Yugi woke up with a groan. School started today and that meant he had to go back to Ushio and all the other bullies. Summer was gone and he would not have the freedom he did to enjoy the day. Carpe diem, as the books he had read put it. He got up and looked around his room. It was small, but he was not big, and all the shelves were filled with books, games, puzzles, and gaming magazines. Each book he had read was in the shelves, and that was quite a few. The topics ranged from fantasy to mathematics, his best subject, and to mythology with some historical fiction. Yugi found his uniform, dressed in it then headed downstairs.
His granfather, Sugoroku Motou, had breakfast ready on the table for the teen. Sugoroku smiled as his grandson ate the eggs and bacon on his plate. He hoped that Yugi would have a good year at school; it did not seem fair that such a sweet boy like his grandson was lonely. Not to mention bullied constantly, although Yugi did not tell him. Yugi inhaled his juice and waved goodbye to his grandfather.
Yugi left the Kame Game Shop, as the Motous lived in it, and Sugoroku could not help the heavy sigh that escaped his mouth. Yugi had so much love to give, yet Sugoroku knew the boy still had trouble with people. He felt glad that his grandson started to see himself more worthwhile than what he believed himself to be. He just hoped the young one found some friends to help him.
Yugi glanced behind him. He could feel Ushio's glare. The teachers were briefing the students on new rules or whatever, but Yugi was determined to run for his life as soon as the bell rang. He did not want any more contact with Ushio than the terrible ruffing up he had that morning in the bathroom with the bear size man. Yugi looked to his left and saw another unpleasant face: Seto Kaiba. The teen never was on friendly terms with Yugi, or anyone by that matter, but since Yugi beat him in a Duel Monsters game after the psycho gave his grandfather a heart attack, it made sense that the undefeated Kaiba would be upset about losing to a little nobody with a second hand deck. Yugi scowled (pouted) at Kaiba, he would not let that man intimidate him. Ushio had not broken him and neither would Kaiba.
Although, Yugi thought as he lowered his head, I would like to have someone by my side, a friend. One who won't betray me. One who won't abandon me and fight back with me. I want that.
Yugi looked up in time to see two of his peers entwine their hands together. They smiled, and the girl blushed lightly as the boy fiddled with her fingers.
Maybe…someone who'll love me too.
Yugi lowered his head. At least he was not a nobody anymore. Winning Duelist Kingdom and defeating Kaiba ensured that to a point.
Atem pulled at his hair. His desk was full of papers and he was sick of looking at them. He decided to turn in for the day. He went to his chambers and drudged himself on his large bed. He wrapped the silk red sheets around him until he was encased in them.
Drifting, Atem shot up and untangled himself. How could he forget?
On his nightstand was a silver picture frame, with amethyst jewels incrusted in the lining. The picture it held was a drawing of a little boy, that looked like Atem, but with softer features than when the King was that age. He grabbed the picture and held it to his heart.
"I apologize, Little One, but it has been a long few days. Our kingdom is almost like the old days, before the war with Zorc, but there is always work to be done," he breathed and continued, "Little One, it is getting harder to do this. I never knew your name and you called me "Yami," but I fell in love with you. I wish you were here Little One."
Atem felt his lip quiver, he stopped it quickly before looking at the drawing again.
"I will tell you what I do every night: be strong, for you have courage. Be kind, because you are. Be safe, because the world needs light. And finally, become a good man, because I believe you will."
Atem put the picture back. He chuckled solemnly, it had been eight years since that Halloween, and the boy would be a teenager by now. Atem wondered if he had suitors or girls swooning after him by now, the boy he knew with conviction would definitely be a beauty.
He lay back in the bed, remembering to remove his shoes this time.
He tried to find his Little One the next chance he came to the human world withouth any obligations, the first problem was remembering the city of Japan he had been in and then hoping the boy was not dead. It took a year for him to find the right place since the portals were still sporadic. When he did find the apartment building again, he saw that the Motou family had left. Atem could not afford a search for the boy because no one knew he was even looking. Seth was right about the boy not being able to come with them for being a human, and sadly his best friend Jono agreed, even though he did want to rip the people's head for starving a child. Atem had no choice but to let it go; he had a kingdom to run and the boy could never survive the Shadow Realms harsh magic without severe pain to his soul.
Atem sighed. He wished he could see his Little One happy, but he settled with the smiling face he saw sleeping on those red sheets eight years ago.