Who Tops?
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Author: Hello again! I know you all wanted to read the third chapter xD So here it is! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Obviously, I Do Not Own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Warnings: language, tense arguments, funny moments and fluff? Yeah. :D
Chapter 3: The Start Of The Project
And The Start Of The Silent Treatment.
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The rain has been pouring hard along with the strong wind that threatens to chill those who are not aware of its presence, roaming and whirling its way to capture any victim upon its path. Seth knew it was going to rain, he heard the weather forecast about the approaching storm and prepared himself for it before coming to get Atem. Speaking of his cousin, he stared at his cousin's tense back. He looks like he's waiting for something to be said yet not wanting to hear it. Seth has known Atem since they were infants, they grew up together along with their other cousin, Mahad and his sister, Mana. Atem is known to have his father's temper to injustice on certain things, one hell of a temper that it even made Atem be scared of his own father. Seth doesn't know if he still does but then again, his cousin has never mentioned his sexual preference with his father, fearing said man's wrath. Seth is the only one who knows about Atem's relationship, he supports Atem's decisions and is the only one to at least lecture him. Mahad rarely lectures Atem, he goes along with him yet worrying about said others choices. Mana is the same. She definitely supports Atem's choices since she always hangs around Atem as if he was her other big brother.
"Harsh," Seth spoke lowly, shifting the handle of the umbrella to his left hand while his right hand fixed his bag on his shoulder, Atem refused to cover himself from the rain. "of what you said to Yami. It's unfair. Unreasonable."
"I don't want to talk about it." Was Atem's monotonous reply, not bothering to slow his pace nor face his cousin. Seth frowned, picking up his pace to walk alongside with Atem. He glanced at his cousin's shadowed face, wanting to know what face he's showing but it seems his cousin wouldn't face him.
"Either way, hear me out." Seth urged, placing his right hand on his cousin's shoulder who flinched underneath his touch and managed to stop him with that simple movement. Atem turn to fully face him but would not make eye-contact, unsettling Seth even further. "You mustn't act on your temper, you know that very well. In your temper, you said harsh things that you were not planning to say and it has not let you think carefully on what to say either. You will later regret ever saying those words if not now, you have to be careful."
Atem's shoulders slumped in defeat while closing his eyes to calmly breathe and leave his mind blank so he could respond with assurance in his being. "You're right, Seth. I acted on my temper, once again. But I couldn't stop myself, you know that-"
"Even so, you could had just walked away without saying a word to prevent anything leading to a downfall." Seth explained, squeezing the soaked shoulder. "That way, you wouldn't be so worked up and blurt out whatever word you haven't put thought into."
"It would had been better if I had received a punch, huh?" Atem chuckled lowly, receiving said punch on the shoulder by Seth. "I didn't meant you! But that counts.."
"It seems that fellow classmate of yours did want to knock some sense into that thick-tempered-skull of yours." Seth joked, laughing at Atem's confused expression.
"Who? Seto?" Atem questioned. "He always looks like he wants to beat up someone until he's satisfied." Atem laughed but Seth didn't so he quieted down. "Is there something wrong, Seth?"
"You said Seto." Seth said. "As in Kaiba Seto?" Atem raised a questioning eyebrow before nodding, not quite understanding what Seth was getting at. "You have a project with him?! Not only that, but your partner is a Kaiba?!"
"The teacher assigned us to work together, not on our own will. He didn't like the idea but we'll manage- Oh crap! I just cancelled the start of the project!" Atem groaned, wiping the rain droplets from his brow. "He won't like this.."
"Now you know your consequences?" Seth huffed, crossing his arms over his chest while Atem sheepishly grinned at him. "He'll be furious."
"Its not like he's out to murder me." Atem snorted, looking up at the pouring rain, only to bring his gaze down since the rain stung his eyes with the force it poured. "I'll come up with an excusable explanation."
"Whatever excuse you plan to give him, better be good." Seth warned. Knowing Atem, his cousin could get out of any situation with an honest explanation, especially when it came to his father's wrath.
"I'll just be honest, it's the key of not getting into unwanted trouble." Atem replied, feeling a little uncomfortable with his clothes completely soaked to the core that he feels even his boxers got soaked. Seth nodded, glad to know that Atem had calmed down but that didn't meant he was disappointed, well, he can't stay mad at Atem can he?
They both started to walk, Seth offering his cousin to share the umbrella and Atem refusing to do so, in a calm pace that even the wind didn't affected their closeness. Only one thing did interrupted that moment. And that thing or person, is inside that black limo that has pulled up along side them, a dark window rolled down to reveal none other than the CEO. Yup. Kaiba.
"Sennen." Seto greeted with narrowed icy-blue eyes with a scowl upon his lips. Both Atem and Seth blinked in confusion but nodded in greeting as well. "You do notice that you cancelled the start of the project, seeing you already calmed down."
"Ah, I'm terribly sorry." Atem apologized sincerely, bowing a bit to add an effect for his apology. "I wasn't on my right mind neither have I put any thought into my words.."
"Whatever. I expect you to be early tomorrow to at least have some work done." Seto said, watching Atem's facial expressions. Atem hesitated and thought about the time until nodding in agreement. "Good." Seto said and was about to roll up his window but remembered about a certain someone. "Oh, and one more thing, Sennen. Mutou has left the school to wander aimlessly who knows where, thought you'd like to know about his condition. Be on time." With that, the limo took off.
"Are you goi-" Seth started only to turn and saw Atem gone. "Atem! You'll catch a cold!"
"I prefer the cold than have Yugi worried!" With that, Atem kept running back from where they came from.
'You idiot! Don't you realize you'll get Yugi killed by acting this way! Damn you Yami!' Atem thought, panting as he headed toward the direction of a park he knows very well. This park seem to be the only place were one could enjoy it's warm embrace and let out bottled emotions, even for a broken-hearted person. The entrance of the park came into view, did Atem quickened the pace only to stop at a red light and wasn't aware of a speeding car that passed by and showered Atem completely with dirty water.
"This is what I get when I don't tune down.." Atem gritted out, he was now completely soaked to the bone, the uncomfortable feeling was unbearable that he rather go running naked than having to bear the cold and wet clothes. Maybe not, it's way too cold for him to be running like he's in a beach, that's just a no. After it turned green, he started running again with his pace quickened, ignoring the stares he was gaining by the people who were crossing. They don't need to know what's going on, they can mind their own business. Hmph.
Upon entering the park, he collided against someone else, the impact sending that person to fall onto him. "Agh!"
"Shit!" Atem groaned, sitting up a bit as he tried to breathe normally while the other did the same. Atem doesn't know if he could manage to scrub off the smudges of dirt on his school shirt before Seth or his father find out about it. Probably he can, if he tried not to shred it in pieces. Atem heard a gasp above him, did he opened his crimson orbs and stared in stunned silence at the other who stared right back. "...Yami?"
"A-Atem?!" Yami whispered, getting off of the other quickly, fearing what the other would want to say. Atem was a complete mess, his school uniform was ruined, soaked and it even bothered Yami a bit on the part of Atem's see-through school shirt (the cause was of the damn rain). Has Atem came back to say more? Or punch him this time? Yami doesn't know, Atem wasn't the aggressive type of guy but then again, looks can be deceiving. Yami felt the coldness in his body this time, the wind caressed his soaked being that it even threatened of a promised fever. He's not entirely soaked like Atem was, the tree did covered part of the rain but it didn't meant he could escape the consequences. Speaking of fever, Atem is the one who would suffer severely! "A-Atem! Are you crazy?! Look at you! You'll get a fever like this!"
"Don't fuss over me, you damn bull!" Atem gritted out, he couldn't suppress the shivers but he wasn't worried about himself. "Do you want Yugi to kill you this time?! If you hadn't ran off like a broken-hearted girl, none of this should had happened! Not only Yugi would kill you, he would kill me as well! I promised him that we'll meet at the arcade after I came back from Seto's house! Oh but guess what?! I just happened to cancel both of those meetings because of my temper, I know that! But you have fault into this as well!" Atem took a hold of Yami's wrist and started to drag him back from where he came from, cursing a few times in his mind while Yami followed, stunned. "Seth made me realize it so be grateful because he saved your damn ass! Oh and you better go express your gratitude to Seto tomorrow!"
"H-Huh?" Yami perked up at the mention of the CEO. "What does he have to-"
"He personally told me that you ran out of the school," Atem paused, to catch his breathe as he kept on walking. He could almost feel a headache coming now, oh the glory. "I don't care if you guys hate each other but if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here.." At this, Atem trailed off, signifying the end of the conversation. Yami just stared at Atem's trembling hand that held his in a tight grip, so much has happened that they couldn't afford to loose each other over a simple thing and not only that, they can't stay mad at each other too.
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"Where you guys been?! You both are soaking wet!" Yugi exclaimed as he handed both Yami and Atem towels for their hair, not believing what has just happened. 'They seem... distant... What happened?' Yugi thought as he walked over to them to inspect them. Yami stared at Yugi with questioning eyes while Atem faced the other way, not wanting to be read by Yugi's calculating amethyst eyes. Yugi frowned at this, they weren't speaking to each other!
"What happened?" Yugi decided to question, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at them in question. "The air seems to get colder-"
"That's your imagination, Aibou." Yami said, rolling his eyes at the unwanted conversation he rather avoid right now. Atem thought the same and decided to leave before he get's lectured by Seth. Who knows how scary Seth could be, maybe not that scary like his father but maybe below that? Hah, the face Seth would put if he told him that. "Besides-"
"-I have to go soon. Sorry Yugi, about the meeting. Maybe when it's not occupied? I mean, I have a project to do with Set-" Atem was about to carelessly say the CEO's first name but when he saw Yami's fist clench in reaction and Yugi watching, he quickly corrected himself. "Kaiba, I meant. He's really into the project and would rather have it done quickly than the rest of the class."
"Huh?! You're paired up with Kaiba?!" Yugi exclaimed. 'Is it just me... or doesn't Atem always calls Kaiba by his first name?' Yugi thought, suspicious of this change of attitude.
"Heh, yeah. Talk about a death wish." Atem grinned. "But since I don't really know him well, I won't judge him. And it's not big of an deal, it's just a one-week project. I'm sure me and him can finish the project on time."
"You haven't worked with Kaiba before, it's pretty ironic ya know." Joey said as he appeared out of the entrance of the stairs, surprising both Yami and Atem. "Sup Yam, Atem!"
"Hey, Joey!" Both Atem and Yami chorused, only to glare at each other for greeting their friend at the same time, this made Yugi even more suspicious. Usually, they would laugh it off but this time it was different. What the hell happened?!
"First time going into a lion's den, Atem?" Joey teased. Atem snorted and grinned at this, of course he hasn't worked with the CEO but that didn't meant there could be something bad happening, could it? Who knows.
"I don't think Seto is a bad guy, he just lacks company." Atem said, having forgotten about the name but it already slipped out so there's no point in correcting it. 'Why am I watching out my words for? I'm on neither side so I choose who to have as friend or foe.' Atem thought.
"Right, right. By the way, a truck ran you over or somethin'?" Joey questioned, staring at both Yami and Atem's soaked clothes.
"We-" Yami started, wanting to avoid Joey's question but Atem beat him to it.
"We were wrestling, maybe trying to prove who's stronger?" Atem made up an excuse, preparing himself to leave while placing the borrowed towel upon his shoulders. "We were just fooling around-"
"Huh? I've never seen you wrestle before." Joey said, now pondering about this 'wrestle'. Yugi blushed red while he covered his mouth to stop the giggles that threatened to escape. Both Yami and Atem flushed red at what Yugi might be thinking and could only stare at Yugi, dying in laughter when he looked Joey's stupified face. "What? What's so funny?"
"Y-Yugi!" Yami complanied while Atem headed for the door, trying not to laugh as well.
"I'm going now, sorry for intruding! I have to get home before I'm forced to not visit again! Sayonara!" Atem said, stepping out of the game shop, not before saying a "I'll return this tomorrow!"
"Atem!" Yugi called out, now worried about Atem's health. Either way, Atem wouldn't let himself be tended so might as well let him be, for now. Yugi turned to face Yami but noticed he was gone. "Where..."
"He went upstairs" Joey said, pointing behind him while he looked around the shop, not noticing Yugi's shadowed face.
"YAMI!"
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Another of school started.
A bad one for Atem's case. Yesterday he was lectured by Seth, then his uncle, then Mana, and finally he was comforted by Mahad. The headache he got from yesterday, has gotten worse as he walked- no, he jogged his way to school. The way to Domino High was like almost a hour if he walked on his normal pace, which was a bit slow. He's used to waking up early everyday so this day was not different, well only a bit more early.
"Should had known it would get worse... I did deserve that lecture after all.." Atem scowled, picking up his pace as he kept jogging toward a traffic light, which turned red as he stopped next to it, catching his breath. "He could have told me the exact time I should be there..."
"Which is why I'm here." Spoke a sarcastic tone. Atem turned his head to look at his right and would had returned the tone ten fold but stopped himself when he spotted the CEO's limo there.
"Good morning, Seto." Atem greeted, leaning against a post while Seto spoke from inside the fancy limo. "I'm heading to school so wait for a bit once you're there."
"I'm not going to wait." Seto retorted. Atem pulled a sour face on but replaced it with a smile, although his headache was being annoying. "Get on, I'll give you an ride."
"W-What?" Atem questioned, seeing the chauffeur has already bound over to open the door for him. "I'll just run to school-"
"I'm not asking you, Sennen. " Seto stated with narrowed eyes. Atem rolled his eyes but did walked over and got in with Seto, feeling very uncomfortable of being too close to the CEO. 'Can't he scoot over?' Atem thought bitterly.
"You shouldn't lower yourself in having to give me a ride, Seto." Atem started as the limo started off and took a turn to head for school. He was sure that Seto was forced to be courteous, yeah, maybe that's the reason. "I'm sure you're not used to giving someone else a ride, especially when you have a dislike-"
"I don't have anything against you." Seto stated firmly, startling Atem in suspicion. "You're my partner after all."
"But still... Saying it that way..." Atem trailed off, he was not used to this type of things, especially when it came from the CEO. He was never this close to the CEO nor has he spoken to him in a normal conversation, well, only in school-related stuff but that was not even considered as a conversation... was it? And even though he spoken to him about notes, the other made his answers short, making it seem as he didn't want Atem speaking to him. "I bet people would misunderstand your statement so I wouldn't like that being a conflict in between us."
"Let them think however they want about us, we're not into a relationship or whatsoever." Seto snorted, finally scooting away a bit. Atem nodded in understanding and just stared out the window, wanting nothing but to keep himself busy. "Are you really into that Mutou?"
"Hm? What do you mean by that?" Atem questioned, turning to face Seto who stared right back. "Does it bother you?"
"Bakura seems to have a liken to you." Seto said, crossing his arms over his chest, exhaling a sigh. "That is why I'm asking."
"Bakura? I doubt it, he's just my rival." Atem snorted, placing his bag on his thighs while trying to get himself comfy throughout the journey.
"He demanded me to switch partners, yesterday. That should give off the reason he's after you, whether you're with Mutou or not." Seto said, staring at Atem's crimson orbs. Atem glanced away, not believing what the other was telling him about. Bakura? Why would he? They been rivals since he first enrolled into Domino High. There should be a misunderstanding in Seto's words, Bakura is not the type to go after him. But then again, he doesn't know much about Bakura either.
"What did you say for that? I assume you turned down the offer." Atem snorted, only to be a bit amused by Seto's nod. "So you have not given me away."
"Don't misunderstand, Sennen. I simply wanted to work with someone who is dedicated to work and not slack off." Seto stated, glancing at the window for a moment.
"Right, I'm the best choice.." Atem chuckled. "Finding yourself in a tight situation and I just happen to be the way out, how amusing."
"Indeed." Seto agreed, a small twitch from his lips went unnoticed by Atem who grinned.
"At first, I thought you were different. People seem to talk about you behind your back, negative things." Atem started, exhaling a calm sigh. "I didn't believe their bullshit, I mean, they say it when you turn your back on them and not directly. I pity those who talk about others, not mustering the courage to say to their face." At this, Seto stared at Atem, in a stunned silence while Atem continued. "I know that I'm just making a fool out of myself here and that I'm just flattering you in some way, but I'm not. Of course, we're different in status and everything else. But what makes us different, makes us more alike."
"How so.." Seto couldn't help asking, his mouth moved on it's own accord.
"I don't know, we're humans right?" Atem grinned. "We're not some paper and ash type of thing or death and living. I actually wanted to duel you, I was jealous of Yami and Yugi of having the honor to go against you, even though you got beaten by them." Atem added a teasing tone to lighten the mood, which it did it's trick, for he saw Seto smirking with those icy-blue eyes with challenging glint in them. Right, that triggered it.
"Why not after school." Seto challenged. "I'm sure I can impress you with the gaming platforms."
"Is that so?" Atem smirked. "After school, you're on."
"Have you even dueled before?"
"I did, against my cousins."
"Only them?"
"Mhmm."
"Seems you don't duel much, considering how few challenges you've token that are not even considered as one in my point of view."
"You'll be surprised about my skills so drop that haughty attitude, Seto."
"Sirs, we've arrived."
"For now, let's finish school first." Seto said as he exited out once his chauffeur opened the door for them both. Atem nodded and followed after Seto, not wanting to wait for the upcoming challenge against a CEO. The school campus was not filled with students at this early hour, however, only few were wandering around. As they walked inside the campus, all stares were on them.
"Why are they staring?" Atem mumbled, fixing his bag on his other shoulder while he walked beside the CEO. "Is it rare to see someone coming with Seto?"
"In fact it is and it's annoying me." Seto said with an irritated tone.
"I could just walk away-" Atem started.
"No." Seto said it firmly, grasping Atem's wrist before dragging him along. "We have a project to get over with."
"Right, right. Don't be so bossy." Atem snorted, letting himself be dragged by the CEO, not paying any mind to a certain group of blushing girls that whispered about shipping them both. As they made their way to the building, they happen to stumble Yami and the rest. "Hey guys!"
"Sup Atem!" Tristan waved while Tea, Duke, Ryou and Yugi nodded a greeting. Yami was fuming in anger when he saw Kaiba's hand upon Atem's. "Heading to the library?"
"We-" Atem started, only for Seto cut in.
"That's no concern for you lot." Seto sneered and dragged Atem away from the said group and away from a fuming Yami. Atem was grateful that Seto was on a hurry to start the project, for he didn't want to talk to Yami just yet. Yes, he could be a sadist when he wanted to. Yami knew this yet he couldn't stand how Atem seem to find it funny but then again, Atem could be pretty darn serious when Yami tries to do the same. Like Father and son, heh? Yeah. "Do you plan to talk-"
"No, not when I still have to calm myself. We're both in a hurry so no. I'll ignore him for the rest of the day and try to finish part of the project or else we'll be stuck with Mr. Teichi since he's also a Chemistry teacher himself." Atem stated. "Besides, it'll be fun to see him squirm." Atem smirked.
'Can you handle it, Yami?' Atem thought, a bit worriedly.
To Be Continued...
Author: Hello everyone! Thank you for reading the new chap! I hope you enjoyed it! Leave an review and give me some ideas for the next chap! Stay tune for the next chap too!
Ciao Mio Amicos!
-Raiden Out-