Kame Game was always so quiet during school hours, which wasn't surprising. The quiet gave Atem time to clean around the shop and take inventory for Sugoroku. Today, however, he kept glancing to the clock, fingers drumming restlessly on the counter. It was almost one in the afternoon when Sugoroku tapped the former Pharaoh on the shoulder.
"You can go, Atem. I can handle the shop until you get back." The old man chuckled. "Besides, the more you stare at the clock, the slower time passes."
Atem sighed and offered Sugoroku a soft smile. "Thank you, ojiichan. I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Take you time, Atem. It's a beautiful day out."
Atem nodded in thanks and went up to his and Yugi's bedroom, digging out the money he had been saving and changing out the a white, button up shirt he wore to work in the shop and into a black tank top, hanging the chain that had once bore the Millennium Puzzle around his neck. As he looked into the mirror, he also put on a pair of studded bracelets and flicked at his ear lobes, contemplating having them pierced as he remembered them being in the past. With a final glance, he hurried back downstairs, waving goodbye to Sugoroku as he disappeared into the warm afternoon air.
While he walked, he wondered what autumn would be like. Yugi had told him, but of course he was a spirit at the time. It was a different matter entirely to experience the changing of the seasons. The former ruler of Egypt was especially curious about the winter season he would experience here.
Atem busied himself with these thoughts as he headed for Anzu's place.
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The final bell rang and the students all rose, packing their bags and getting ready to head home. Yugi's eyes met with Otogi's for just a split second before he turned his amethyst gaze back to Jounouchi.
"Sorry Jounouchi but I can't hang out today. I've got somethings to take care of before I go home." The shorter teen offered a smile in apology.
"Ah man, really?" the blond pouted. "Honda and Anzu are busy today too." He turned honey brown eyes to Ryou as the white haired teen passed by. "What about you Ryou?"
Ryou blinked, turning distractedly towards Jounouchi, chocolate eyes a bit unfocused. "Hmm? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
Jounouchi leaned toward the other teen with a grin. "You wanna hang out today?"
"Ah...s-sorry, I can't..." Ryou murmured.
"Are you ok, Ryou?" Yugi asked worriedly.
"Oh...yeah, just...I've had a house guest for a while now and they're...oh what's the word..." Ryou looked up as if expecting the right words to be printed for him on the ceiling. "He's a bit of a headache some days."
"Who is it?" Yugi pressed with a smile. He liked making new friends. "Is he family?"
"Sort of..." Ryou admitted shyly.
"Hey, you could bring him along. Could be fun," Jounouchi grinned.
"That's not really a good idea right now...sorry." Ryou smiled brightly. "Maybe one day though. He's recently recovered from an...accident so he needs his rest. I really should go now though. See you guys later!"
"Yeah, later Ryou," Jounouchi sighed. "Damn. Ah well, maybe I'll go visit Shizuka..."
"Everything alright, Jounouchi?"
"...Yeah, Yugi. Everything's fine. Don't worry about me, you go do what you gotta do. I'll see you tomorrow." Jounouchi pulled both of the straps of his back pack over one shoulder and headed out.
Yugi sighed after his friend and hoped everything really was alright for him. As he shouldered his backpack he saw Otogi waiting for him in the doorway. Yugi nodded and left with the dice master, glancing around nervously.
"What's wrong, Yugi?" Otogi asked once they were outside.
"Just worried about being seen is all," the shorter teen whispered. "If Atem or jiichan saw us-"
"Relax, I know how to get around this city without anyone seeing you," Otogi grinned, laying an arm on Yugi's shoulders and steering him to the left. "Trust me."
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Anzu hopped off the bus at her stop and hurried home, finding Atem waiting for her on the doorstep, quietly admiring a flower he had picked. Anzu smiled, dropping off her school bag and dragging the former Pharaoh to the jewelry store she had told him about.
Atem was almost overwhelmed at all the various gems and metals on display, not to mention the seemingly endless number of styles and cuts. Anzu laughed and flagged down a saleswoman.
"We'd like to look at some engagement rings," she began. Before she could say another word, the pair were ushered to a counter and the over-anxious salesperson was pulling out several rings for them to look at and trying to measure Anzu's ring finger.
"N-not for me!" she shouted, blushing and pulling her hand back. She pointed at Atem, nudging him with her elbow and prompting him to say something.
"I...I am seeking an engagement ring for my boyfriend," he said. "A puzzle ring, to be specific."
"A-ah...I see," the saleswoman said, seeming a little put off for a moment. Then she smiled again, seeming to decide that a sale was still a sale and putting away the rings she had pulled out. "Let me see what we have." She bowed and left to pair alone for a few minutes before returning with a selection of male rings.
Atem inspected each one, slowly narrowing down his selection to three rings. He folded his arms on the counter and rested his chin on them, staring at all three side by side until making his choice. The ring he selected consisted of 8 interlocking bands and was solid gold. On the face of the ring the bands criss-crossed, two of the bands baring a total of ten tiny diamonds crossing under two other bands with a total of eighteen equally tiny amethysts.
"A fine choice, sir," the woman smiled, taking the ring back from him. "Now I just need to make sure we have the right size in stock," she said, gathering the other rings and putting them away.
Atem smiled, imagining the look on Yugi's face. He really didn't want to wait if he could afford the ring now. He looked up at the saleswoman reappeared with the ring and, with a smile. "Alright, Mr. Yami (by the way, Atem has been using the last name Yami. Surprise!), we do have the ring in stock. And it's not a bad price at all at only ¥80,320 ($751.36).
Atem paled. "Ah...eighty thousand..." he rose with a soft sigh. "Thank you, miss. I will have to return again," he said sadly.
"Eh...d-did I say ¥80,320? I...um...let me see..." she pulled out a calculator, trying to see if she could still make the sale. "Well the absolute lowest I can go is ¥71,940 ($672.97). That's quite a deal," she said with a bright smile.
Atem nodded, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I am sorry, but I did not realize how much money would be needed for this purchase. I promise, however, that I will return once I have enough."
The saleswoman sighed softly, nodding a bit. "Well, my name is Sakura. Just ask for me when you come. I'll try to keep this set aside for you, Mr. Yami."
"Thank you, Sakura. And please, call me Atem."
Anzu sighed as they left the store. "Sorry, I should have told you that it could get expensive."
"It is alright. I still have time to get it." Atem sighed. "I need over ¥50,000 more to afford it. But I will do it. It's the perfect ring."
Anzu smiled as they reached her house and she gave Atem a hug. "Yugi's a lucky guy."
Atem chuckled, returning the hug briefly. "I'm the lucky one, Anzu. I should head home. I don't want my aibou worrying about me."
Anzu nodded, waving to the former Pharaoh and hoping to find such a wonderful man for herself some day.
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Ryou stepped out of his shoes and headed upstairs to check on his house guest, a package tucked under his arm. He gently knocked on the door and heard the other grant him entry.
"I'm home, Bakura," Ryou smiled.
"You don't say," the thief muttered. He sat on the edge of the bed, a black controller in his hands and staring at the TV wearing only a pair of shorts. "Whacha got there?"
Ryou sat on the bed near him and set the package on his lap. "It's from my father. It's a bit late, but I imagine he's been busy."
"Late for what?" Bakura asked, pausing his video game and turning to watch the white-haired teen.
Ryou was about to shake his head, tell him it wasn't important, but sighed as his eyes met the other's."My birthday. It was on the second. I don't make a big deal about it," he muttered, opening his present and examining the Egyptian vase inside. "My father always sends me something. Even the Millennium Ring had been a birthday present."
Bakura shrugged. "Why weren't you out with your friends that day then? Or now for that matter?" The former King of Thieves still had many questions that eluded answers. Why was he alive again? And in his old body no less? He even still bore the scar under his right eye that cut down his cheek.
But what confused him the most was that his host, who should have hated him for everything he had done, was taking it upon himself to make sure the thief was comfortable and taken care of. And Bakura had been fully recovered from all his injuries for over a week now.
He only refrained from voicing complaint because he liked the idea of having a personal attendant. But that didn't explain why Ryou still wanted him around.
"Because my birthday isn't a big deal," Ryou said, deliberately not answering Bakura's second question. He rose and found a nice place in the thief's room to set the vase. Once satisfied with how it looked, he smiled at the thief. "I'm going down to start dinner. Just let me know if you need anything."
"Ehn, sure," Bakura shrugged, turning back to his video game. He missed the quiet sigh Ryou let out as the teen left the room, mulling over his unanswered questions.
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AN: Well then, let's leave it here for now. The end of September and the beginning of October are coming up next! *plays "Wake Me Up When September Ends*. I feel like these first few chapters weren't very exciting :p.
Yami is working hard. Yugi is doing something secret! Bakura will do something to make Ryou sad, but not before something terrible happens! What will it be? Well, you'll just have to wait until I write it :3
Oh the teasing! Hope you liked this chapter!
Also I'll post a link to the ring I was describing on my profile if you're curious. I changed the price a little from what it's listed at on the website, but it's close XD
