Yugioh © Takahashi Kazuki
I always found some mistakes in spelling and grammar later when I re-read the whole thing again. Sigh...
This chapter didn't go along with my original planning and took another turn but still ended up the same way since I am not going to put more angst more dark in yet. Maybe because my mood when writing this is better than the previous one. Anyhow, enjoy.
Chapter 3
Atemu delicately ran his fingers through brunette locks. It might be the first and last chance he got to do something like this. His eyes narrowed but yet to lose the gentle light in crimson depth as he gazed at the serene slumbering face of Kaiba. A sigh left his lips, all good things had to come to an end. On his other side, where no certain CEO was half lying unconscious in his lap, sat the Millennium Puzzle materialized from darkness at having him answered its call, and several trips of bandage still fresh with his blood previously wrapped around his head and torso. The pain was more bearable now that he had support from ancient power. It wouldn't miraculously heal him as if nothing had happened. At least all traces of injury in his person was magically hidden and he could move. He needed to head back to the Mutou's residence without causing any more ruckus than his missing had obviously already done.
"Liar. This is nowhere near home." Atemu scolded lightly with a sardonic smile, brushing a stray brunette lock had fallen over closed lid behind the CEO's ear, noticing at this proximity Kaiba's hair seemed to grow longer than the last time they saw each other. Was it last month?
Atemu gently moved the sleeping head so Kaiba was now cushioned by a pillow and maneuvered himself to slide off the king-size bed so as not to disturb the other. Not that Kaiba could awake soon, he was not sleeping after all.
Bare feet touched the warm floor, Atemu half-turned around, facing Kaiba once more. His hand lingered near pale cheek, almost touching the unconscious CEO but he pulled back at last second, settled to brace himself by gripping the pristine sheet with both hands and lowered his head, blonde bangs hid his eyes from sight. "There is no reason for you to follow old feelings of one who was long dead and burden yourself carrying its weight. I have made sure you remember nothing when you wake up this time. Thank you, for everything." Atemu raised his head to look at the unresponsive person before him, "And goodbye, Kaiba Seto."
With that, the bed was absent of one occupant and a solid gold, pyramidal shape ancient artifact.
It was a well-hidden surprise when Atemu opened the door to see Mokuba standing there, one hand suspended in the air indicating he was about to knock. Of course to the younger Kaiba, astonishment was an understatement when in front of him was the person should be bedridden after being carried to his brother's bedroom half-death only hours ago. Mokuba gasped, almost dropped the tray of food he had in his other hand had Atemu's agility not kicked in and balanced both the tray and the kid in his shock state.
"Atemu! HOW?!" Mokuba gaped. He knew the Other Yuugi—Yuugi's partner was capable of something beyond man's knowledge but this was a bit ridiculous for the sake of his sanity!
Atemu crouched to eye level with the younger Kaiba, quickly covered a wince as the action provoked a dull ache from the injuries in his chest. "He is exhausted."
That successfully got Mokuba's immediate attention. Slate gray eyes widened, their line of view darted further into the room and zeroed in the sight of his brother sprawled on his own bed. Mokuba opened his mouth with full intention to shoot thousand questions at Atemu, only to see said person shook his head no, he wouldn't get answer even if he asked.
"Kaiba is fine," Atemu assured, "You will stay with him until he's awake, won't you?"
Hesitantly Mokuba nodded his head. Atemu smiled at the kid and ruffled his messy hair. "I will take my leave now. Thank you for having me and sorry for all the troubles, Mokuba."
"But…" Mokuba bit his bottom lip and came in the room to put the food tray on the nightstand. His worry lessened with Atemu's words, still he made a quick peek at his brother to be sure he was really okay. He had seen how his brother, his calm and collected brother, acted during the hours Atemu was lost to the world around him. To tell the truth it scared him at the same time put this weird feeling in his stomach that he had no idea if he liked it or not. "Nii-sama is really worry about you. He would be upset if he woke up and you were gone."
"He won't." Atemu told the younger Kaiba. The finality in his tone caused Mokuba's head to wipe around with anger burning in his eyes. "Don't get me wrong." Atemu straightened up, not give a backward glance to look at the person he was talking to, "You will understand when he wakes up. Stay with him until then, Mokuba."
Normally Mokuba only listened to the orders of his brother, but he found himself at loss for words and his defiance simply absented at the authority in Atemu's voice. Furthermore, he found himself getting drowsier by each passing second until he slumped in the bed beside his sibling. The last of Atemu in Mokuba's darkening sight was black tendrils leading to the dissolve of his brother's yukata had been wrapping loosely on the ex-spirit, took its place was Atemu's usual black leather attire all people around the former Pharaoh were familiar with. Then the door closed without any help of wind or physical interaction, and the lock secured itself.
Kaiba watched, unimpressed at the sight of Kisara being dragged behind a room by the monster Akhenaden became that he had seen through Seth's eyes before the metal door lead to said room slammed shut, to another sight of Mokuba screaming for him, also being dragged by several monsters to another room like that time in Death-T. The person he once was before inheriting ancient memory would certainly went into a berserk rage at these sights, and simply got himself lost in this darkness to awake in the real world harboring nothing but deep hatred for the one individual that caused all this, or the defense mechanisms would kick in and made him remember nothing about said individual's existence in his life. Those was most likely the conditions set for him to get out of here, too. Hn, after all that gorgeous show-off, this is not even a Shadow Game, not with the other party missing in the first place. I should have known he is still too weak to initiate one.
Kaiba raised his head and look at the seemingly endless maze of staircases and metal doors, like a Pharaoh Tomb. "Show yourself, Black Magician," His strong and commanding tone resounded in every corner of the place, "No, Mahado."
The appearance of a supposed stranger with familiar face was momentarily disheartened. Kaiba knew how this man got himself in this state. However the slipped compassion didn't stay long because he realized it was the man's choice to be this way in order to remain by the one person his life devoted to. There was a fleeting envious flashed through him, that this man would forever be in Atemu's heart as he guarded his Pharaoh's soul room for eternity.
"Reincarnation of Seth, Kaiba Seto," Mahado addressed the other. He raised his hand, staff pointed at Kaiba threateningly in warning, "No matter who you are, by trespassing my Pharaoh's soul, you will be punished accordingly."
Icy blue eyes regarded the intimidating man with an air of nonchalance that was within his character. Kaiba was not afraid of this man, he had no reason to. Somewhere in his mind respected Mahado, because this man would fight even his own ally to protect the one he held dearly. However Mahado was getting in his way. Kaiba turned his gaze to the door that earlier illusion of Mokuba had vanished into and glanced at the other man from the corner of his eyes. He grunted in discontent, "I had no intention of being here. He forced me in the first place."
"Have you any idea of exactly which part you are standing in?" Mahado's face hardened with his question.
"Most likely the Room of Oblivion." Kaiba answered without the need to think. "It preyed on the victim's darkest fear and trapped his mind within false memories until he accepted a rewritten fact to protect his sanity. Or simply forget everything." Kaiba walked passed Mahado toward a wall with no door. However, when he was about to collide with the concrete wall, it disappeared before his eyes and gave way to a long corridor with set of closed doors littered either side. "The High Priest didn't only spend his time in grief after he became Pharaoh. However, he couldn't uncover the rest of the Puzzle's mysteries until the day he died even with all information he had gathered from the Millennium Tome."
"He was not supposed to." Mahado sighed and crossed his hands, staff temporary hidden from view.
"To him that was the only way to get closer to Atemu." The CEO stated as he turned from the corridor and sauntered to the up side down staircase on his left this time. "In the end he split his soul to reserve Atemu's body, cursing his own blood into servitude to the lifeless Pharaoh. One traitorous thought against protecting Atemu from outsider eyes is enough to have a death sentence for the inheritors of his lineage." Kaiba sneered in disdain. "The Priest seemed to find a way to punish those forced him into something he had no wish to be a part of. In the first place he had no intention to provide heirs to the throne, but heirs to a line of guardians who only existed to protect the Pharaoh with their life as his original heart-desire before inheriting Atemu's crown."
Mahado chuckled grimly, "Sounds like something he would do."
"Who could have thought he accidentally broke my curse with a Penalty Game that day."
"Oh?"
"I was consumed by my own darkness over Blue Eyes White Dragon and hurt the reincarnation of Siamun, grandfather to his supposed reincarnation. However, he only did what he did in response to Mutou Yuugi's feeling and the situation. He had no idea about me, and likewise."
"I was surprised the first time I saw Siamun again."
"Still the same unpleasant old man as you remember, plus a little infatuation toward young females."
Mahado snorted in amusement. "You've changed."
"He is blocking my access to the Millennium Rod." Kaiba diverted the topic, finding no need for more entertainment.
"After the stunt you pulled with that vermin, I have no doubt he would take more precautions." As an afterthought, Mahado added, "You might want to speed things up, old friend. Your time is running out."
"The whole mansion is under high security," Kaiba said haughtily, turned another way again when the staircase before him disappeared to reform itself as a metal door, "He will draw power from the Millennium Puzzle to partly make himself presentable, exhaust his body further, while blocking my mind. It won't be long until he collapses. One of my bodyguards will locate him and bring him back to me." Kaiba raised an eyebrow as Mahado stiffened nearby. "I intend to wake up before that happens. What are you fretting about?"
"You are nowhere near finding a way out." An edge of frustration entered Mahado's voice.
"I did a while ago." Kaiba looked at the other male with amusement in his humorless darkening blue eyes, a smirk made its way to the corner of his lips, "I am looking for something else here."
"All I know is you leaving him unattended outside." Mahado hissed dangerously. A part of him was aware of his unreasonable anger toward the person who was no longer a part of his Pharaoh's Royal Court, therefore nullified all of his obligations toward Atemu. But this man also was…
"He is not a feeble normal human being. You of all people know this better than anyone." Kaiba glared coldly at the other. In any usual day, he would have sneered at the subtle flinch his demeanor caused other people. At the moment though, he had no time to waste for useless gloating. "I have yet to bind with the Millennium Rod like the Priest. He didn't make it any easier for me to utilize its power."
Mahado silently observed the reincarnation of his fellow High Priest. He had already noticed the darker personality during early days of his brief encounters with the man via multiple duels between his Pharaoh and him. What confused him was this man's ability compare to his ancestor. Kaiba Seto undoubtedly had all the knowledges Seth had acquired during his stay in the living world, but Mahado had no idea about what happened after Seth walked pass the gate to the afterlife, having denied himself of the honor by fusing his soul with his Shadow Monster to serve his Pharaoh until the end of his time. It was little comfort to know this man was on his Pharaoh's side, for now.
"You, on the other hand, didn't change at all." Kaiba commented offhandedly. "Wearing your emotions on your sleeves is a weakness, Mahado."
Mahado blinked. If he was surprised by the sudden address toward his person, he didn't show it. He said nothing in retaliation.
"Though doubting me is reasonable. I stood on the opposite field against him on countless occasions and the Priest did betray him after all."
"Seth was not wholly at fault."
"Thanks to him, now I can focus on Atemu without hindrance."
"What do you mean?"
"His love for Kisara turned into my aggressive possessive toward Blue Eyes White Dragon. And my affection for Mokuba even after knowing he is somewhat related to her remains unchanged. But if Atemu is right, this will be all the better on my favor." Kaiba raised one hand, palmed forward as if reaching for something. Swirls of darkness gathered before him, molding, slowly took form of a certain ancient gold artifact. "Now there is nothing from the past will get in the way of my feelings for him."
Mahado had to shield his eyes from the bright light lit the whole maze the instant Kaiba Seto grabbed the materialized Millennium Rod as if it rightfully belonged to him.
The force of that light blew open all doors surrounding them. Kaiba's eyes unblinking, his gaze darting everywhere, searching, and zeroed on one particular door, still closed despite the power emitted from the Rod. The Soul Labyrinth's Entrance. He made a mad dash toward it, throwing behind his shoulder, "It's good talking to you again, old friend. Probably what the Priest would say to you if he was still alive! But I've already known he is!"
As soon as Kaiba ran pass the door, the light disappeared, leaving Mahado the only one left in the endless maze of the Pharaoh Tomb. He closed his eyes with a slight smile curled in his lips, "I never say anything about you have died at all, old friend. But you are more tolerable than your original."
Atemu touched the doorknob, fluttering tendrils of darkness unlocked the last obstacle trapping its Pharaoh within the closed vicinity, giving entrance to the outside world on the other side. The door opened only to be slammed shut violently with a deafening snap by the pale hand holding the Millennium Rod flashed menacingly. Atemu tensed when long arm snaked around his waist and pulled him backward to a warm solid chest of a very awake Kaiba Seto.
"You are not my guest, Atemu." Growled Kaiba in said person's ear, causing breath to get caught in his throat at the anger he felt emanating from the CEO. "Only guest is allowed to enter and leave this house, with escort, whenever they wanted. The rest belongs to me and will not leave without my permission."
Atemu only had his eyes on the glinting Millennium Rod in Kaiba's hand despite he heard every word spoken to him and more than aware of the borderline possessive hold keeping him in place. The mere sight of another ancient artifact rendered him momentarily speechless. His hunch was true after all? A weary sigh escaped his lips and he closed his eyes, relaxing his pose. It was futile to fight back now. "Why do you have to be difficult all the time?"
"I should be the one asking you. Of all time, why do you have to be difficult now?" Kaiba retorted, his angered still presented but somewhat subsided when he was done asserting all the damages Atemu could have inflicted during his absence. The ex-spirit had already shut down most critical parts of the house's security system by Shadow Magic, and that was purely cheating!
"You could have moved on with your own life without concerning yourself with me. Have you any consider for Mokuba at all?" Atemu interrogated in what could be decoded as sulking tone. If Kaiba and Atemu had something in common besides Duel Monsters, it was they hated losing all the same due to their extremely high level of egotism.
"Don't bring Mokuba into this again." Kaiba removed his hand from the door to turn Atemu around facing him, his other hand remained in the small of Atemu's back even if he knew the former Pharaoh wouldn't just bolt the moment he loosened his hold. Unless Atemu started complaining, he was going to leave his hand where it was because he could.
Atemu tilted his head to look at the reincarnated Priest with a displeased frown. This man always managed to rile his temper and never failed once in both of his lives.
"A change of memory could lead to a change of feeling toward a person." Kaiba gently brushed the back of his knuckles on Atemu's cheek, where a nasty bruise should have been presented without the effect of ancient magic. "For a Pharaoh who confessed his love to his own cousin, you have strange ways to express it."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
It was to avoid touching some tender wounds and accidentally jolting the more serious ones in his head that Kaiba drew Atemu closer by his nape until they flushed against each other from head to toes. In his surprise at the sudden embrace, Atemu had dropped his Millennium Puzzle and put his hands on Kaiba's chest to push the other away if he deemed the situation was getting out of his control. But Kaiba was considerate and not applying much pressure on his captive. He could only hope Atemu got the message and stopped pushing his luck.
"To die on someone after making a love confession to said person is one of the nastiest things you had done. To try altering or worse, purging my memory so I would wake up forgetting and hating you is entirely different level of your foolishness, not to mention insulting, humiliating and utterly disrespectful to me." Kaiba hissed in Atemu's ear, his anger already came back, "I thought the time spent with Yuugi was more than enough to teach you just that?"
"Is it not better?" Atemu wondered aloud, feeling more than a little lightheaded at their proximity combined with the telltale of fatigue from using Shadow Magic in his weakened state. "I am only a stranger. Why are you trying to keep the memory that does not belong to you?"
"Why are you pushing me away after all you did to keep me from pushing you away before?" Kaiba countered. He tried to understand Atemu's reason but the other seemed not wanting him to.
"I come to a conclusion that you have been right and did what you always want. But you have to go and get yourself involve. What do you want, really?" Atemu asked impassively, crimson eyes searching sapphire ones for some answers to his fascination toward the man embracing him.
Kaiba had known what he wanted the moment he contacted Ishizu, asking for her assistance in bringing Atemu back from the other side of that door the ex-spirit had walked pass after he lost in the Ceremonial Battle. But that was the story for another day. Before that, he felt as if his soul had been shattered for the second time and assembled at the same time, brought back what had been purposely buried before he became Kaiba Seto. It had left him completely disorient and nauseous all the same. Everything had started with the very person in his arms.
"Something more than rival." He locked his eyes with Atemu's, noting the dilation of crimson orbs at his words. "Something more than friend. And something more."
Atemu closed his eyes and turned away. "Why?" Despite his askance, he didn't want to hear anymore. The confession was too sincere to be a deceit. It nurtured hope against his wish to put a clear barrier between them.
"Something you need," Kaiba told him, before adding, "So do I," He whispered on the side of Atemu's head above his ear, "To keep us sane."
"Why?" The distressed shorter one repeated again.
"As if you have no idea." Kaiba chuckled with no humor in his tone, leaned back slightly to guide Atemu facing him. "How about this, Atemu."
Atemu allowed the gesture. He blinked, composed himself enough to look at the other again.
"Let me take this chance to do it right, this time, without disruption."
"Why?" The word seemed to be all Atemu could say, his fingers curled in loose fists, bunching the fabric of Kaiba's white dress shirt, "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I want to."
"I…" Atemu started, a sad smile on his lips, "I don't want to see the same face he made when he lost Kisara… I didn't want to become the reason of it if I was only about to hurt him in the end. But I wanted him to know that… I…" He inhaled shakily and shook his head, not wanting to say more.
"If only you know." Kaiba said after Atemu trailed off and closed his crimson eyes to hide how truly vulnerable he felt after exposing himself. He pulled the smaller figure to him again, let Atemu's head rest on his chest as he dropped his forehead on the former Pharaoh's uninjured shoulder. Kaiba repeated in a slight tremor voice, "If only you know."
His hands moved to wrap around Kaiba's back on their own accord, Atemu released a shaken breath. "Kaiba… What happened to him after I—"
Kaiba only turned his head to one side to indicate his refusal to give the information. "Knowing will only make you want to leave again." He breathed in Atemu's neck, hot puffs of air fluttered against the exposed skin. "Maybe… at a later time."
"Promise?"
"No."
"Jerk."
"Idiot."
There was silent. Each of them simply enjoyed the result of what had just transpired between them. That was until Kaiba drew back a little when he felt even breathing fanning his clothed chest, to find himself armful of his passed out rival. Lips curled in amusement at the sight, Kaiba crouched to grab the forgotten Puzzle on the floor and left it on Atemu's stomach as he carried the other to his study, decided to pass his bed room since Mokuba already occupied it and he had no wish to wake his sleeping younger sibling before dawn broke. Kaiba had half a mind to leave the Puzzle where it was, not wanting to risk another incident when it successfully formed a link with Atemu's mind and lent the other some upper hand in causing more headache for him. But, regretfully Atemu wouldn't wake up happy without his prize Puzzle in sight. Chosen owner of the Puzzle indeed…
Damn it, the things he did for Atemu…
Mind was fully conscious but he kept his eyes shut, Atemu concentrated on figuring what roused him from sleep and he heard soft tapping noises. He turned his head slightly in the direction of the sound and peeked from behind his lids to see the reincarnated Priest working on his laptop. His stirring must have alerted Kaiba's ears because the sound of keystroke stopped and not long after footsteps approached him. Atemu opened his eyes to see he had been moved to another room, most likely home office. He was reposing on an oversize chaise lounge that the master of this house obviously had spent a good chunk of money on to partly announce his wealth. The white trench coat he often seen associated with Kaiba whenever said CEO went draping over him. The way it covered his entire body was disheartening, as if mocking his smaller form in comparison to the other's.
Atemu made to get up, only to be pressed down as soon as Kaiba sat beside him. "You has not rested enough." He heard soft spoken voice, absented of the usual coldness its owner often directed toward everyone but his brother. Upon realizing Atemu wouldn't go back to sleep any time soon, Kaiba put a hand on tan cheek, his thumb gently caressed the skin where a shallow cut should be presented. "How do you feel?" He asked.
"Easier to breathe." Atemu deadpanned, not entirely addressing the damages his body had sustained. He could see soft light trying to get through the closed curtain behind Kaiba's work desk, his heart almost stopped. "What time is it?" He questioned immediately with raising panic.
"Calm down." Kaiba frowned at the impatient tone and stopped another of Atemu's attempt to sit up again. "Don't worry about Yuugi." That runt was the only reason Atemu would lose his composure quite easily. One fact Kaiba found not as pleasant as he should. "Mokuba called him yesterday. Hopefully he still believes we have been dueling the entire time."
"Hopefully?" Atemu glared at the choice of words.
"You are not as transparent as you would like to be. But I can pull off something before the police let the media know what little details they are not supposed to. After all you are a minor."
"And they need to be careful when you are involved. Kaiba Seto is a public image and they can't afford to make any bad move that will highly turn people against them unnecessarily after discovering one of them is actually a deranged criminal."
Kaiba gave Atemu a long look and turned away from his companion with a suffering sigh. "All this is wasting on a common high school…" He muttered, purposely loud enough to reach Atemu's ear.
"The last time I studied was 3000 years ago, Kaiba." Atemu reminded him. "Besides, they do teach something I don't know."
"Hardly something useful as what you have already figured out on your own."
"What's with the hatred at school all of a sudden?"
"Nothing."
"You sound awfully like you are brooding again."
"I am not brooding." Kaiba denied. To change the topic, his hand lifted Atemu's chin to inspect the disappeared bruises on his exposing skin then unabashedly opened the fold of Atemu's light yukata to look at his smooth chest. Shadow Magic was cheating, damn it!
Atemu noticed the change of attire. "This is not something I remember wearing."
"I don't mind undressing and redressing you again if you insist on wearing something could have done you more harm than good. Your Shadow Magic can only hide it, not cure it. You are not that good at any particular healing incantation. Fortunately we have someone called doctor to do the work for you, isn't it good?" Kaiba finished sarcastically.
Atemu sent his rival an annoyed scowl but he knew when to keep his peace, for now.
"And you are recommended to revoke it soon." Kaiba raised a hand to stop a coming retort, "I know it's hard, but normal people don't miraculously recover as new after what you've been through in less than a day. There is only so much modern medical can do."
Atemu worried his bottom lip, knowing Kaiba had a point but he didn't have to like it, not at all. This had nothing to do with keeping up a strong front, it was just not in his character to appear like he could use some pity while in fact he would throw it right back in the face of whoever dared showing it at him. Pity him? Heh, their cluelessness about exactly who he was, was just as good as their empty condolence. Atemu closed his eyes, partly showcasing his unwillingness to go through this. He ignored a dip of addition weight on the chair he had been occupying but tensed up when arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him to another warm body lying beside him.
"This will be the last time something happened to you." Any person would have scared shitless at the venom dripping from Kaiba's voice, the most it did to Atemu was astonished him into calming stillness.
"Kaiba—"
"Seto." Kaiba corrected him.
That got a dry chuckle from Atemu. "Isn't it a little early to be on first name basis?"
"Better sooner than later."
Atemu hummed, feigning dubious but a smile already played on the corner of his lips.
"Are you going to call my name?" Kaiba challenged with a suggestive raised eyebrow.
"Eager to hear your name much?" Atemu countered, playfully pushed the other from him.
"I at least deserve that after what you've put me through. Do you know how tedious it is to reactivate my security system after you are done playing with it?" Kaiba halfheartedly glared down at Atemu, who had the audacity to look sheepish.
"… Sorry?" Atemu ducked his head, cheeks colored slightly, feeling no better than a child got caught with one hand in the cookie jar.
Kaiba was pretty much rather antagonizing the teen Pharaoh more if they were not interrupted by a loud bang and Mokuba broke into the room with panic written all over his face.
"Nii-sama! Atemu is—!" He stopped and stared shamelessly at the snuggling pair, his frantic yelling died off, "… missing…"
Not inclined to release his companion like a couple of high schoolers got caught making out in the hallway by their sibling, and Atemu didn't seem to mind the disruption one bit judging by the relief sigh escaped his lips, "Well," Kaiba drawled, addressing his brother, "I've got him, obviously."
"I… see?" Mokuba said absentmindedly, still staring as if he was seeing Blue Eyes and Black Magician cuddling each other instead of their respective masters on his brother's chair. So what? It was not any day to see rivals acting all lovey-dovey like long lost lovers. He had the right to gawk at them even if it was considered rude!
Atemu finally turned his head to properly look at Mokuba. That bed head was more than enough to tell him the kid had shot out of his brother's bedroom as soon as he was awake and found himself alone.
Mokuba gasped when he saw Atemu's face and ran toward him, braced his hands on the chair to hover over them. "Are you really okay?" The younger Kaiba observed with a grimace, and in a smaller voice, he mumbled, "That looks awful…"
Kaiba frowned at his brother and peered down, his eyes widened at the reappearance of all bruises and cuts on Atemu's person. He must have removed the magical effect of his Shadow Magic when Kaiba was not looking, or the momentarily distraction of Mokuba's entrance caused Atemu to lose grip of his power. Whichever was fine with Kaiba.
"It could have been worse." Atemu didn't look at the older Kaiba as he had his sight fixed on the younger even when he felt a prick in the back of his neck to know a certain pair of icy blue eyes were scrutinizing him. "Mokuba, I'm sorry—"
"What are you sorry about?" Mokuba cut him off immediately, "How can you get here in the first place?!" His demeanor gave nothing about the earlier encounter between himself and the former Pharaoh.
Strange… Atemu frowned and glanced at Kaiba, whose smirk told him there was a little magic at work here. He was not the only person around could alter other people's memory after all.
Unaware of the silent exchange between the older two, Mokuba went on. "You are supposed to be in my brother's bed! And how did I end up sleeping in Nii-sama's room!"
Kaiba and Atemu knew exactly what Mokuba meant, but they couldn't help their minds wandering a little at the first part. Sometimes words didn't just give the exact literal image but also the very suggestive indication when misused on purpose or not. It took them an awkward while to silence their teenage hormone, during which Mokuba continued ranting, oblivious to the fact that his words went completely unheard.
"Mokuba," Kaiba cut in, successfully got his sibling's attention, "Do you mind playing CEO for a little longer? I need to focus on something else."
"Something?" Mokuba gave him a look. "Atemu is someone, not something!"
"No… I meant the police and media." Kaiba defended, but he turned his head away nonetheless.
"Ooohhh!" Mokuba batted his eyes lashes and grinned cheekily.
"Good. Since we have an agreement, now get out and close the door." Kaiba deadpanned, "Don't forget to lock it."
"I never say I will do it!" Mokuba shrieked in horror, his face paled at the thought of doing all of his brother's work alone. Running a company was not same as pushing a shopping cart, damn it!
"I didn't hear you complain earlier. Now off with you." Kaiba shooed his brother, who determinedly whined himself out of the inevitable living hell that suddenly descended on his head.
"I am so gonna chew that idiot alive when I get my hands on him!" Mokuba yelled heatedly, "Of all people why did he had to choose Atemu and now I have to run KC all by myself!"
"Even if he didn't I doubt it would change much…" Kaiba muttered under his breath. Aloud he said, "You are the first one came up with that Halloween theme park idea for our new Kaiba Land project. So get to work on it!"
"But…!" The younger Kaiba moaned, resorted to his puppy-eyes method.
It didn't work. "No buts."
"Fine! I will recruit Yuugi and others to help!" Mokuba declared, trying a different approach.
"We have Event Management Team for that. They don't get to receive paycheck doing nothing!"
"I am the boss now! I get to do what I want!"
"Whatever. Just don't drag them home by the end of the day."
"Huh? I thought you are about to send me off somewhere for a while." Mokuba looked perplex at his older sibling.
"Why would I do that?" Kaiba griped impatiently.
Leaning nearer to his brother's face, Mokuba peered at him curiously, "So you can have Atemu all for yourself in the house scarce of other human body? I take it you don't want Yuugi hear any of this yet?" He wiggled his brows suggestively and broke out grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"What are you getting at? He is injured!" Kaiba silently noted to himself he had to reevaluate Mokuba's early teenage hormone as soon as everything was settled.
"Exactly your thought. I know what the priest said, in sickness and in health!" Mokuba exclaimed as he evacuated the study laughing like a devil incarnate, barely avoided the flying pillow aiming at his head.
Kaiba huffed when Mokuba was out of sight and slumped on the chair beside Atemu, who decided to feign unconscious through the whole noisily exchange but he was failing miserably with the occasional twitch of his mouth in suppressed laughter.
Crimson eyes opened when Atemu sensed Kaiba hovering over him, hands on either side of his head. Somber sapphires regarded him with a serious expression, he could even see something deeper than fury boiled behind Kaiba's darkening blue eyes. The reincarnated Priest smiled then. However that smile did not direct at him but the one responsible for every wound on his body. His hand reached up to caress high cheekbone, causing Kaiba to lean into his touch. "Maybe it will work, this time." Atemu whispered in the silent room.
Kaiba caught his wrist and kissed the underside of his palm.
"Welcome home, Atemu."
"Don't get too overconfident, Priest."
"We have time, My Pharaoh."
Atemu closed his eyes, unaware of the smile on his lips. I lose.
TBC
Penny for your thought?
