2. An Enigmatic Entrepreneur

Atem and Yugi entered the Marrakesh Domino in a little bit of a hurry. "Did you really need to spend so much time dressing?" Yugi asked. "You know this restaurant doesn't hold reservations."

"It's only lunch," Atem said.

"It's only lunch at the trendiest new restaurant in Domino when we have a movie planned after. This is your 'birthday,' remember?"

Right, it's the anniversary of the day that I won the duel with Yugi and got my own body. "How can I forget?"

But they were in front of the maître 'd now.

"Reservations for Motou," Yugi said.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir, you're over ten minutes late and we had to give the reservation to another party. You have the option to wait," he said, waiving toward a crowded couch. "We estimate a wait time of approximately one hour and fifteen minutes."

Yugi shot Atem an annoyed look, and said, "Well, what do you think? You're the one who loves Moroccan food."

But before Atem could say anything, an almost-familiar voice called, "Hey, Yugi! Are you doing something special, or can you join us?"

Yugi's head swiveled and he breathed "Thank Ra," under his breath, then called, "Damn, you've grown! Sure, we'll join you, Mokuba."

Atem followed Yugi's line of sight and, sure enough, it was a taller version of Mokuba. He still had the heavy mane of dark hair and was still cute as a button. "C'mon," he said, "I'll take you where we're sitting. We didn't have reservations, but they recognized us and let us right in. Thank goodness for money."

Yugi shot Atem another meaningful look as they headed toward the secluded corner where the Kaibas had been seated.

"So your brother's here?" Atem asked, partly as a means of deflecting the conversation away from his tardiness.

"Of course. He's just outside talking to some people about business … as usual. I'm glad you're here. It gives me someone to talk to while he's on the phone."

They ordered drinks and meals, Mokuba ordering for Seto, and settled back. "So you're celebrating, huh?" asked Mokuba.

"Yeah, it's been five years now since Egypt."

"I guess it has been a long time. And you took the surname …"

"Ishtar," Atem affirmed. "That worked out best. Even though I look a lot like Yugi's twin, in a lot of ways, it makes more sense. Plus, it allowed me to work out the legal issues more easily, especially with the help of Ishizu's influence."

"Oh, right. And you've been dueling?"

"Don't you keep up on that?" asked Yugi. "I've been dueling, mainly to defend Atem's …" he glanced at Atem, then amended, "OK, our title. Plus, Grandpa likes the publicity it gives the game shop. Atem … well, it's too confusing if we both duel since we look so much alike, plus he really needs a more important reason to duel. We've both been doing some consulting work for Otogi, and also helping out with the game shop. I would have thought you would have known I was dueling."

"Seto probably would, but I don't follow dueling tournaments closely any more." Mokuba looked like he was about to go on, but the mood of the restaurant suddenly underwent a drastic change, and they all looked up toward the door.

The source of the change was Kaiba Seto, who had swept through the doors and was swiftly striding through the restaurant toward them. Atem took the opportunity to size him up. It was almost reflex, their rivalry so ingrained in him. Was Kaiba even taller now? That was annoying. Seto's eyes were still that amazing midnight blue and still held the same piercing intelligence.

And Kaiba still knew how to dress to impress, Atem thought, even when dressing more conservatively. He was wearing a flawless white business suit with a hint of sheen, a soft, black shirt with a high collar and white silk tie with understated glossy white-on-white striping. It was only as Kaiba came closer that Atem noticed that the suit had sharp, almost-invisible platinum pinstripes. As always, the suit tailored so elegantly and the one who wore it carried himself with such assurance that one could almost feel the room holding its collective breath as he passed by. From all outward appearances, it didn't seem like he'd changed all that much, but Atem nevertheless felt as though he detected something was different about Kaiba as he strode smoothly toward them. No, there was still the arrogance, the reserve, but where was … something … decidedly different about him.

Was it in his expression? Atem studied Kaiba's face. Wasn't it still an expressionless mask, just as he'd remembered it? Or … was it just a little more relaxed somehow? Even … no, there was some indecipherable emotion bubbling just below that impenetrable surface. Atem glanced sidelong at Mokuba's face and saw that it was shining with love and pride. There was no longer that hint of worry lurking underneath his adoration.

Kaiba noticed guests sitting at his table, caught Yugi's eye, and inclined his head. Mokuba waved enthusiastically at his brother for no apparent reason. Kaiba smiled indulgently as he closed the remaining distance between the door and their table.

"Hi, Nii-sama," he said. "I hope you don't mind. I saw Yugi and Atem here and I invited them to eat with us."

Kaiba favored them with a warm smile. "Of course not. I've been meaning to look you up," he said, seating himself. "I hope you've ordered."

"You look well," Atem said. Kaiba … smiling …?

"Yugi," Kaiba said. "Other Yugi, that is. I hope you'll pardon my confusion, but I thought you had gone on to the great beyond or some other such supernatural goings on … I'd still rather not think about it. I don't even like to think there's two of you now." He had stopped smiling as a slightly unhappy expression flitted across his handsome features before they settled back into a more familiar expressionless mask.

Atem reflected that he rather liked the way Kaiba pronounced Yugi, almost hating to correct him, but said, "You can call me Atem now that I have my memory back … thanks partly to you. I'm to live a natural life now. So we don't have to discuss supernatural things any longer unless you want to. The sennen items are gone."

"That's a relief."

"To us as well."

"So how long have you been back in Domino?" asked Yugi, leaving Atem to marvel at how changed and unchanged his old rival was.

"We've actually been back a month already," said Mokuba. "We've just been so busy that we haven't had time to see anybody but KaibaCorp employees yet."

"You would have known we were back if you read the business news," Kaiba offered.

"Or the gossip items," Mokuba added with a giggle. Kaiba shot him an irritated look, but he only said, "I can't help it if they're interested in you." He leaned over the table confidentially toward Yugi and Atem. "He was named America's most eligible millionaire … even though he's a billionaire. I guess they don't have a separate category for billionaires."

"Mokuba!"

He put up his hands defensively. "Hey, I didn't make them write the articles!"

"As I said, I did want to get in touch," Kaiba said, seriously. "It's that I wanted to take sufficient time and I haven't had any."

"Seriously. I have to force Nii-sama to get some rest."

"I'd like to—"

As if on cue, they heard a soft buzz and Seto stood and reached into his pocket. "Excuse me," he said, and strode out, speaking softly but urgently into the phone.

"It's been like that nonstop," Mokuba said. "I had to force him to come out here. I really wanted to try this place."

They had already been served and had dug in at Mokuba's insistence when Kaiba finally reappeared, looking extremely annoyed. "I'm sorry, Mokuba," he said. "An emergency has come up."

Mokuba groaned. "You promised me a real lunch."

"I'll just have to make it up to you." He strode off and immediately pulled over a waiter for a short discussion, then began speaking softly on his cell phone again.

Mokuba gave Yugi and Atem an apologetic smile as he got up. "Gee, I'm sorry about all this. I really wanted to catch up and it looks like it's going to have to wait." With that, he turned to run after his brother. It was such a familiar sight that Yugi had to suppress his laughter.

"Some things never change," he said.

The two were so involved in their own exchange that they didn't notice Kaiba returning. He bent down for a moment and said softly into Atem's ear, "Thank you, Atem. I never thanked you properly, and I've been meaning to for some time." With that, he turned and strode out.

Atem stared after him, wondering exactly what he meant, then suddenly groaned and slapped his hand to his forehead. "Great Isis, the bill!" Those two clearly didn't even bother looking at the prices of what they had ordered.

Yugi couldn't stand it any longer and burst out laughing. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure we can handle one restaurant bill, even if it's a big one."

"And Kaiba didn't even take a bite of that." He looked at Seto's plate. The dish looked delectable. "What did he order, anyway? Too bad. No wonder he's so slender."

Their waiter turned up and started boxing the Kaibas' meals.

"What are you doing?" asked Yugi.

"We've been directed to send these up to KaibaCorp. In the meantime, is there anything else that I can get for you?"

"No thank you," said Yugi. "You can bring us the bill."

"The bill? It's already been taken care of, sir." The waiter swept off with the boxes.

"Huh," said Atem, looking toward the door.

"He really does seem different," Yugi said. "Kaiba. Did you see how happy he and Mokuba seem? He's as busy as ever, but …"

And with Yugi's words, the last puzzle piece snapped into place. Why hadn't he seen it? It was so obvious. The indecipherable emotion that he had detected in Kaiba was joy.

"But he's happy. Yes, I noticed. He always made an impression, but now he seems to light up a room when he enters. He's … majestic. That's what it is. Confidence, optimism and joy. It's magnetic."

Yugi elbowed Atem. "Sort of like what you have." He toyed with the food remaining on his plate. "Y'know, I was supposed to treat you to lunch."

"There's still the movie," Atem offered.

"Yeah."

Atem had trouble concentrating on the movie. Yugi had allowed him to pick it out and it was right up his alley, all adventure and honor, but his mind kept wandering back to Kaiba Seto. If only they had had longer to talk to him! But they'd only had a few moments with him. Even Mokuba had to rush away. Kaiba was definitely still the clotheshorse, no matter what he was wearing, and made an impression when he entered a room. He remembered how deceptive Kaiba could be years ago, when he charmed crowds of adoring gamers not long after they'd first met. Now he seemed to have genuinely earned that attention, from the inside out.

Atem tried to remember how Kaiba had moved and concluded that, physically, Kaiba hadn't changed that much. Maybe he carried himself with just a tiny bit more ease. His swift, decisive gestures made Atem suddenly want to see Kaiba walk in wearing one of his old coats, the kind with a train that floated out behind him, responding to his every move.

But why? Would it reveal more about how Kaiba had changed? Atem somehow craved to know more about the nature of this change. What had made him so happy? Had some small change in what he was doing made such a huge difference in the impression that he made? Or was it a fundamental shift in his being?

And … had Atem's words instigated this change in any way?

He had lost little of his arrogance, though. Atem somehow found that reassuring.

But why … why was this so important to him? All his friends seemed to find Kaiba's arrogance so unbecoming.

"Atem?"

He started ever so slightly and looked at Yugi.

"Do you want to see the credits?"

Already? "No, let's get going." He hoped Yugi didn't want to talk about the movie.

"Well, what did you think?" Yugi asked.

Damn. "Uh, it really—"

"Not the movie. Kaiba. You were completely distracted."

It was that obvious? He slowed, trying to think of something to say.

"It's OK. I could barely pay attention, either. I can't get over how happy Mokuba is. It's a whole new level for him. It makes me want to find out how Kaiba has changed."

"Me too. But it doesn't do any good to speculate."

"C'mon. Let's go by KaibaLand Gaming Center. There's always a chance we might run into the Kaibas. And if we don't, we can always game our brains out."

Atem shrugged. OK.

KaibaLand was more crowded than usual. Yugi trotted off to get a couple of sodas and returned with both sodas and a report. "Apparently word has gotten around that the Kaibas are back in Domino and a lot of folks are here just hoping that they'll make an appearance."

"You make us sound like groupies," Atem growled. "For your information, it's my anniversary and I'm here for the gaming."

Yugi grinned. "Understood."

It had been a while since they had been to KaibaLand and soon the two were locked in competition at a gaming console they hadn't tried before. They were fully engrossed when they heard a familiar voice.

"Atem, long time no see! Jou, get over here! It's Atem and Yugi."

"Hi, Honda," said Yugi cheerily, hitting pause on the console. "Hi, Jonouchi."

Jonouchi appeared at Honda's shoulder. "Hey Yugi, where have you been keeping yourself? I haven't seen you in a week … and Atem, I can't remember the last time we've gotten together."

Atem colored a little and admitted, "Sorry about that, Jonouchi, but you just aren't hanging out at the game shop as much and with work and all … it's just been … a little difficult …"

"What Atem's trying to say is that with our respective jobs and Honda at university—"

Just then there was a little fluster of activity toward the lobby as a number of people started moving toward the door.

Atem was starting to look over when Jonouchi said, "Damn it, the Kaiba brothers! Let's get out of here and get dinner, shall we?"

Yugi looked at Atem helplessly and shrugged. Atem sighed. "Sure, why not?" he said.

Best-laid plans, Yugi's eyes said.

Yugi and Atem headed out to catch up with old friends … just not the ones they'd planned on.

Author's Notes:

Thanks so much for the kind review! It was so very encouraging!

I'd hoped to post this earlier, but I ended up putting it off because I was rethinking my approach just slightly. I ended up doing quite a bit of work on this story as well as brainstorming two other ones. (And then there was my other active story, which I have a little more work to do on.) ... It was kind of ridiculous, actually. Hopefully I won't be too slow posting as I pound out the general outline of this thing.

Yugi-verse note: "Right, it's the anniversary of the day that I won the duel with Yugi and got my own body." The easy way of solving the Atem-has-a-body problem. (Although the implication was that he'd become a lost soul if he won in the original ... but that's way too sad, don't you think?)

"Atem reflected that he rather liked the way Kaiba pronounced Yugi, almost hating to correct him": A reference to the original Japanese soundtrack.

I'm dispensing with virtually all honorifics to avoid the inevitable embarrassing errors I'd make. Hopefully the bonus will be readability.

I'm not sure I'm happy with the two short scenes at the end, but ... oh, well ... they didn't seem to want to expand.