Yugioh © Takahashi Kazuki
I have been wanting to write a Yugioh fan-fiction for a while now, and finally I am able to write my first one but very hesitated in posting it. In the end, today I decide to.
Pairing: Kaiba Seto/Yami no Yuugi (Pharaoh Atem, Other Yuugi, Nameless Pharaoh) aka. Prideshipping. And Priest Seth/Pharaoh Atem, aka. Scandalshipping.
Rating: from T to M.
Important Author's Note, please read before proceeding. This is important and I will not repeatedly explain in later chapters if someone asked. It's not my fault if you skipped reading something could have answered your questions in the first place.
I am only familiar with the Japanese versions of Yugioh (both the original manga and its water-downed anime), or as some people dubbed it, uncensored version. Therefore all names usage will follow Japanese version's order. For example, Mutou Yuugi, not Yugi Moto. All character names will be in Japanese, not American's counterpart. And in Japanese version of Yugioh universe, Domino is somewhere in Japan, not America. Most of all, the time of Ancient Egypt is 3000 years in the past, not 5000. (If you actually followed history, the number 5000 itself is nonsense but I am not going to talk about it. Please use wikipedia for more information.) I have my personal viewpoint about the differences between the original manga version and Japanese anime version, but it would be blur in this story verse since I will use the characters and events from both (fillers include).
For Pharaoh Atem's name, I will use two versions, first is his original name Atem, second is how his name pronounced in Japanese, or romaji, Atemu. And no, I am not making up "Atemu" if you are wondering, this is not a typo, it's just the way it is if you watched the original version of the manga/anime (not the English-translated version).
Lastly, here is name listing from Japanese to American version. Still note that I will only use the Japanese names in my Yugioh fan-fiction.
Mutou Yuugi - Yugi Moto
Kaiba Seto - Seto Kaiba
Kaiba Mokuba - Mokuba Kaiba
Mutou Sugoroku - Solomon Moto
Mahado - Mahad
Mazaki Anzu - Téa Gardner
Jounouchi Katsuya - Joey Wheeler
Honda Hiroto - Tristan Taylor
Kawai Shizuka - Serenity Wheeler
Bakura Ryo - Ryo Bakura
Otogi Ryuuji - Duke Devlin
Ishizu Ishtar - Ishizu Ishtar
Malik Ishtar - Marik Ishtar
Kujaku Mai - Mai Valentine
Rishid Ishtar - Odion Ishtar
Siamun Muran - Shimon
Without further ado, enjoy reading if you are not having homophobia and okay with first-cousins incest.
Chapter 1
"This is?" He took the offering card and looked at the other person with confused wide crimson eyes.
"KC VIP Pass." Kaiba replied, crossing his arms, "You are special invited to the opening of Kaiba Corporation's newest Kaiba Land project."
Atemu tilted his head, opened his mouth to voice the first question came to his mind.
But Kaiba beat him to it by answering, "You can bring anyone. This is custom made for you. In the case you lost it or someone else used it, it won't work."
"Um," Atemu still looked uncertain, "Thank you."
Kaiba eyed his shorter Rival expectantly.
Atemu felt self-conscious under the gaze. Back then when he was still sharing Yuugi's body, this hardly was something ever crossed his mind, not even once. But now, his ancient soul resided in a living body that was of his own, Yuugi's presence was forever detached from the back of his mind with the recognition of different identities and separation of individual souls since the start of Ceremonial Battle. While Atemu was still capable of running off to his soul room, thing certainly wouldn't look good if his body collapsed out of the blue because there was no more "Other Me" to take over for him. No, he didn't want to draw more attention to himself; especially not after Kaiba interrupted his class, ignored the sputtering teacher, and sauntered toward a bewildered Atemu sitting in the back to request a private talk with him outside.
Only infants didn't know Mutou Atemu (one of the most popular celebrities in Gaming World slashed Entertainment Industry, but unsurprisingly due to several strings of business haters, seconded to Mutou Yuugi) and Kaiba Seto (also one of the most popular celebrities and successful businessmen, politicians, high-technologists in general) were bicker rivals in a certain Magic & Wizards card game. So what happened to Kaiba's former rivalry with Mutou Yuugi? Somehow the media couldn't get their lenses on that mystery, yet. But it went without official paperwork that no Gaming Company (the aforementioned haters) could form a contract with Mutou Atemu excepted Kaiba Corporation, period.
"Will you come?" Kaiba asked, completely out of his character by the absence of his infamous impatience that should have been dribbling from his tone on daily basis when people were taking their sweet time only to answer 'yes' or 'no'. But then again Atemu was not one of his employees who needed to be more competent than yesterday or they were expecting to be jobless when he was done with them.
"Ah," Atemu said with a nod, realized he didn't give any verbal confirmation to the invitation. "I will."
They stood facing each other in silence after that. Until it became really awkward. Neither made a move to fidget (on Atemu's part) or turned to walk away (on Kaiba's).
In the classroom, multiple ears pressed against the door in hope of catching any bit of the conversation was occurring between the pair in the hallway, to no avail.
"What the hell?" Jounouchi muttered under his breath, "I'm pretty sure Kaiba's insults could carry to the other side of the stadium! How come I can't hear him right outside a non-soundproof pubic hallway for God's sake!"
"Why are we doing this?" Yuugi whispered below Jounouchi's chin. The latter slightly draped his frame over his friend's shorter one in order to squeeze themselves amongst the eavesdropping student bodies.
"I am protecting my friend from getting harassed in private by his enemy!" Jounouchi declared heroically.
"You know what?" Yuugi closed one eye to focus his sight on the other through a short gap between the sliding classroom door and the wall, managed to get the backside of the former Pharaoh in his view. He couldn't get out from the throng of people doing the same thing even if he wanted to, so might as well humor himself while he could. "We look like stalkers."
"To look like and to be are different things." Honda voiced his opinion from somewhere beside Jounouchi's head. Below and behind him, Anzu hummed in agreement and Otogi nodded his head.
Yuugi was about to protest when muffle voice could be heard from the other side. He wisely closed his mouth and listened, as did the squabbling mob. All the while that poor teacher's yelling for them to settle back in their seats fell on deaf ears, and those who heard shushed him as if he was the one disturbing class.
"It will be on Halloween, this Sunday. The attendants are required to wear costume accordingly," Kaiba said slowly, looked at Atemu with sharp observing eyes, "And masquerade."
"Halloween? Masquerade?" Atemu echoed with a wondering blink and a tilt of his head.
Kaiba resisted the urge to point out that his rival's face could be found in dictionary for definition of the word 'cute'. He knew ancient Pharaohs were regal and graceful as they were lethal and dangerous, bonus with a misleading beauty belied everything they truly were, but cute? Cursed Mahado. Kaiba thought darkly. If the word 'cute' managed to lodge itself in Kaiba-dictionary and laugh at his face right about now, the CEO didn't want to know what more of Atemu's cute side Mahado had already known. That man spent his whole childhood with Atemu while Seth took nine years of his early life to climb inside the palace walls.
However that changed now.
Not providing any input to his rival's rhetorical inquiring no matter if they were for him or not, "Are you free this Friday's evening?" The CEO asked instead. Truth to be told, Kaiba knew Atemu was. His habit of keeping tab on all opponents gave him a camouflaged reason to know Atemu's schedule without getting branded crazy stalker or even worse, secret admirer. Either way he was nothing of the sort. Yeah, right.
With a tiniest of nods, Atemu confirmed, "I am." He got class in the morning, then having lunch with Yuugi and others, and he was free after because he had declined their nagging, begging and whining at him to go with them to the newly opened arcade. This much needed alone time Atemu could use to help around the game shop or take a walk, to think. There were a lot of things in his mind since that eventful day he inhaled the first breath of air in his lungs outside Yuugi's body after millennia. It was also the first time truth dawned on him that he was truly living.
How he came back was a mystery shared between Ishizu Ishtar and Kaiba Seto. Yes, Kaiba Seto.
When he knew it, the familiar face almost got him confused with his former High Priest Seth, but a much lighter skin tone and darker shade of sapphire in his eyes screamed the difference between those two, between past and present, between everlasting dream and glaring reality. Atemu had been greatly disoriented, utterly disheartened, and completely petrified.
Ishizu was oddly silent, only spoke with him in her usual cryptic way to divert his demanding for an explanation that made sense. And Kaiba Seto, not one bit helping the situation, turned to walk in the direction of his awaiting new edition Blue Eyes jet after a curt, "We are leaving, Atemu."
His frown then directed at Ishizu, questioning if she had told Kaiba Seto his true name. She said nothing, only a smile slowly made itself visible on her face. Far from being a reaction when one was happy about something, the curl of her lips announced a secret Atemu was uncertain if it meant bad for him or not. His royal court used to have a sense of humor. When they exhibited it, the amusement was dedicated to their most beloved Pharaoh, not the other end of the food chain which happened to be several souls were extracted from their bodies and implanted into slabs for later use like, mock duels between High Priests; it was something he did enjoy watching in the past.
Atemu decided he no longer wanted to know. After he said goodbye, Ishizu shook her head, asking for his hand so she could cradle in both of hers. She smiled again, this time more pleasantly and, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, she spoke softly, "See you soon, My Pharaoh."
Perplexed, Atemu blinked twice, suddenly feeling a little bashful but then he mimicked her parting words, "See you."
Back to the present, Atemu was confused at himself for letting Kaiba Seto know of his schedule-free evening without thinking. His rival had not changed much other than calling him "Atemu" now that he was no longer "Mutou Yuugi" or "the other Yuugi". It might as well be his imagination, but those blue eyes seemed to express the great pleasure in saying his name of their owner. With the continuous normalcy of their interaction consisted of practically challenging each other to a duel whenever they occasionally were in the same place because they didn't say 'hello' like people with common sense, Atemu assured himself the faster pace of his heartbeat was simply his anticipation for a new challenge. Kaiba only resembled his first cousin and High Priest Seth in appearance and nothing more. The absurdity about this big fat crush on Kaiba that Yuugi so believed in was banished from his mind, until the next moment Kaiba said his name. He could always give his little one a cold shoulder until tomorrow morning whenever Yuugi compared their behavior with squabbling old couple to remind him again.
"Mokuba is getting annoying. He has been trying to bribe me for a break in Shinjuku for a while now and I don't really want to endure him alone. Would you like to accompany me?" Kaiba said in an even tone. Despite somewhat drawling the 'annoying' word, his voice showed none of the irritation he should let known for being forced into something he didn't want to be a part of.
"Why Shinjuku?" Atemu inquired curiously. He knew enough about the place's reputation, especially at night, regardless of his interested in visiting for once.
"He wants to go shopping for his costume there." Kaiba nonchalantly replied.
The silent suggestion was not so subtly hinted as it sounded because Atemu had already appeared to be considering it. If going with the Kaiba siblings he wouldn't have to worry about exploring new (less secure) places (for who he was) by himself any more, at the same time buying something acceptable for the event. Deciding that now was Wednesday to give him enough time to gather what he needed to know before setting his foot on that unknown territory by Friday, Atemu nodded and, learnt from his earlier experience, he agreed, "I will go," Unaware he had a small smile on his face that didn't escape Kaiba, whose eyes was on him the whole time.
"I will pick you up. At what time would be most convenience for you?"
Now come to think of it, Atemu had no idea when he was supposed to be done with lunch. The gang would go up floors for the arcade later from the restaurant they planned to have their usual get together, courtesy of one Otogi Ryuuji who scored a pass for them as honor guest himself, being the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters, one of many games would be available there. Not to mention there was a bonus, Mutou Yuugi the reigning King of Duelists would accompany them. Long story short, this greatly benefited the newly opened business. A frown marred Atemu's perfect feature.
Kaiba saw Atemu's mood went bad because something else stemmed from his question. He knew Atemu would be having lunch with Yuugi's circle of friends after school. And he knew he, himself, too, would be there but on different floor to monitor the promotion of his newest dueling platform way before they came. But Atemu didn't ask him about any of that, so he was not incline to let the former Pharaoh know. Whatever that ailed his rival, as long as he was not the main cause, Kaiba couldn't let it divert Atemu's attention from him for too long. A little amused at his own thought, Kaiba smirked, "I think my face does not deserve your scowl right now."
"Ah, no, I was thinking…" Atemu trailed off, at a loss of how to proceed in this situation. It was none of Kaiba's business to be informed about his time spending with Yuugi and others, but without letting Kaiba know of that little detail, how could he converse about his dilemma?
Kaiba had a good guessing on what was troubling Atemu so. A Pharaoh Atemu might have been once upon a time and that sadly was the story of 3000 years ago. When residing in Yuugi's body, he was too reserved and only came out when the shorter one was in trouble or Yuugi got himself into something that roused Atemu's overprotective nature (either way unchangingly ended up ugly for the other party). That, at the present resulted in the diminishing of his human interaction skill to a sorry state of awkwardness, to the point he craved space to breathe more often than not, away from other humans, like a man alone in desert hopelessly looking for an oasis. It was not because Atemu forgot how to deal with humans after suspending for 3000 years, it was because he remembered that caused problems for him now. No one had been allowed to look at him until he gave permission; those met him eye to eye were either Royalties from other countries that would soon become his enemies or frankly his enemies. The Pharaoh was surrounded by his Guardian Priests and Royal guards all the time. Everything Atemu learnt had been diplomatic. Everything he did had been expected of him. He was a living God back then and he was well-worshipped by his close acquaintances now, not to mention the bunch of game addicts who idolized him via anything that was a screen. Simply put, Atemu felt overwhelmed from himself not wanting to follow his code of conduct to blend in with his second life time. It was a mild surprise to Kaiba that the former Pharaoh had yet to have a nervous breakdown in his newly reacquired body. Maybe that was his very own body that helped anchoring him. It remembered all the trainings and trials it went through to act accordingly on its own before its owner could issue a negative reaction.
And because Atemu was trying to talk with him, other than his friends, in non-diplomatic term that Kaiba thought maybe he was making more progress than he believed. However, while he concluded Atemu's original perspective was unnecessary to change, some modifications wouldn't hurt.
"On second thought," Kaiba feigned thoughtful, he propped his chin in between the knuckles of his forefinger, one palm supported the other elbow, drawing Atemu's attention, "Can we move it to a sooner time? Lunch, perhaps."
Atemu shook his head, seeing the perfect opportunity to present his problem at the same time feeling the start of doubt somewhere behind his well-concealed relief. "I planned to have lunch with Yuugi and others, but I don't know when I'll be done. I'm sorry."
"Don't be." There was oddly no trace of offended feeling and no snide remark followed. Suspicious. Because Kaiba could hardly hold his sharp tongue against Yuugi's friends, especially Jounouchi. "How about you call me whenever you are ready to go?" Kaiba suggested instead.
Atemu's phone was custom made from special edition of a product due to be official released mid-spring next year.
Jounouchi and Honda almost orgasmed on the Mutous' carpet just by looking at the way it snuggled coyly in Atemu's hand. While Otogi observed the high-end digital piece with shameless interested. Yuugi, cuddling Atemu with zero interest in technology, was busy on the watch out if the former duo would completely lose it like a hissing bunny (occasionally purring like a kitten as the former Pharaoh absentmindedly stroking his hair). Anzu rolled her eyes at their antics. Ryo sat across Atemu with an apologetic look about the behavior of their friends and helped himself to another round of cracker candy. Atemu mildly wondered if this was how the Thief King would have been, had that whole Kul Elna incident never happened. He turned away from that thought as quick as it came to his attention.
There was an untouched number in Atemu's phone. Because he had no reason to call that number. Even if Atemu did call, he wouldn't have anything to say; unlike the owner of said number, who always demanded him to get ready for another duel. It was obviously Kaiba's, the very first number pre-listed in the phone when it was forced in his hands, delivered by one Kaiba Mokuba. Atemu had tried to refuse his ownership over that piece of modern day most-wanted product, but Mokuba assured him Kaiba expected a duel soon and it was to be with him until then. He was given no chance to tell the younger Kaiba they could use the Mutou's residence house phone before the kid hopped on his black limousine and drove off, sticking his head outside the window and waved goodbye with a big grin that ate half of his face. Now, the thing ended up being his possession after numerous times Kaiba personally sent him back to the Mutous' residence in one of his own limited-edition cars after their duels. During one of the private duels with Mokuba being their only audience as always, an exasperated Atemu bellowed across the field if he could ever return Kaiba's phone, the taller of the two riled him further by placing two cards faced down and ended his turn with a challenging smirk. Despite coming out winning naturally again, Atemu silently seethed the whole ride home. Even he knew punching his driver in the face to wipe off the smirk could cause them both to end up in the hospital. Furthermore, Atemu was very fond of Mokuba and wouldn't want to upset the kid by bullying his big brother for the nth plus one time.
"Alright." Atemu cautioned, unable to shake off the feeling that he walked right into a trap card with no other choice.
Poker face unchanging, Kaiba nodded. This was the point he would leave. Kaiba could already see Mokuba banging his head repeatedly on his desk and bemoaned at his sorry fate for being placed in the CEO's chair because of his brother's absence. Not that he hadn't been doing this during the duration between the end of Death-T and start of Duelist Kingdom. But with Kaiba Seto's return after those episodes, Mokuba conveniently forgot, and hopefully never had to remember, how tedious the tasks were and multiplied several times now that Kaiba Corporation was on expansion. 'Nii-sama! Where are you?!' Screamed Mokuba on top of their KC Headquarters in Kaiba's mind eyes. Kaiba wouldn't bother if Atemu saw him close his eyes with a fond half-smile in his face, he was certain the former Pharaoh had plenty chances indoor to witness that softer side of him. But they were standing in the hallway of a public high school, the last place Kaiba Seto would let any paparazzi snap any scoop of him smiling non-diplomatically in the presence of his rival for their breaking news tabloid. The world should only know of Kaiba Seto and his relationship with Kaiba Corporation, not Kaiba Seto and his questionable humanity.
"How is school not boring you yet?"
A look of surprise flickered in Atemu's face at the random question but Kaiba had directed his gaze toward the classroom's closed door. Piercing blue eyes narrowed, Kaiba resisted an urgent urge to kick down the piece of wood and stood watching those fools still flattened themselves against it on the other side fell face down before his boots.
"Is that the reason you've never come back to school after Death-T?" Atemu pried indulgently. His eyes danced with laughter at the obvious truth.
Kaiba smirked and lifted his chin, "I've known what they are teaching here and more during my first year living with Gozaburo."
"Not everyone here was born natural prodigy, Kaiba." Atemu chuckled behind one hand covering his mouth.
"Not everyone was an ancient Pharaoh walking in modern day world either." The words were spoken in a forgotten language that those who could legally use it to communicate with each other were three humans and two certain Shadow Monsters. The monsters and one human was somewhere in Egypt aside, two remaining individuals were currently stood before each other, one smirking secretly and the other wide eyes in disbelief.
"Se—!"
Atemu's almost exclamation was cut short by Kaiba raised a hand to stop him. "Not here, Atemu."
Atemu opened his mouth to say something when a battle cry interrupted him, effectively but inwardly scared him out of his mind. He only had enough time to gather himself before the door banged open with Jounouchi leaped out and stationed between himself and Kaiba with a glare.
"Back off! I won't let you do anything to him!" Jounouchi threatened, shaking his fist at Kaiba, who looked utterly unimpressed.
"Uh…" Yuugi ducked his head sheepishly at Atemu's raised eyebrow aiming his way and walked over to Jounouchi, tugging the seam of the untucked shirt to get his blond friend's attention. "I don't think Kaiba-kun did anything, Jounouchi-kun…"
That made Jounouchi sputter indignantly. Atemu's confirmation nod didn't help his situation one bit. He was absolutely not looking like a knight in shining armor he had hoped to look like.
It got even worse when Kaiba sneered in a bored tone, "And what, do tell, are you expecting me to do to him?"
"You! You could… could…!" Jounouchi's bellow degraded to a muttering of gibberish that hardly resembled human language and more sounded like dog yapping that Kaiba had no remorse in pointing out for him without a blink to the last dot. The blond's enrage punch was about to hit home at Kaiba's nose if his mid-section was not being held down by Honda and Otogi. But, Atemu noted, by Kaiba's stance with his legs slightly parted the way they were, there was high chance the CEO would easily side step and kick Jounouchi at the back of his knee. That result wouldn't be all sugar and rainbows for the blond. Plus, Jounouchi was the one started it first, so… Atemu exhaled slowly and shook his head.
Now that the worshipper squad was on loose leash, Kaiba had no reason to prolong his stay. He walked pass Atemu, who turned his eyes on him. The former Pharaoh must have caught sight of movement from the corner of his eyes. Yuugi was standing within earshot so Kaiba's voice didn't come out to accompany the swift movements of his lips, but Atemu got his parting words nonetheless. It was once again spoken in their forgotten language, accompanied with Kaiba's familiar smirk, "Don't wait until Friday, Atemu."
During break time when all of them sitting around Yuugi's table to endure Jounouchi's rant about rich-bastard, pompous CEO and illegal school ground terrorist, Atemu realized something. Kaiba had said "Would you like to accompany me?" He ultimately never mentioned anything about Mokuba would come along.
Definitely a trap… Atemu let an amused chuckle slip that caught the group's attention. Because they were ignoring (Honda) while attempting to look attentive (Anzu and Otogi), eating (Ryo) or plain catnapping on Atemu's shoulder (Yuugi), none chuckling until he produced the noise.
"Atemu-kun!" Jounouchi whined, found his newest target of practice listener, "You can't be laughing at my misery, right? Right?!"
"Of course not, Jounouchi-kun. I merely remember what happened this morning. Yuugi was drooling with an interesting face when I tried waking him. He almost French kissed me." Atemu laughed and dodged Yuugi's hands flying at his mouth with a playful smirk. He deftly slipped out of his chair and walked toward the door with a wave over his shoulder. "Guess whose name I heard he moaned."
"Atemu!" Yuugi's embarrassed squeak was replied with the former Pharaoh's deep laughter soon provoked the group teasing and snicker at the shortest one's expense. None of them remembered their attempt to ask where Atemu went until he opened the door to the school's rooftop. Yuugi had the highest chance of finding him here, but the Duel King was currently unavailable.
Fishing out his phone, Atemu turned it on. He hesitated when his finger stopped at one certain number. At last, with a long sigh he tapped once to start the call. He only had to wait half a ring before the other line picked up as if the person had been expecting him.
"Good afternoon, My Pharaoh." Ishizu's melodious voice greeted his ears. There was no trace of irritation or sleepiness in her tone from being woken up very early in the morning.
Somehow her gentle voice made Atemu feel calmer facing what he was going to ask of her. His unoccupied hand gripped the fence to hold his emotions under control. "Ishizu," He started, taking a deep inhale to reinforce his determination, "Tell me about what happened to him after I left." Atemu closed his eyes, trying and falling to quiet down his rapidly beating heart. Even if she couldn't remember her past life, being a Grave Guardian and holder of the Millennium Tauk would give her the privilege to know a necessary part of that certain High Priest's history after he inherited the Pharaoh Atem's throne.
There was a long silence before Ishizu responded, "My Pharaoh, only he has the right to tell you." For he could only be who you think he is.
Breath hitched in his throat, eyes sprang wide open from hearing the unsaid, both hands tightened on the inanimate objects in their grab, "That will be all," Atemu announced eventually, "Thank you, Ishizu."
"Please be safe, My Pharaoh. I hope you have a good day." Ishizu was quiet after he echoed the sentiment but her line didn't end. She was waiting for him to hang up first.
Atemu removed the phone from his ear, trapped it between his palm and the fence by the side of his head. He knew what he wanted, but he was uncertain if he should do it. "Can you still see my destiny, Ishizu?" Atemu whispered, knowing she was still there, being patient with him.
"All living beings return home by the end of the day, My Pharaoh."
"Do I get to choose where my home is?"
"That has always been entirely up to My Pharaoh to decide."
"Why is that?"
"My Pharaoh, he who was born as the Light of Gods, has already known His answer."
"Do I?"
"You need not of my confirmation, My Pharaoh."
"What am I to do without you being there, Ishizu?" Smiling sardonically, Atemu looked up toward the sky. His throat constricted painfully and his dry eyes were aching badly. His voice had lost its strength of commanding and morphed into soft murmuring of a scared child desperately clang to the only support he had left in the world. After what Atemu had done to save his country and his people, most had forgotten he didn't get to live pass adolescence 3000 years ago to expect high experience in life from him.
"My Pharaoh," Atemu didn't see her. He didn't see Ishizu had her phone between her closed palms over her chest like a prayer, but he felt her presence closer than ever as if she was holding him from behind and whispered words only they could understand in his ears, "You are not alone."
"Isis…" He wanted to be selfish and ordered she came to Domino and stayed by his side like she once did in her previous life. But she was not only his former High Priestess now, she was also Ishizu Ishtar and having the life of what that name brought to her. Atemu forced himself to stay strong. Now being given a life without the weight of everything came from being a Pharaoh, he would continue seeing for himself what he wanted to do with it. "Thank you." He hung up and left his personal sanctuary.
Ishizu had confirmed his conclusion that Kaiba Seto had the memories of Seth within him. How could it happen Atemu had yet to come up with an explanation. But that reincarnated High Priest apparently accepted it, completely unlike before. What does he want with me? Atemu stopped on his way descending the stairs. Since when Kaiba's intention toward him played such a remarkable part? Was he underestimating the extension of his involvement with Kaiba Seto? That meant he should give both of them a chance? The moment he was certain Kaiba Seto's feeling was largely from the influence of Seth's memories, could he still walk away if only to wake the CEO up because that past was nothing but a dream?
Atop the KC Tower, a lone figure sat on his much comfort executive chair with a phone pressed in his ear despite the two lines he had been listening were long gone, leaving the screen blank for a while as he stayed motionlessly until a beeping noise disturbed him from the intercom.
"Seto-sama, Ms. Ishizu Ishtar is waiting for you on line one." His assistance dutifully informed.
Kaiba put the cellphone on his desk and picked up the cordless phone. "Kaiba Seto."
"Seto," Ishizu greeted, "How certain are you at keeping your end of our agreement?"
If he lied she would know. And he had no reason to. He could be in denial but he was far from being a liar, not any more. "I can manipulate him but I have no wish to control him."
"Don't you think you should hurry up, then? After all you of all people in this world know you are not the only one in love with him." He could practically see that infuriating smile lit her face.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Kaiba snapped in agitation. This woman was so annoying and creepy. Now he was hearing her laugher in his head. Bloody hell, did Mokuba spike his morning tea? Or he was breakfast-poisoned or… he was losing it. All of them sounded nicer than the truth she had spilled. Damn it!
"You have yet to scream at me from your other side of the world that you are not in love with him is convincing enough, Seto." Ishizu chuckled but Kaiba himself absolutely found no humor in their conversation.
A loud crashing noise from her end caused Kaiba to be instantly on alert, "Ishizu?" But he would deny it to his grave that for one second he shed an ounce of worry for her safety.
"Ah, it's nothing, Seto." Ishizu oddly sounded pleased, "Malik put another fresh egg in the microwave and he is cleaning his own mess now." In a louder tone despite she had her hand covered the speaker to volume control her voice for the sake of manner and Kaiba's ear. "Malik! Language!"
"I guess psychopathy does run in the family." Kaiba commented offhandedly, his eyes idly found the ceiling.
"So does idiocy."
"Pardon?"
"Did you hear something, Seto?"
"I think I am just received an insult."
"That must be your imagination. I only speak the truth."
"Whatever."
"Oh, I was going to warn you about something."
"I have no need to know what kind of present you want to receive on your birthday! Neither your wedding!" Kaiba groused.
"Sadly I am still single by the time you are married off." Ishizu sniffed, sounding fairly offended, "For the sake of our friendship in previous life, I am not siding with you. And Seto, I always expect my birthday present from you in due time and it can be more elaborate this year for what I am doing for you." She ended her speech with a condescending tone.
"You might be the only female in his court and look at how your own bloodline reproduced only to keep this one kind of genetic it shouldn't!"
"At least I am hardly different from how I used to look like 3000 years ago. You on the other hand had mutated into another specie!"
"Are we being particular racist today?" Kaiba sneered, standing up from his chair and made a short walk toward his couch and flopped down.
"Oh my, you are not denying it? What a sad surprise, Seto." Ishizu sighed dramatically.
Kaiba rudely scoffed.
"Will you beg for my advices in wooing your cute predecessor soon? Or I am free to help others making your love life more complicate than it already is? It has been a while since I have a chat with Yuugi-kun and Malik is always eager to give him a call just to talk about My Pharaoh's favorite food and color and His sleeping face or when He was pouting—"
Kaiba promptly threw the phone across his office. The resulting crash noise did little to ease his obnoxious headache. His personal cellphone flashed, indicating a new voice message had arrived.
"Seto, oh Seto, please do something about that temper of yours. My Pharaoh will not like seeing projectiles fly around whenever you throw a tantrum."
How did that psycho woman get her hands on this number? Only Mokuba and Atemu knew it, damn it!
TBC
Hello again, thank you for reading this far of my story. And if you don't mind small talks, here is my point of view.
There is a very huge different between Kaiba Seto in original and English dub. In Japanese version he is much more accepting toward the "magic" happened around Yuugi. And of course, the parts indicating he is "darker" than Priest Seth were all censored in dubbed version, that led to many people assumed the Priest is a Yami is completely wrong (he didn't even appear as Kaiba Seto's darker half to begin with). And just because Priest Seth has darker skin tone doesn't immediately make him a Dark/Yami Seto, in my opinion. I have never considered Atem is a Yami also. If my memory is right, the author himself once stated that he is a Light. And if you think Yuugi is "innocent", you may want to watch the first part of the manga/anime again, where he received adult videos/magazines from Jounouchi/Joey, and no innocent boy stared at your childhood girl friend in bikini and commented "kawaii~" in his head, or got jealous with a baby when said baby touched her boobs during Death-T arc.
