Chapter 3

~o~

Exactly four point nine seconds after Atem revealed himself, Seto and the cars inhabitants found themselves upside down. It was silent. Let that be reiterated- in the car, it was silent. Outside, it was a different story. Especially with Atem swearing up a storm; but we'll get back to that in a moment. To sum up what had occurred- a car accident had been had. The windows had blown out. The car had dented- scratched paint- but miraculously, the tail lights were still in working order. As was the radio, which had begun playing a rather catchy song.

"I wanna be your G-U-Y." Mokuba sang under his breath as he turned the page to his book. Not a word was spoken by the elder Kaiba and Mutou. The fact that the radio had been turned off before the crash was left as a glitch of circumstance. They had larger things to worry about in any case.

Back to Yugi's darker half.

"What the ever living hell was that for?!" Atem hissed, glaring murderous death to one Seto Kaiba. The ex-Pharaoh, it would seem, had slammed into a parked vehicle not ten feet away. Poor bastard hadn't the chance to buckle in or even really enjoy the utter look of shock on his rival/potential-love-partner's face before disaster had befallen them. He-She had flew.

"Don't you blame me for this crap!" Kaiba shouted back having no qualms about getting mad and showing that wrath to a severely injured crash victim. "This is on you and you know it!" The fact Atem was wicked good at healing helped... a lot.

"Oh hell no," the recently turned female growled snapping a shoulder back into its socket like the badass everyone knew Atem to be, but that the spirit rarely brought out due to whatever moral standards he held himself to. "We woulda clipped that damn mailbox anyway with your sub-par driving skills." Yugi hadn't even noticed the mailbox.

Seto let go of the steering wheel, arms stretched out passed where the windshield used to be and, using both hands, flipped her the bird; Showing exactly what he thought about that.

Mokuba sighed, finally putting down his book; laying it on the ceiling below him. He really didn't know what it was. They had had a game opening today. A leading edge piece of technology that would have kept them a head of their competitors. Not that delaying it a couple of days would really hinder them in anyway, it was the spirit of the matter. What happened to his brothers priorities?

Glancing between the two rivals, he watched as they glared back and forth between each other. Both carrying on with their respective duties. Atem, the healing of his- her?- various injuries. His brother, the reporting of an accident. The anger they had harnessed already cooling; Fleeting and never something that was ever really serious.

Whenever his brother was in the vicinity of his crush, he was reduced to this: childish and petty. Atem was really no better, getting caught up in whatever argument or challenge Seto issued. They played off each other so well, that if maybe Atem was more open to accepting Seto's advances, they would make quite the couple. But, now that he thought about it, that actually explained Bakura's behaviour. A love triangle if he ever saw one. But then, there was Marik as well so... square? Oh wait- there was also Anzu. But did it count when Atem avoided her like the plague? Anzu would say yes. People of sound mind would disagree- so just a square.

"Kami-sama!" A woman's voice cried out.

Three heads whipped to the left. The person who had cried out could be seen at the end of a driveway directly opposite of their wrecked car. Middle-aged woman... mother-hen-ish. Middle class. Plain jane clothing. She was a perfect fit for the residential area they'd been driving through to avoid an accident down the way. The irony hadn't been lost on them. Either way this woman was nothing special. As such, the three still in the car, dismissed her just as fast.

They didn't see- but Atem had had a minor panic attack in which he didn't know whether or not that woman had seen him do magic. In fact, for a moment his right hand had flared a dim purple; a precursor to using shadow magic. Specifically, the magic used to transport something to the shadow realm; or the using of the realm to teleport from one area to another. The spirit had seriously considered getting rid of the woman. But, after a moment, he had settled and figured he was overreacting.

Yugi looked around cautiously. He didn't seem to be hurt; no pain was overtly apparent. Which was always a bonus.

Oh yes, it was decidedly a good thing that they had turned into the neighbourhood, Yugi thought as he took to just hanging limply in his seat. If they hadn't, they would have been in a more precarious situation than they were already in. Remember people, busy streets had cars. People wanting to get where they wanted to get the fastest way possible. Think about how many vehicles would have smashed into them before everything had come to an actual stop.

He shuddered.

That would have been terrible. Atem would have been hit so many damn times, they would of had to have him play dead and have him reintroduced as a twin who'd been studying over seas or something. Or that miracle patient that survives when they should have died with their injuries. A toss up really. Both had their merits. Both had their downfalls.

Luckily Ji-san had opted to wait for the cab instead.

"I'm so sorry!" the same woman cried. Her body came into Yugi and Seto's peripheral vision. Well, her legs came into view. "Oh~ I've called the cops! They should be here any moment!"

Those capri wearing legs and sandal clad feet scampered to the front of the car.

"Miss try not to move." the stranger coaxed, actually managing to get Atem to lay back down. But only because he had managed to catch his hikari's eyes- however briefly- and the potential scolding wouldn't have been worth it. Let it be known that the suffering this complete stranger forced him through for the next handful of minutes completely warranted the following actions done below in snapshots for your viewing pleasure.

-break-

"Argh!" Atem sprung up from the recovery position tackling the woman who looked old enough to be any one of their mothers.

-break-

"Kyaaah!" the woman, now inwardly referred to as She-Hulk by those in the car, war cried as she flipped the yami off her back to the cement in front of her.

-break-

"You think you're tough bitch?!" Atem screamed the momentum of the throw to tumble onto her feet. Crimson eyes taking on an ominous glow.

-break-

"Wait! No! Not the-..." Yugi slumped from where he tried to crawl out of the windshield, foot caught in his seat belt. "Yami... The shadow realm?"

-break-

"See. She's completely fine." Atem huffed, petulantly brushing off whisps of shadow that clung to- her i.d said- Sachiko's shoulder. The woman was shivering and mumbling incoherently.

"Great just great." Yugi groaned pacing back and forth. "I can only imagine how that old woman is handling the realm of shadows."

Atem straightened suddenly like a bloodhound on a hunt.

"Five oh."

~o~

"This is getting ridiculous! Where are they? They should have been back two minutes ago." Bakura growled pacing in the epitome of agitation.

"Two minutes is specific." Malik mused kicking his legs in the air as he laid with utter comfort on the Mutou's glass coffee table. Snapping bubble gum as he cruised their satelite t.v.

"This blasted device says so!" the revved up yami responded waving his hand maniacally.

"He's on google maps." Marik clarified from where he sat, eyes taking in the quick shots of day-time television Malik zipped by. "It's how we usually navigate through the city when we're drunk. That gps feature is amazing."

"I have to admit they should've been back by now." Ryou joined in setting up the last of the decorations that no one was helping him with. "You don't think anything has happened do you?"

"Of course I do!" Bakura screeched grabbing at his hair. "Have you seen Atem walk to the corner store? The guys a walking trouble magnet!"

"What are you talking about." Malik scoffed chucking the remote at Marik so he could continue to channel surf. "Atem doesn't go to the store. He always gets Yugi to go for him."

"Precisely!"

"It's official." the blond hikari groaned, turning on his side and resting his head on his hand. "I'm sorry to say it Ryou, but you're gonna have to put him down."

"Oi!" Bakura growled affronted. "Who you calling a beast?"

"Need it be said?"

"Okay enough." Ryou spoke before fists started flying. "What do you guys think?"

Maroon and violet eyed the balloons, streamers, and bunting that overcrowded the living room's feature wall. The neon green, purple, and blue too much for the eyes to taken in with the almost sparkling streamers.

"I couldn't have done better myself!" Malik exclaimed joyously, free hand raising to give a thumbs up.

"You really couldn't." Bakura muttered, turning away to look out the window for the umpteenth time. He casually dodged the boot thrown at his head, and enjoyed the angry hiss that followed.

"Oh stop it will you!" Malik cried flopping onto his back. Ryou winced, hoping that today wasn't the day that that glass would finally break. "Make me feel anxious. They probably knew we were going to be here and decided to make a detour or something."

"Yugi ditched." Ryou deadpanned.

"Not di-..."

"-the only other possible explanation is that they were in an accident!" Bakura cut Malik's attempt at comfort short. Marik rolled his eyes and Ryou sighed.

"Drama queen enough is enough!" Malik whipped the remote outta his other self's hand, muscle memory pressing numbers for the channel that did the local news. There were several- but this one was his favorite. What other news channel had their people rushing to get down and dirty with what they were reporting. "The only thing worth reporting is Kaiba's smug face with that new system he's parading to the ma-..." the little blond choked on spittle and gum, eyes widening like saucers.

Bakura who had decided to ignore Malik's rant and went back to staring out the window, glanced back with a scowl that had quickly melted off his face.

"Would you look at that." Marik spoke with amusement. Ryou's gasp and Malik's continued attempt at breathing adding to the humor. "Accident."

~o~

Given the city and the absurd amount of news worthy events that happened throughout the year, Seto shouldn't have really been that surprised that a news crew had arrived on scene seconds after the first emergency response team. Sachiko and her blubbering nonsense helped corroborating their story. Foolish woman had stepped onto the street without looking both ways before crossing. She was damn lucky he was able to swerve out of the way in time. Thankfully no one was hurt. All three of them safe, thanks to the top of the line safety features of his car. Four if you counted the woman that was currently traumatised with such a close call.

Unfortunately, this situation was exactly the stuff that channel one-fifty-one enjoyed featuring in their broadcasts. The vultures.

"Kaiba, I'm sweating my balls off. When the hell is your limo getting here?"

And then there was this. It's not like they could just show up on the news with a female Atem. Oh no. It would be hard to explain. Questions would be asked. History would be dug up. Bakura would find out. Pfft Bakura.

"Keep still princess. I already look enough of an idiot wearing this jacket in this heat." He hissed back, surreptitously shifting so that his brother was in between the camera and his person.

"Shut-up. You're always wearing a jacket."

Yugi came walking back from one of the ambulances; a sheepish look on his face. "I'm free of injury, and they're surprisingly not going to make us go to the hospital. What did you tell them Kaiba?"

"Like it matters? Get over here and hide the bulk that is my stomach." the brunette muttered, glancing at his watch. "A stiff wind, and the news won't be talking about the accident anymore. This is ridiculous."

"You're ridiculous."

"You owe me. I can't believe I agreed to this."

"The limo will be here momentarily." Mokuba spoke up, putting away his cell, and eyeing the tow-truck getting their car ready for transport. To think... He hadn't even wanted to come on this little adventure. I held back a giggle and played it off as a cough.

He would remember Atem dive bombing his brother and the subsequent brawl that ensued with fond memory. He hadn't ever witnessed his brother blush such a deep red, when he realised that Atem was trying to get into his jacket. That his crush was literally wrapping herself around his body. He was just sad he didn't get any fore warning. He would have liked to make a video.

"Suffer brat. This wouldn't have happened if you had just waited to show me you new assets." Seto hissed looking at the slightest of bulges that showed around his middle. The younger Kaiba chuckled. Sometimes they were just too cute. Yugi was again explaining to his brother why Atem couldn't just do his disappearing act.

Taking in the destroyed vehicle, Mokuba had to reluctantly agree with his brother. Some divine entity had to love his brother up there. That car was completely wrecked.

"That is it! Ra smite the ass that made my driver late." Seto entreated looking to the sky, asking of a god he really didn't believe was actually there. Mokuba sighed. Yup, magical talk; Never sits well with brother.

~o~

Somewhere in Domino a man, young in his years, was rundown in a violent car accident. What was strange about this incident was that the man had been safely beside a building- just exiting it in fact. Although he didn't die, he would be spending the next few months in recovery and rehabilitation. He was also the only one to be injured in the whole ordeal.

~o~

Up in the heavens, Ra stared into the realm of man and laughed in triumph.

~o~

A/N

Yeah, lol had to do the third chapter as well.

The fourth chapter too, when I have time.

I hope you enjoyed!

Review it. Favourite it. Alert it. C2 it. Do what you will, as long as you do something.

Ken.