Wow, I am easy to get to update. I would like to say thanks to CrimsonStrawberry17 for reviewing this, I love you for that! Really made my day! Anyway, that's probably not what you lot care about.
So, on with chapter two and I'm not putting in a disclaimer because I think people will get bored with me doing that.
Atemu watched as his brother left the store, followed by the rather tall blonde who acted like some kind of overactive puppy trying to protect it's master without the capability to do any such thing. He was as confusing as the rest of this place and things hadn't become any saner the further into this world he went. The lights, the weather, the time all seemed to be out of proportion. There were huge signs everywhere but what they were actually for Atemu did not know. There were tall posts that were bent over the roads at the top with a clear casing of glass showing a strange bulb like growth was alien to Atemu, barely any of them being seen during the short, surprising drive through the streets of Cairo to the airport. None of these things existed in New Thebes and none of them ever would. They were a part of this world, a world that Atemu desperately wanted to be a part of, but he would always be a part of the world that he had left behind. A world with its own language, its own thoughts and its own ideals that were considered outdated and old-fashioned by this world.
Atemu sighed and turned away from the window and tried to ignore the nagging feeling that, besides his Grandfather, he was not wanted here. The frosty silence by Yugi had not been lost on him in the warm airport, even through his fear and confusion of the place he was entering. Then again the confusion had only started the moment they hit Cairo, the fear growing on the thought that his father had sent him to fly, a thing Atemu had only thought possible with the help of a Ka, to Japan in a huge metal tube which looked far too heavy and robust to even get off the ground. He had spent the rest of the flight convinced that the tube he was now inside would plummet to the earth, the weight being too much. Five hours on a plane had been far too much for Atemu and the thought of having to repeat the experience was not a pleasant one.
Atemu puffed out another breath and surveyed his room with interest. The room he had left behind in Egypt was nothing like this. It had been huge, triple the size of this one, but bare, filled with nothing but the four-poster bed and a small table in which sat a washing bowl, and underneath, a bowl for which was used for if you were in need of the toilet. The room here was much smaller but Atemu found that he preferred it that way. While the bed was not a huge four-poster bed covered in silk sheets, it was covered in a soft duvet, and was situated by the window so that Atemu could easily look out over the street outside. The walls were painted a soft gold, a much nicer colour than the bare stones of the palace back home. They were even covered with a few pieces of paper with coloured pictures, although how they were so accurate was something else that was lost on Atemu. He might know the language of this place but everything, even the clothes, baffled him as much as he tried not to show it.
He was thankful however, to his Grandfather. He had been kind and understanding of his reaction to this strange new world and had welcomed Atemu here, helping him get past the initial shock that clean water could run through small tubes (pipes as his grandfather had called them) without the need to have someone purify and cleanse the water before it could be bathed in. In fact it was a novelty that it could even be drunk to Atemu. Even so, Atemu had been unaware that his Grandfather even spoke his native tongue which made him remember his earlier slip of the tongue. Then again his father didn't even know that he knew those words so he wasn't truly bothered (he was sure that if his father did then he would be flogged. Again.)
The door suddenly opened and his grandfather entered. For such a short and stoat man he could move surprisingly quickly. "I was wondering if you needed any help unpacking," he said, the old eyes twinkling with a spark of mischief and happiness. Atemu smiled and shook his head.
"I'm fine. There wasn't much that I could bring in the first place." Solomon Motou nodded his head and retreated out of the room as Atemu moved towards the bag that had been packed before he even knew that he was leaving. The clothes were strange to him but he knew that he couldn't wear his ordinary clothes as they were too inconspicuous. In fact it had been all been his father's idea in the first place to leave. Atemu had wondered at this for a moment before casting the thought aside. If his father wanted him to leave the country then there was a perfectly good reason for this, one which probably involved his uncle. It always did.
Atemu could pinpoint many times in his young life that he had been told that they were leaving to go somewhere else. The Oasis of Osiris had been one and when they had returned the palace looked as if someone had laid siege to it. A pilgrimage to the Valley of the Kings (the obscure corner of course) had been another, returning to see a political battle bring fought within the council rooms. Atemu was not scared of many things, but when it came to his father telling him to leave he knew that the reason would be in preserving his life. There had been more assassins than Atemu cared to count for and he hoped that there would not be a kind of modern assassin waiting for him round the next corner. Unlike Egypt, most of which he knew quite well from many visits all over (only to the traditional or small villages and towns), Japan was wide open and there was only a very small part that he knew, if any. He had not been to Domino for nearly ten years and now he had been forced to leave the country which meant that something dreadful was about to happen. Something that needed the heirs of the country to be far away from the brewing fight that would break out back home. And that made Atemu fear for both his brother's safety as well as for his own life.
It had seemed almost unearthly when his father had told him. In fact it had only been last night, as he was about to fall asleep. I'm sending you away to Japan. You need to learn about other cultures, not just our own. Atemu had not missed the catch in his father's voice nor the longing. You'll be staying with your brother. Keep safe. Atemu's fingers subconsciously lifted to where his father's had brushed his cheek, something that was unknown for Akhnankhamun to do. He was well known as a hard cold man who was not a very 'huggy' person although it was well known that his love for his son knew no bounds.
Something flashed underneath the window outside. Atemu blinked and turned to see what had happened but on seeing nothing turned back, one eye kept on the window. Years of living under threat, both playfully and criminally, had taught him how to make it look as if he were busy concentrating on something whilst keenly watching the area where the enemy had given themselves away. A tanned hand reached out for the latch on the window and Atemu felt a smirk fall into place on his face. He carefully stood beside the window, making sure to keep out of sight of the intruder. There was a click as whoever it was managed to unlock the window from the outside (even though the lock was inside the room) and the slim form of a boy his own age slipped into the room. Atemu didn't let the boy see him but the moment he passed by the darkened corner he swung an arm out, grabbing the boy and pinning him to the wall.
A tumble of fluent swearing erupted from the boy, both in Japanese and Atemu's home language, as he struggled to free himself but Atemu didn't loosen his grip. The smirk never left his face but he contained the laughter that was bubbling up inside him. This was actually a pretty normal circumstance back home (when this boy was actually back home) and the result was the same every time.
"You know Bakura," Atemu said, "I thought we were past all these childish games."
Yugi was having a great time. He was in the arcade with his best friend, he was winning and his brother wasn't around to annoy him. He felt a little guilty for leaving Grandpa with the annoying brat but he didn't feel anything towards Atemu, who found the whole of Japan practically alien. Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end eventually and Yugi had promised to be home every night before eight o'clock.
"So," Joey said as they made their way back to the Game store, "what's your brother like?"
"Don't know," Yugi said shortly. "Don't care. Probably snobby and annoying."
"How'd you figure that?" Joey was looking at him with surprise. Normally Yugi was a very friendly and open person but the moment his brother had been brought into the conversation his mood had turned hostile.
"Well, let's think. He's been living in luxury for the past ten years with our father while I and Grandpa have had to scrape through life, trying to avoid eviction by Kaiba Corp. Oh, and let's not forget that he didn't bother turning up to our mother's funeral, nor did he bother to even write a letter in those ten years! I practically didn't have a brother for ten years of my life and now he thinks he can just walk into my life like we've never been apart!" Yugi's voice had risen as he ranted and Joey's face darkened at the mention of everything that Atemu had done.
"Ok, I could understand living the lap of luxury but no one forgets that they have a brother. Especially not one as awesome as you, Yug'. He's messed up." Yugi sighed and trudged on in silence, knowing that he would be forced to hold a conversation with him at some point.
The walk from the arcade wasn't long and soon Yugi and Joey were standing outside the Game store. Yugi had made sure to invite Joey to stay at least for dinner just so he could ignore Atemu for that little bit longer but the store was empty and no one was in sight. This wasn't unusual since the store shut at six but the sound of laughter and shouting that was coming from the living area above the shop was unusual. Yugi looked at Joey who looked just as stumped as he felt. Who could Atemu have met already and laugh like they were friends?
Yugi found himself walking up the stairs in trepidation, wondering what he would find on the other side. Tristan come round for a surprise game night? Kaiba come to evict them only to find a friend in Atemu? Or even, god forbid, Tea had come in and instantly started crushing on his brother? Yugi reached for the door, his hand shaking and was about to open it when he realised two things: one, neither of the two boys on the other side of the door were speaking Japanese, and two, that the second voice was a terrifyingly familiar voice. He turned to look at Joey who looked a little green. Of all the people that Atemu had to be friends with, why did it have to be him?
"Maybe we should come back later?" Yugi whispered. Joey shook his head.
"Gramps'll kill you," he whispered back. "Better to get it over with." Yugi bit his lip but knew that Joey was right. Screwing all his courage together he pushed the door to the living space open and walked in to find his brother and the one and only Bakura sprawled across the couch, a game of Dual Monsters between them. Surprisingly, Atemu looked as if he were creaming Bakura easily.
Both boys looked up as the door opened and Bakura raised an eyebrow when Joey walked in after them. Atemu's face was blank, nothing showing on his face, eyes watching Joey cautiously. Bakura looked like he usually did, tanned skin, white messy hair to just past his shoulders, the scar from who knows what standing out on his face as it did every time that he dared look at Bakura. And of course, he was wearing the usual evil smirk as he leaned back and looked at them upside down.
"Oh, look," he drawled, "the little pipsqueak has come home." Atemu's reaction to this was to kick Bakura in a rather delicate area, at which point he let out a yelp and curled into a ball, muttering profanities under his breath.
"Ignore him," Atemu said. "He's an idiot most days."
"You… know each other?" Yugi said faintly, his mind reaching back to the day of the comatose fight. He wondered how Atemu could get away with hitting Bakura and not ending up dead.
"Strangely enough, yes," Atemu said, returning his eyes to the hand of cards in front of them. "It's your move Bakura."
"You win. I'm bored of this game," Bakura snapped, jumping up from the couch and stretching in the same cat-like way that Atemu had earlier. Yugi realised that there several similarities between Bakura and Atemu. Neither would have looked imposing if you didn't know that both were capable of decking someone three times their size, both moved with an almost cat-like grace and both were pretty much anti-social (in Yugi's opinion). And yet there was still the rough, unrefined look to the way that Bakura moved to the way that Atemu did, showing that they both came from completely different backgrounds and yet they seemed to be close friends. Yugi wondered how that could be.
At that point however Grandpa walked in the room and noticed the four of them standing in the living room, looking at each other warily.
"Ah, Yugi! Your home! I was wondering if I was going to have to send a search party looking for you! Staying Joey?" Grandpa was used to Joey just randomly staying for dinner. It normally happened once a week, sometimes even more and since Joey was a bottomless pit, they were stocked with plenty of food.
"Sure thing Gramps!" Joey said with a grin. Bakura scowled at the level of noise but said nothing. Grandpa just grinned.
"I thought so. Good thing I made enough for five!" And with that, he disappeared back into the kitchen. Yugi felt his stomach drop. Five? They were sharing dinner with Bakura? They were so dead.
Joey must have been going along the same thoughts as he sent a glance back to Bakura who just grinned maliciously. Joey opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Atemu.
"Just leave it, the pair of you." There was no room for argument in Atemu's tone and his crimson eyes seemed to pierce right through both Joey and Bakura. Joey flinched and Bakura scowled again but neither said a word. Atemu turned back to the book that he must have been reading before they walked in and silence reigned until Grandpa called them in for dinner.
Dinner was… interesting. Atemu seemed to just be enjoying the food and the sense of being somewhere other than his home, Bakura was digging into the steak as if it were the last thing he would ever eat and Joey seemed to be competing with him as to who could eat the fastest. Grandpa just looked as if he were laughing at them on the inside. Yugi didn't eat much himself. He was too distracted by the fact that he was eating dinner with Bakura of all people. How on earth did he and Atemu know each other?
"You got a problem pipsqueak?" Bakura growled, looking up from his meal as if he had only just noticed the fact that Yugi had been staring at him.
"N-Not really," Yugi stammered. "I was just wondering how you knew Atemu." Bakura gave him a long look that was almost incredulous and then turned and said something in that strange language to Atemu. Atemu was just frowning, a look of either confusion or anger crossing his face. Perhaps both.
"Your dad was the one who sent me to this goddamned place," Bakura snapped in the end. Yugi blinked. He had? But why?
"Don't worry. He's never here for the summer. We get stuck with him instead," Atemu said quietly, suddenly no longer interested in his dinner. "I'm going to bed." He suddenly got up from the table and strode out of the room. A moment later a door slammed upstairs. Bakura just raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm not staying to deal with the fallout of that discussion," he said, his eye still watching the door warily, as if expecting Atemu to come back and throttle him.
"Great," Yugi muttered. Bakura shot him a look.
"You know, as much as I would love to watch your friend get beaten to a pulp, he's not angry at you. More like, your dad should be watching his back for the next few weeks. That is, if he's not already dead." Yugi stared at Bakura, his mouth hanging open. Grandpa looked up sharply and sent Bakura a long stare. Joey just looked shocked.
"What?" Yugi shouted, wondering what on earth Bakura could mean. Bakura just raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't know? Your dad is one of the most secretive people I know but I thought that even he wouldn't be pea-brained enough to not keep you in touch with what's going on," Bakura said, idly leaning back in his chair, a malicious smirk on his face.
"This has nothing to do with Yugi. Akhnankhamun promised," Grandpa said quietly. "I would have thought that even you would know that Bakura." Bakura snorted and shook his head, standing.
"Personally I'd give the old bastard a week, if that. Akhnadin's no longer his biggest problem." With that Bakura stalked to the door and left, but not before sending Yugi another malicious smirk and shouting "Later dead-meat!"
Yugi turned to his grandfather feeling utterly confused. What was going on that even Bakura knew yet he didn't? Why wasn't he allowed to know? And who on earth was Akhnadin and Akhnankhamun?
"Grandpa! What's going on?" Yugi cried, turning to look desperately at his grandfather. Grandpa just looked at Yugi gravely and gathered up the dirty plates.
"Nothing you need concern yourself about Yugi. Nothing at all."
You guys should be honored, these are some of the longest chapters that I've ever written. i only ever write long chapters of the story's going to be short or a one-shot but this isn't anywhere near finishing! If your wondering why this was able to be updated quickly was because I've had several chapters of this already written before I even posted it. These aren't the best chapters although I must admit, I do enjoy writing Bakura's character.
So, things to look forward to: Game's night, answers and questions and very soon, Yugi and Atem's arrest. Bye now!