Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh does not belong to me, nor shall I claim that it does. It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi, and the...animators....No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

In other words, please don't sue, because I have nothing to give anyway.

A/N: I was watching Return of Anubis on DVD, and the Yuugi and Atemu interactions just inspired this fic. I'm actually quite proud of the idea, and I already wrote the ending.

So hopefully, it won't end up dead like most of my other fics.

As much as I like fluff and smut, there probably won't be much of that here. Just horribly dark and unhappy for most of the ride. (It will get happier, and there will be happy moments.) Also, towards the middle, you'll see a love triangle forming between Yuugi, Anzu, and Atemu. I lean toward shounen-ai. Hint. D

Onto the story. Don't forget to enjoy!

A Wishing Star

By Moonrabbit

One

"Have you finished my paperwork, Isis?"

The dark-haired woman looked up from her messy desk to lock eyes with a youth of around sixteen, with a head of spiky tri-colored locks. She did not answer; instead she gestured to the chair right across from her, and waited until he sat down.

"Well? Did you?" the boy demanded again, narrowing his eyes.

"Atemu, my child, there is something called patience," Isis answered calmly, rummaging around before finding the folder she was looking for. "The world does not wait on you."

Atemu blew out a breath impatiently. "It really should," he said, shaking his head. "It would make Earth a much better place. Well, at least, the high school."

Isis ignored the comment. "I did not call you here to talk about your applications to stay abroad, you must understand—"

"What? But I have to send my information in by next month! You ought to be more responsible!"

"Patience, Atemu, patience." Isis looked up calmly. "I have finished the paperwork a long time ago. It isn't very hard. Luckily for you, you have excellent grades and your teachers have given you wonderful recommendation. Add the fact that you are the soccer team captain, and I'm sure you will be eligible for the scholarship with no problem."

"Well, then, why am I here?" Atemu demanded. "I have a life to live!"

"First, I'd prefer if you thank me."

Atemu rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Thank you, Miss Ishtar. Now, if that's all you called me here to do, I need to go and—"

"Drink at the new bar, perhaps?"

Atemu glared at her, but his cheeks reddened slightly. "I have no idea what you are talking about," he said coolly, but he did not look Isis in the eye.

"Atemu, I'm not stupid. I know what goes on around here, especially when my brother, bartender himself, knows half the bartenders in this town." Isis began to shift through more papers. "There is no point denying it."

"But—"

"And Anzu has talked to me about this," Isis added, before he could think up new excuses.

Atemu growled. "Some girlfriend she is," he said.

"Well, every girl would like a boyfriend who can take on some responsibilities," Isis answered, finding what she was looking for. "In fact, responsibility is exactly what you need in order for me to write the final recommendation. Call this a threat, but you aren't going to England until you can prove to me that you can take care of myself without Anzu and me to keep you out of trouble."

"What?" Atemu yelled. "This is blackmail, Isis!"

"No, this is called charity work, which is what you'll be doing. I've thought about this, and I think you know I don't change my mind easily."

Atemu shoved his hands into his pockets. "So what're you gonna make me do? Take care of the seniors in the citizen center?"

"Frankly, I think that the senior citizen center has enough of young, selfish men like you without adding you to the mix. Katsuya Jounouchi and Honda Hiroto, I've heard, have started more than enough fights there—"

Atemu rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, I worry that they'll use up their single-digit IQ's," he confided.

"Please don't interrupt. Being polite does not hurt." Isis paused. "I have contacted an orphanage and I have chosen a child who will be at your care. Before you scream 'bloody murder', it will only be for a month. After that, the child may go back to the orphanage and you will be on your way to Cambridge. Well? Is that a deal?"

Atemu snorted. "Me, take care of someone else? I think you should be worried that I'd strangle the poor kid by accident! It's not a good idea to put a human life at my care."

"Funnily enough, Anzu said the same thing," Isis said, and she actually smiled. Atemu had known her long enough to know that she smiled very rarely, if ever.

"She did?"

"Yes. I have spoken with her about my concerns and my plans, and she begged to think twice before assigning you this."

"Why didn't you listen to her?"

Isis shrugged. "In time, I convinced her that it's for the best, and she agreed to help."

Atemu frowned. "Is she doing this too? This community service?"

"Well, she isn't exactly planning to stray from Japan, but she is raking leaves for the orphanage with a couple of other candy stripers," Isis said, looking faintly amused.

"Life isn't fair," Atemu groaned.

"Afraid not. But at least Anzu is willing to help you and keep you out of trouble so you could make use of your talent. You two are sharing a flat downtown, I think?"

Atemu nodded.

"No kinky stuff goes on, I hope?"

Atemu stared at the woman. What was wrong with her today? Isis never made jokes. "Well, I think Anzu isn't that interested in me," he said. "We are together because we have a symbiotic relationship."

"Indeed."

"Uh-huh. She provides the money, I provide the kisses. Personally, I think she'd rather go for that Seto Kaiba, who, I heard, landed himself a partnership with Pegasus Crawford in America."

"Ah, of course," Isis said, nodding. "Seto Kaiba. Yes, yes, I have done his paperwork for his transfer to the United States, in San Francisco."

"Precisely the reason why I am not going there," Atemu said.

Isis smiled again. Atemu was somewhat unnerved. Twice in a day, and making small talk. What was the world coming to? "I see that you two aren't on the best terms with each other," she said, and fingered her Egyptian-looking necklace thoughtfully. "That is too bad. You are both so brilliant."

"I am brilliant. He's stuck up. There is a difference," Atemu pointed out. "I take it that he doesn't have to change diapers for an orphan?"

"Oh, the orphan. I almost forgot. No, no diapers, sorry to disappoint you. The fact is, the orphan is actually your age."

"But shouldn't he go to our school?" Atemu said. "I know a few orphans around here. I mean," he laughed slightly. "I'm one myself, although I'm not one of those whiny kids in the orphanage."

"I'm glad you remember that, because that's another reason why I'd like you to take on this job. Spending time with someone with…the same background may change you in ways you won't expect."

But her glittering eyes indicated that she held something back, although Atemu didn't notice.

"So, do I get to give him a crazy Egyptian name like you gave me, when you semi-adopted me?" Atemu said, seeing no other way out.

"Well, actually, he has a name," Isis said, and she kept a fixed gaze on Atemu as she spoke the next words. "His name is Yuugi Mutou, Atemu…and I think that you'll find a certain striking similarity between the two of you."

---

A striking similarity, it turned out, was exactly how one would describe Atemu and Yuugi.

"I don't believe this," Anzu said faintly, looking from Atemu to Yuugi with her eyes wide. "I really don't believe this. That kid looks just like you!"

Atemu folded his arms in annoyance, but he had to admit that the kid did look a lot like him. The same crazy hair. The same nose and mouth. Even the same height, although Atemu's more athletic build and prouder carriage made him seem like the taller person. He shook his head. "The wonders of the universe," he said dryly. "All the more reason why I shouldn't take this kid home."

Anzu swatted him on the arm. "You," she said, "will learn to be responsible! I'll help you if that's the last thing I do. Besides," she added, smiling a little at the orphan, "it might be fates that brought the two of you together."

"Or, Isis," Atemu said.

"Excuse me, Atem, but I think I'm going to show that I have etiquette and acknowledge your charge," Anzu snapped.

With that, she stretched out her hand and waited for this "Yuugi" character to take. But Yuugi made no move, and just stared at her blankly.

"Um," Anzu said.

Sakura, who was the fifty-year-old director of the orphanage, bustled out with forms in her arms. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she gushed, raising a heavily manicured hand. "I forgot to mention—didn't Isis say?—this kid," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper, "has had a head trauma when he's brought in…he's blind."

"Blind!" roared Atemu. "That's it. I'm not going to be some guide-dog for thirty idiot days. Let's get out of here, Anzu. I'm going to talk some sense into Isis."

Sakura stared. "Isis did mention that Atemu will be temperamental," she said slowly, not looking very pleased. "I was hoping that Mr. Ishtar would be at least a little more friendly. Orphans have fragile egos."

"He's…like that around unfamiliar people," Anzu lied. "I'm sure…he'll…er…come around."

"Is he really?" Sakura looked interested. "The two of them look like brothers," she mused aloud.

Anzu sighed, scratching her head. "Never mind him. I'm sure Yuugi will break through to him."

At that, Sakura smiled. "He is indeed the sweetest child I've come across," she said, as Anzu took Yuugi's hand and shook it warmly.

"Hello, Yuugi Mutou. My name is Anzu Masaki." There was an audible scowl from Atemu. "Please ignore Atemu. He's lacking in the brains department. And the sympathy department, while we're at it."

Yuugi raised his head and smiled. Anzu felt her heart melt at the pure sweetness and innocence of such a simple gesture. "Hello, Anzu Masaki," he said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said in voice that was not altogether mature, nor altogether childish.

Atemu snorted. "And we'll mean that literally too," he said, shoving Anzu aside roughly. He seized Yuugi's hand and squeezed it till the knuckles showed. "I'm Atemu, and I plan to stay your acquaintance or, as Isis and my girlfriend here would have it, your patron."

"Please excuse my boyfriend," Anzu said apologetically, giving Atemu an angry glare. "He's…lacking in a few departments." Maybe enough small talk. She needed to get going before Atemu lost his temper. "Um. Sakura-kun, do we need to fill out some more forms, or can we just walk away with Yuugi?"

"Well," Sakura said, a bit hesitant to let Yuugi go with Atemu. "Fine," she relented. "Just sign your names here…yes, that would be good. He doesn't have many belongings, and since he's only staying with you for a short while, we only packed a bag for him…. Listen, this is my cellphone number. If anything happens—and I mean anything—call me. I don't want to say that I don't trust you, but the whole point of this arrangement is for Yuugi to be with people his age and learn to be a little…more outgoing, and not to be…well…abused or…I don't know…"

"I understand," Anzu said briskly, grabbing the paper from Sakura's hand. "Thank you very much. We'll be going now…come on, Atemu. It's time to go."

Atemu was still looking down at Yuugi with a look of disgust on his face, as if annoyed that his sharp features were being softened on his "clone". Anzu was glad that Yuugi could not see.

"Yuugi," she said, taking Yuugi's hand and feeling somewhat stupid. After all, Yuugi was not a child. "Let's get in the car." She glared at Atemu. "Darling, I think I will be the driver today."

Atemu shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said.

And all the way home, Anzu was aware of Atemu's piercing red eyes, staring angrily at the young man who would be staying with them for a month.

A/N: A few important notes on Atemu and Yuugi's characterization:

Yuugi—you don't see much characterization here, but I am NOT going to make him a 'damsel-in-distress'. He'll stay sweet and hopeful, no worries there.

Atemu—I'm tired of seeing him portrayed as someone who likes Yuugi at first sight. Don't think that I abhor these kinds of stories, but I just want to write something different. So he's not chipper about Yuugi right now.

Okay, I hope that clears the characterization up. If you have any questions, leave them in reviews or email me, although I tend to check my reviews more often (I always forget my password to yahoo, so…yeah.)

So please review! It really pushes me to write more often, especially with my demanding courses in school. Trust me, one single line goes very far. )