Chapter 2: Homecoming

July 2003

Atem was released from the hospital in July. Hali arrived that moring and stood in the doorway as Atem dressed with his back turned toward her. He was in pants and nothing else. He hunched over suddenly, clutching his stomach, giving a small cry of pain.

"Atem?" Hali asked, hurrying over. She put a hand on his back. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just feels like someone's stabbing me. I'll be fine in a minute." Atem panted. After a few minutes, he straightened up. "That's better."

"Let's get you dressed." Hali reached over and grabbed his black tank top. "Come on, you know you want to." She said coyly.

"You're right." Atem pulled her to him, kissing her.

Hali pulled back. "You need to take it easy, honey. You just got out of the hospital."

A nurse came with a wheelchair. "Time to go home."

Atem pulled the tank top on and groaned. "Come on, I can walk."

"Hospital policy. As soon as you get to the car, you can do what you want, just do what the doctor advises." The nurse gestures to the wheelchair.

Atem sighed and sat down. "Can I wheel myself out?" he asked.

"Actually, I was-" Hali stopped as Atem glared up at her. "Just about to kiss you."

Atem scowled at her, but let her kiss him. "Where's Yugi and the others?" he asked, wheeling himself out of the room.

"They're at home. You'll see them." Hali followed him down to the entrance. She got the car and brought it to the curb. "Need help?" she asked, getting out of the car.

"No, I can handle it." Atem stood while Hali opened the car door. Atem plopped onto the seat, hissing in pain. "That was a bad idea." He muttered.

Hali returned and drove him to the Game Shop. "Welcome home!" everyone cried, converging on him. They took turns hugging or high-fiving him except for Seto, who was absent.

"Let him sit down." Hali laughed, when she saw Atem was exhausted.

The group parted and Atem sat down on the couch. "I think I'll take a nap." Atem tucked his legs on the couch and laid down.

"Actually, we want to show you something before you take a nap." Hailey smiled whne Atem groaned and sat up. "Don't worry, you'll like it and you'll be able to sleep on something more comfortable."

"I think it should be us." Hali said, as the group started to follow her and Atem.

"Aw, but I want to see his reaction." Joey complained.

"It's okay, they can come, too." Atem nodded. The procession made its way slowly upstairs behind Atem.

"Stay right there and close your eyes. We'll guide you in." Yugi took Atem's arm as Atem closed his eyes. Hali took his other arm.

"You smell good." Atem smiled, eyes still closed.

"You better be talking about Hali." Yugi muttered, and Atem's smile widened.

Joey opened Yugi's bedroom door as Hali and Yugi guided Atem into the room. "Okay, open your eyes."

Atem opened his eyes. Next to Yugi's bed was another bed with a black and red striped comforter and matching pillows. "Is this where I'll sleep?" he asked, turning to Yugi.

"Welcome home Atem" Yugi went over to the dresser. "The top three drawers are yours. We already went shopping for you, except your pants are a little longer. That nightstand is yours. Thank Hailey's aunt and uncle. Everyone got similar things."

Atem hugged Hailey. "I'll have to thank them when I see them." Atem caught the jealous look on Yugi's face and laughed. "No way!" he exclaimed.

"No way, what?" Yugi asked, trying to look innocent.

"You two are dating!" Atem accused, eyes lighting up.

"You win." Joshia groaned, handing Joey a five.

"Nice doing business with you." Joey grinned.

"Yeah, we're dating." Hailey admitted, blushing.

"That's awesome." Atem grinned.

"Get some rest." Hali pulled back the coveres, revealing a matching sheet set. The others left.

"Only if you stay with me." Atem climbed in bed, resting his head against the pillows.

"You know we can't have sex, right?" Hali asked, climbing into bed with him.

"I know. I'm too tired anyway." Atem pulled her close, his arms around her. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Both fell asleep.

Hali woke up because of a shout. She realized it had come from Atem, who was lying splayed out beside her, his arm trapped under her. "No!" he shouted again, clearly in the throws of a nightmare.

Hali rolled toward him and shook his shoulder. "Atem wake up!" She said urgently.

With another shout, Atem jerked awake, panting like he'd run a mile. Yugi hurried in the room. "Who was shouting?" he demanded.

"Atem was. What was the nightmare about?" Hali asked, as Atem sat up.

"It's nothing." Atem looked away.

Hali put her hands on his face and turned it toward her. He avoided her eyes. "You're lying. What is it? You can tell us." She said, as Yugi sat down on the bed. Tears were in Atem's eyes.

Atem sighed, looking at them finally. "I was reliving losing Yugi to the Orichalcos." He whispered.

"Atem…" Hali hugged him. "How often have you had this nightmare?" she asked.

"Almost every night since I got back." Atem admitted, embarrassed. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"You didn't bother us, you worried us. We thought you were hurt. Go back to sleep." Hali encouraged, patting the back of his head.

"If I can." Atem laid back down and was quickly asleep. Hali and Yugi went downstairs.

"Seth?" Seto looked at Seth over his dinner. Seth looked up, surprised. "I want you in my office, dressed nice tomorrow at eight a.m. sharp."

"Why?" Seth asked.

"Just do it." Seto snapped. "And don't tell him, Mokuba."

"Yes, Seto." Mokuba chirped. "Oh, aren't the applicants for the secretary position coming tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah, Mokuba." Seto gave him a warning look.

"I'm not applying for the secretary position. I don't look good in skirts." Seth made a face.

"I wouldn't give you that job if you paid me." Seto answered coolly. "Fine, if you must know, you're applying for another job."

"You're giving me a job?" Seth asked, surprised.

"No, I'm giving yhou a chance to get a job. Big difference." Seto answered, rolling his eyes.

"Thank you." Seth smiled at Seto. Seto's responding smile was more of a grimace.

"If you get the job, you can pick out your secretary. That's why I asked them to come in. Just in case you got hired. You'd be starting tomorrow." Seto explained.

"I'll be there." Seth nodded.

"You look awesome, Seth." Mokuba complimented from the doorway the next morning.

"Thanks, Mokuba." Seth gave Mokuba a high-five. "Wish me luck." Seth was wearing a dark blue suit with a tie.

"Good luck." Mokuba followed Seth out of the room and watched him drive off.

"Mr. Kaiba? Mr Kaiba's here." Seto's secretary announced over the speaker phone.

"Send him in." Seto told her.

Seth entered the office. "Am I late?" he asked nervously.

"No, you're early. Sit down." Seto gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

Seth sat down. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity." He said, as Seto wrote something down.

"No problem. Here's what I'm offering." Seto slid the paper across the table.

"Is that a month?" Seth asked about the pay, eyes wide.

Seto nodded. "And below is your benefits."

"Wow, how can I say no?" Seth smiled. "I'll take it."

"Good. Eventually, you can get as far as president. I'm the CEO now." Seto got up. "Do you want to see your office?"

"Yeah." Seth followed him down the hall to an office. It had just a desk, chairs, phone, and couch. "Wow, I was expecting more."

"Decorate it how you want. We're bringing a computer in in an hour." Seto told him. "Oh, you must be here for the secretary position." Seto said, glancing over Seth's shoulder.

Seth turned and his eyes widened. The young woman had long white hair pulled in a half ponytail, the rest cascading down her back. Her dark blue skirt suit matched her eyes. "Hi, I'm Kisara Lucas. You must be Mr. Kaiba." She held out her hand.

"Call me Seth." Seth recovered quickly, shaking her hand. "Sit, and we'll get the interview started."

Seto slipped out as Kisara sat down. Seth sat behind his desk. "So, why should I hire you?"

"I type eighty words a minute, I have people skills and-" Kisara stopped as the phone rang. She stood up and answered the phone. "Seth Kaiba's office, how may I help you? Just one moment. It's for you." Kisara held the phone out to him.

Seth took the phone. "Hello? Hi, Mokuba. I'm kinda in the middle of something. I'll tell you when I get home. Bye." Seth hung up. "I like coffee black with two sugars."

"Huh?" Kisara asked blankly.

"As my secretary, you'll need to know that." Seth gave her a smile.

Kisara returned the smile. "I got the job?"

Seth nodded. "Congratulations, Ms. Lucas. When can you start?"

"Whenever." Kisara nodded eagerly.

"Go down to PR and get set up. I'll arrange for it. Then get us coffees." Seth handed her a twenty.

"Us?" Kisara asked, confused.

"You do drink coffee, don't you?" Seth asked.

"I do, thank you, sir." Kisara hurried off.

Seth leaned back in his chair with a smile.

"What are you smiling about?" Seto asked, appearing in the doorway.

"Thank you for the job. Kisara's starting this morning." Seth told him.

"So you're on first name basis?" Seto seemed amused by the idea.

"No, she'll call me sir or Mr. Kaiba." Seth answered with a shrug.

"Okay, get back to work." Seto said gruffly and left.

Seth shook his head.

Seth called Kisara into his office one afternoon. "Kisara, I was wondering if you want to have dinner with me Tonight."

"As in a date?" Kisara asked.

"Yeah. A date."

"Yeah, sure." Kisara nodded.

"I'll pick you up at seven." Seth smiled. Kisara smiled back.

The limo pulled up in front of Kisara's parents' two story house about a mile from the mansion. Seth got out of the limo and went to the front door.

"Mr. Kaiba!" Kisara's mother greeted, hugging him to his surprise. "'Sara's told us so much about you. How you're a great boss and everything." She gushed.

"She really said that?" Seth couldn't help but blush. Then he spotted Kisara coming down the stairs in a white sequined dress. "Wow."

"Thanks." Kisara blushed. "I'll be back by eleven." She promised her mom, giving the older woman's cheek a kiss.

"Is that a limo?" her mom asked, looking around Seth.

"Yeah I borrowed it from my boss." Seth smiled sheepishly.

"Have a good time!" her mom called as Seth led Kisara to the limo. Kisara waved back. They got in the limo.

"Where are we going?" Kisara asked as the limo drove off.

"It's a surprise." Seth said mysteriously.

The limo stopped at an expensive restaurant. "How in the world did you get a reservation here?" Kisara asked. "It's almost impossible.

"Almost." Seth grinned down at her as he helped her out of the limo. "Just flash the Kaiba name around and you can get on easily."

Seth gave the name Kaiba at the host podium and they were immediately led to a table by the window overlooking the pier. They ordered and drank their sodas. "So tell me about yourself, Mr. Kaiba." Kisara asked.

"Call me Seth when we're not at work. Well, I've got two cousins I'm really close to. I love Chinese food. I was an Egyptian priest, I-"

"You were a what?" Kisara yelped in surprise.

"Yeah, I lived in Ancient Egypt and I was a priest." Seth answered seriously.

"Really? So how old are you?" Kisara asked.

"Sixteen." Seth answered. "Can you handle that?'

"Yeah, I've dealt with worse." Kisara nodded.

"Worse?" Seth asked.

"One turned out to be a drug dealer." Kisara answered seriously.

"Wow. Mine is better." Seth smiled. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?"

"No, but thank you." Kisara smiled back.

They ate and Seth paid for their check. As Seth dropped her off, she said, "I had a really great time. We have to do this again."

"I agree." Seth pulled her close and planted a tender kiss on her lips. "I'll see you in the morning."

"See you then." Kisara went insid and Seth got in the limo. The whole way home, he had a huge grin on his face.