Summary: Train shenanigans and high heel appreciation, amongst other randomness.


The next week went by slow and easy. Atem had a week's worth of annual leave to use up at work, so he'd delegated his caseload to his colleagues and passed the time lounging about with Yugi and Ryou, building their campaign board and snacking endlessly. Atem could have sworn that come Sunday, when he had to get up for work again, that his trousers felt far too tight around his waist.

The short walk to the train station was uneventful, with just a fine drizzle dampening the air. Most of the early morning commuters held umbrellas over their heads, but Atem just buttoned up his jacket and took a deep, satisfied breath of the soft dew. Egypt had seldom seen rain, and never anything as fine as this. It felt pleasant on his skin and in his hair, something he never tired of. He continued the walk with a light spring in his step.

Only a few people milled about the train platform at this time in the morning - Sunday was fairly quiet on this particular line, and Atem could normally sit down for the journey, unlike weekdays where the pushers were always necessary. With a slightly disappointed pang in his chest, he saw that the woman with the book and headphones wasn't there. Well, I can't imagine everybody in Domino works on a Sunday.

The train was running a few minutes late, so Atem leaned back against a pillar and folded his arms. He probably looked casual and collected to any onlookers, but inside, his brain was whirring with the ever-present disbelief that life as he knew it now was so...normal. As Pharaoh, he'd barely been afforded the chance to experience growing up, but now here he was, a young adult with a full-time job and nowhere near the responsibilities he'd had as ruler of Egypt - just a different sort these days.

Atem looked up as the first rhythmic clacks of the approaching train made themselves known. At almost the same time, a clattering of urgent feet came down the stairs from the concourse and onto the platform. Atem hid a smile beneath his scarf at the sight of the woman who looked like Mana, panting hard and hair in disarray. To be perfectly honest, he was just impressed that she could run in those deadly-looking high heels.

"You're just in time," he remarked.

She looked up, hands on her knees, and gave a breathless laugh. "That'll teach me to spend an extra five minutes in bed, eh?"

"I'm sure we've all done it at least once."

The train pulled up at the platform, and the woman slipped her headphones on as usual. She flashed Atem a beaming smile as she swept into the nearest carriage. The former Pharaoh wondered whether to follow her and sit nearby, but he knew he'd end up staring again, and Yugi's words about being punched in the nose hung heavily on him. He settled instead for taking the next carriage over, and settled down on one of the rickety seats with an ankle resting on the opposite knee, laid-back and relaxed. The whirring in his brain never ceased, mind firmly on the woman sat in the carriage behind him.

Did soft, orchestral strains resonate in her ears, the kind of music Bakura loved? Or was she more like Ryou, who favoured the harsh clashing of drums and guitar? Maybe she liked the bubble-gum pop Yugi and Malik often danced to after one too many drinks?

At least the books she carried spoke more about what she liked. Today she had been holding a paperback with a solemn-looking, sapphire-blue dragon on the front cover. It looked familiar, possibly something he had seen in Ryou's bag at one point in time. Atem made a mental note to ask him about it later.

Oh, heavens. I sound so creepy. Atem facepalmed and groaned in frustration. I'm utterly hopeless...

As his thoughts left him, the skin on the back of his neck began to prickle. It wasn't unlike the sensation he used to get when Kaiba challenged him to duels - sheer instinct made him whip around quickly to find the source of the foreboding, and he was met with a high-pitched squeak, followed by a dull thud of a body hitting the floor.

Atem blinked in surprise to see the woman who resembled Mana, hissing and rubbing her bruised rump with an indignant scowl on her face.

"I-I'm sorry!" Atem blustered. "I didn't mean to frighten you." He extended a hand to assist her in standing, but she didn't seem annoyed or upset by the tumble. Rather, she just tossed back her hair and giggled.

"It's alright," she replied. "My own fault for sneaking up on you!" She pointed to the seat opposite Atem. "May I sit here?"

"By all means." The woman hopped into her seat, glancing briefly in the window to fix her hair and brush down her jacket. Atem watched her with fascination, not daring to interrupt her primping and content just to watch her.

After a few moments, she turned back. "You always travel at the same time as me," she smiled, "and you have a kind face. It was about time I came over and said hi."

Atem chuckled softly. "You saved me a job. I was hoping to do the same." He leaned forward a touch. "What's your name?"

"I'm Kahina Mana Nassar! And you?"

A lead bolt punched its way into Atem's chest, leaving a heavy, dull sensation that he hadn't expected at all. Nerves? Shock? Expectation? He wasn't sure. Regardless, he kept his voice level and steady. "Ankh-Atem Khanen Mutou. I just go by Atem."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, wow! I thought you might be Egyptian, but that name, it's so familiar. Like...like Ancient Egyptian!"

"You'd be right." Atem couldn't help but marvel at how easy it was to talk to Kahina. It felt so familiar, and she shared her middle name with the magician's apprentice from his past, but was it her? She didn't seem to recognise him at all, or if she did, she was giving nothing away. "You're Egyptian too, right? I'd recognise your accent and those cheekbones anywhere."

Kahina laughed and cupped her face in her hands. "Oh, you flatterer! That's the power of good contouring! I'm Luxor born and bred - lived in Domino about three years now. What about you?"

"Three years, same as you." Atem decided it was best not to mention that he'd resided in Yugi's body for two years at some point.

Kahina was practically bouncing in her seat. "You have no idea how exciting this is for me! It isn't often I get to meet others from back home!"

"True, there aren't many of us. I know of two more, and they're friends of mine, well, one of them is."

"That bad, huh?" Kahina grinned.

"Let's just say he's got a colourful mouth. You'd probably like him." If you just don't remember that he murdered your master in cold blood – ah, but it might not be you!

The rest of the journey was spent chatting about their lives in Domino. Kahina lived with her two cats in an apartment on the other side of the city, and was training to be a teacher. Someday she hoped to be able to teach History, but she said it was a long way off.

She expressed fascination at Atem's career - that he supported teenagers and young adults with mental health troubles. Technically, he was still in a trainee position, but he had a small caseload now, that he handled with the aid of a supervisor from time to time. Winning at games, any game, brought satisfaction, but his job brought that and more...it was rewarding.

Before they knew it, the train was pulling into their station, and they jumped up to exit quickly. Atem let Kahina out first, and she flashed him that same beaming smile. "It was lovely talking to you, Atem," she said. "I suppose I'll see you in the morning!"

"I don't suppose there will be much room to sit down and talk again," Atem chuckled.

"Nope, not with the rush-hour crowd! So how about we meet for a drink after work tomorrow?"

Atem blinked a few times, not quite understanding her meaning. It took several seconds for it to sink in, and he remembered that meeting for drinks was a typical way for youngsters such as themselves to socialise. He nodded, hoping he wasn't blushing, but his cheeks felt as though they might be on fire. "I'd like that."

"Great! There's a nice place just around the corner from my apartment. Here, I'll write down the address..." Kahina dug a pen and a scrap of paper from her bag and scrawled out a few lines in rather wonky Japanese. She handed it to Atem with a triumphant grin. "Let's say around eight o'clock? Give us both time to get home and change."

"Sure, that sounds nice."

"Okay, it's a date! See ya then!" Kahina took off down the street, heels clacking on the pavement and hair bouncing around her face. As she went, she raised a hand in farewell.

Atem looked down at the rumpled paper in his hand and felt his cheeks heat up further.

A…date?

What does this mean?

I need Yugi's help on this one.