were something incredibly familiar about him. "Excuse me for my being so forward, sir, but have we met?"

Smiling down at her, which he now noticed with a kind of bemusement, Atem chuckled, his soft baritone voice holding a sense of mock hurt. "Why, Isis, do you not remember me? I'm hurt."

Ishizu's eyes widened in complete shock and utter disbelief, as no one knew that name save one man. "But-but-but… It can't be…"

Atem laughed at this. "Isis, calm yourself, your stammering. It does not become someone as graceful and poised as yourself."

Ishizu smiled at his unexpected compliment, a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "I apologize, my Pharaoh."

Atem shook his head at this. "There is no need to apologize, Isis. And, please, call me Atem. After all, my former title has become unnecessary in this age, has it not?" As he spoke, he took in her beautiful form, a tiny blush tinting his cheeks as well. Clearing his throat, he decided it best if he explained why he had come here. "Although it is wonderful to see you again, Isis, I did not come here just to catch up."

Ishizu nodded. "I suspected as much. You came to me in hopes that I had an answer as to why you had returned to our world."

Atem nodded at her assumption, smiling. "You would be correct, Isis, as always."

She smiled again, but shook her head. "I am sorry, Atem. Unfortunately, I do not have the answer you seek, for this is completely unexpected and for all intents and purposes, should be impossible."

Atem nodded in acceptance, for he knew what she said to be true. "Very well, Isis. It was truly wonderful seeing you again, however, I must be going."

Ishizu smiled, bowing her head in respect. "Very well, Atem. Until our next meeting." Atem nodded, taking her small hand in his, bringing the back of that hand to his lips in a gentle kiss. "Farewell, Isis." Turning, he left the room, walking out of the museum.

As Atem left, Ishizu, in a moment that was so unlike her, suppressed a tiny squeak of surprise at his actions during their conversation and the previous few moments. Mentally slapping herself, she scolded herself for her reaction.

'Get a grip, Ishizu! What is going on with you? He is your King, for Ra's sake!' Ishizu spoke with confusion and frustration. 'But he's SO handsome!' A voice suddenly piped up from nowhere. 'Shut up, you. Who in the name of Ra are you, anyway?' She asked, slightly confused.

'I am your conscience, your true self, your repressed, untapped desires. I am you.' The voice spoke. "So, what are you saying? That I am lusting after my King?" Ishizu spoke, incredulous.

Ishizu's inner voice spoke again, laughing. 'Lusting? Hardly. You, my dear, are in love with him.' Ishizu's eyes widened in shock at her conscience's revelation. 'In love? How can I…' Her inner voice piped up again.

'Ask yourself this: When you see him now, what do you feel?' The answer was simple. She felt calm. More at peace than she had ever felt. Happier as well, and his new look did nothing to help her imagination. 'And his voice? What does that make you feel? Again, the answer was simple.

Upon hearing the silkiness of that incredible baritone, she felt as if she would simply melt. Her eyes bulged as it hit her. 'Oh, Hathor, help me… I am. I am in love with the Pharaoh…."

At the Kame Game Shop, Atem sat in a dim room amidst many lit candles, his eyes closed as he meditated on the mystery of his return and trying to find answers. In his mind, we see that he is standing in the sanctuary that his father had taken him when he was a small boy on the day that his father had apologized to the Gods themselves for the creation of the Millennium Items and had sacrificed his own safety to ensure his son's.

Looking around the room, he knelt at the altar, speaking. "Most honored ones. I come before you, asking for your guidance in this, my time of need. I seek answers as to why I have returned to the world of the living. What is my purpose?" Suddenly, a voice filled the room. "Atem… Son of Egypt."

Atem's head shot up as the figure of a man with the head of a falcon appeared. "Lord Ra…" Atem bowed further, reciting a quick succession of prayers and honorifics in Kemetic. As he did so, Ra merely smiled, extending a hand. "Rise, my son."

As Atem stood, Ra continued speaking. "The answer that you seek is simple. Your return is a reward of sorts for defeating the Dark One. In doing so, you have destroyed the embodiment of darkness itself, the one being from which all evil flows. You have done us a great service. As such, we have decided to reward you by returning you to this world and allowing you to live your life as you see fit."

Atem forced back tears at this revelation. The idea that the Gods themselves would bless him in such a profound way seemed unreal to him. Bowing again in respect, he looked upon the face of the deity. "Thank you, my Lord. You humble me with your gracious blessing."

Ra nodded at this. "I suppose you will want to inform Ishizu of this." Atem nodded, blushing lightly. "Yes, I- Wait, how did…?" At this, the Sun God laughed softly. "I can see that you are in love."

The former Pharaoh's face took on a look of confusion. "Love? How could I be in love?" Suddenly, the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. "I understand. It is just that I have never…." Atem trailed off as the great deity before him continued his trail of thought.

"Never heard a deity speak of love?" The deity question, amused.

Atem nodded at his statement. "It is a… human emotion."

Ra chuckled, shaking his head in the negative. "No, it is a word. What matters is the connection that the word implies. Now, go, my son. And, good luck."

As Atem bowed, the room faded from existence.

Opening his eyes, he smiled. So many emotions were running through his head at the moment that he found it hard to concentrate on the task at hand. He would, of course, need to find a job. Then, he would need to open a bank account to store the income.

Transportation, he reasoned, wouldn't be needed seeing as most of the city was within walking distance. The job, he reasoned, he could find with relative ease. The economy at the moment was troubled, but he was certain he could find something.

The bank account, he would ask Yugi or Solomon about later. For now, though, he needed to sleep. Meditation and communing with a God certainly took a lot out of a person. After changing, he lay down, closing his eyes, his dreams filled with one person. The one woman he loved most.

A/N: There's the first chapter. It's my first story, so no flames please. Constructive criticism is appreciated, however. And I know I allowed Atem to live his life as he saw fit, but that does not mean that there won't be trouble. Until next time!