Seto: Both of you are making me seem like a lovesick schoolgirl.
Yami: But Seto-chan it's so sweet!
Seto: -growls- I don't do sweet, cute or anything else of that sort!
Dragon: -chuckles- that's why we are here!

Atemu looked on in excitement as the zoo's transport truck pulled up to the mansion. He cast a quick glance at Seto, who was standing beside him, before he grabbed his hand and led him closer to the truck as it stopped.

Seto shook his head in amusement before he handed the elk hide gauntlet over to the former spirit for him to use. He had spent the night looking up any and all information on falconry and wasted no time buying everything Atemu would need for their new arrival today. He was just thankful that it had been shipped so fast.

Taking the soft but thick gauntlet, Atemu slipped it on to his arm with a smile on his face. It pleased him that the other seemed to have understood his need to do this. Last night's events played through his mind. He didn't mean for things to go as they did but he had to get through to Seto that some things were important to him, and this falcon was one of them.

Zoo workers jumping out of the truck brought him out of his musings and he stepped closer to the end of the truck where they were unlocking the back of it. Inside he noticed was a rather large dog carrier with the word 'caution' on it.

Soon a loud squawk was heard, letting Atemu know that his falcon was indeed in the carrier. He watched closely as they pulled the carrier out of the back of the truck and set it down onto the lawn.

One of the men paused to place a worn out gauntlet on his arm before he flipped the latch to open metal gate. Without looking in, the man shoved his covered hand in and roughly tried to seize the bird making it squawk in protest.

Atemu visibly tensed as he watch the man so carelessly try to grab the falcon. Anger rushed through him as stomped forward and grabbed the man by the back of his shirt and hauled him up. Crimson eyes were ablaze with flames as he let the man go and bore holes into the man's eyes.

"rwi wyz." He hissed out. (go away fool)

Sensing what was about to happen, Seto walked forward and grabbed the stunned man and pulled him away from his enraged love to a safe distance while making sure the man's partner didn't interfere with Atemu.

"Just leave him be, he knows what he's doing." Seto said in a firm tone.

"But how can he?" the man asked as he turned to watch the crimson-eyed teen. "He's just a kid!"

Seto growled, "He isn't a kid and I'm willing to bet my entire fortune that he has more intelligence in his finger than you do in that thick head of yours. Now, if you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you two stay away from him."

The zoo employee gulped and paled as he pulled away from the unnatural icy glare he was receiving.

Smirking, Seto turned back to watch Atemu as he kneeled down in front of the opening to the crate.

Whispering calming words in his native language, Atemu slowly reached his gauntlet-covered hand into the over-sized plastic cage. Ducking his head down so he could peer in, he gently brushed his fingers against the puffed feathers on the enraged hunter's chest.

"ii n wi Hr-3hty. Ir nn snd." (Come to me Horus of the Horizons. Do not fear.)

Slowly, he let his fingers trail down to the legs of the falcon, asking permission to take a hold of them. Not sensing or seeing any signs of resistance, Atemu gently took the bird into its grasp and slowly pulled the sacred bird out of its confinement.

Cooing, Atemu brought the bird out into the early afternoon sunlight, only to frown when he noticed the hood covering the bird's head and the tether tied to his leg. Reaching up, while the bird settled on his hand, he released the hood.

Sharp eyes peered at him curiously before he stretched his wings and clicked his beak.

Chuckling, Atemu reached his hand into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a baggie with a few pieces of raw meat in it. Taking one, he held it up for the predator to get.

"hkr?" (hungry)

In one swift movement, the falcon snatched the offering, downing it in one gulp. Clicking its beak again, Atemu offered it another piece of meat.

Seto smiled softly as he watched the teen feed his newly acquired friend. Turning to the man beside him, he almost laughed at the astonished look on the other's face.

"Told you."

The man looked from Atemu to Seto with wide-eyes, "He's had one before?"

"Yes. Now I think you and your partner can leave now."

Pulling out some papers from his back pocket, the man looked back at Atemu. "They gave me some papers on how to care for him, but I don't think he needs them. But I will leave them for you anyways. It will give you details on what breed he is, age and health condition also."

Seto took the papers and nodded his head.

At lunch Mokuba found his scowling brother sitting alone in the kitchen, stabbing angrily at innocent little rice balls alternately with chopsticks and with his fork - he had gotten used to using them both.

"What happened, Nisama?"

A low grumble was his only answer. So Mokuba went to the window and took a look outside, already suspecting a reason for Seto's dark mood. As he had expected, he spied a patch of red moving around in the huge grass-covered space of the Kaiba mansion's enormous garden. A small brown spot, which Mokuba suspected to be the falcon, sat a few meters apart now and then spreading his wings but obviously the flying part didn't work yet. It was no wonder, Mokuba thought, the poor animal had just got out of a lifetime of captivity.

"Perhaps he should give his falcon a bit of a rest before he starts with this training," the younger Kaiba mumbled to himself.

"My point," Seto growled, "I haven't seen him in here ever since they delivered that damn bird. He only cares about that little, feathery,..." He threw the fork onto the plate with a loud clatter. "Ah, sorry, Mokuba. I feel better now. I'll go outside and talk to him. He needs to give the both of them a break."

Mokuba smiled a secret smile to himself as his brother walked out of the door. He admired the mood swings and new kinds of behavior Atemu could bring out in his brother.

Leaning onto the windowsill he watched as his brother strode out of the back door of the mansion, up to Atemu and the falcon.

The pharaoh half turned his head when he heard the grass rustle behind himself. Smiling, he pressed a finger to his lips to signal the other to be quiet so he wouldn't scare the bird.

He saw the tall teen stop and cross his arms with a frown on his face and guessed the reason immediately. He smiled to himself. Jealousy was something he recognized in Seto. It had always been one of Seth's most dominant characteristical features, and he had always resented it as much as he enjoyed it because it showed him the other's intentions, in that case, his love.

He extended an arm towards Seth's incarnation, encouraging him to take it and come closer. Seto's frown deepened, but his hand betrayed him, seeking Atemu's and clasping with it. Carefully, the pharaoh pulled him in until he stood by his side, not quite touching but skin tingling in anticipation of a touch. Atemu closed his eyes and tilted his face up a bit, sighing softly, as if a summer breeze was tangling his hair and carrying the scent of delicate flowers to his senses.

"I enjoy your presence", he murmured. Then he slowly slid his incredible eyelids open and smiled mischievously up at Seto, who just raised an eyebrow, not yet forgiving five hours spent alone in the mansion.

Atemu just shook his head turning back to the falcon, who had taken his time, flying up onto one of the lower branches of the huge oak tree that provided shade from the afternoon sun. He held his head proudly, staring down at the interesting humans.

The pharaoh smiled and reached into his pocket, producing another piece of meat, very similar to the one he had used this morning, throwing it into the air. The falcon gave a sharp cry, spread his wings and dove down to catch it before it reached the ground. Sharp claws flexed neatly around the red piece as the sky predator drew himself up again with practiced precision and perfect grace.

Proudly, Atemu gazed at Seto, watching his reaction. He could tell the other was impressed and that made his heart skip a beat. It was so good to know how to do something again, so good to be sure in everything he did, so good to be in complete control, training the animal with exquisite care, guiding it towards the right movements, getting it used to him, and to Seto as well, later.

"I taught him that today," he told him happily, "He's a quick learner, and very skilled. I need a name for him now." He smiled, concentrated for a moment and then added in Japanese, "I want ...to give...a name to... him in... you language"

Seto smiled, "It's 'your language', but I would like that. What name did you have in mind?"

"Freedom", Atemu said softly, sliding his hand into Seto's hair to pull his face closer.

"Jiyuu", Seto mumbled back, letting his face be tucked down towards the other's lips.

"Jiyuu then"

"Nisama!"

Seto jumped back just before their lips met and Atemu growled in disappointment.

"What is it, Mokuba? Don't shout like that, you'll frighten Jiyuu."

"Who?", Mokuba stopped confused, "Atemu's falcon? Oh, that's a nice name for him" He grinned at Atemu. "Nfr rn", he repeated in Egyptian (Beautiful name)

"Arigatou", Atemu replied, grinning back.

"What is it, little brother?", Seto wanted to know.

"Ah, yes, I came to tell you Yugi is asking if he can come see Atemu. He brought the others and they all promised to behave. Even Joey did. They really want to see him."

Hopefully, Mokuba looked at his Nisama, who in turn glanced at Atemu.

"Ready to see them?", he asked concernedly.

Atemu hesitated for a moment, then he nodded. "Hai."

"Alright," Seto decided, "But tell them they have to be quiet. Absolutely quiet, or I'll throw them out immediately."

His eyes sparkling, Mokuba led the Yugi-tachi into the enormous garden. It was a walk of almost fifteen minutes until they got to where Atemu and Kaiba were exercising with the falcon. They all tried to stay very silent, curious to see what the two of them were doing. The younger Kaiba grinned. He hadn't yet told them about Jiyuu.

When Seto noticed his brother approaching with the gang he stepped back from Atemu but not after having whispered into his ear, "Give them a show."

Atemu smirked and reached into his pocket for a fresh piece of meat, calculating the distance to the tree for a moment.

"Jiyuu," he called softly, getting the bird's attention, "aH st" (Catch it)

Then he threw the falcon's prey into the air, right above himself, tilting his head back to watch it fall down again, opening his mouth as if he was about to catch it himself. A moment later Jiyuu passed just above his head, wings stroking his face and neck as the falcon's claws grasped their target.

There came a collective gasp from the audience.

Seto, a small distance away, stared at the pharaoh, marveling at how he could ever have tried to withhold this falcon from Atemu. He didn't know when he had fallen in love with the pharaoh in Egypt. Of course, he had been attracted to him the minute he had seen him for the first time, but that hadn't been love yet. Love had approached with slow steps, stealing secretly into his heart. But now, as he watched the pharaoh play with the falcon, the look of joy in his face as he gave a part of his soul to the animal – he fell in love with him for the second time, violently, suddenly, achingly and yet so very wonderfully, so very deeply.

He closed his eyes and smiled.

Atemu noticed the smile on Seto's face and forgot everyone around him. As if in a trance, he walked up to the taller teen, lifted a slender bronzed hand and caressed Seto's face.

Gentle touches caused blue eyes to open. Seeing his loved one before him, he leaned forward and captured the Egyptian's soft lips. "I love you."

A chorus of "awws" brought both teens out of their own little world, making Seto blush slightly while a smirk played on Atemu's lips.

Yugi and Mokuba both giggled at the sight, pleased things were going so well. Joey looked both amused and disgusted at the same time. Bakura retreated deep into his soul room and proceeded to bang his head hard onto the 'wall' while cursing up a storm. Ryou could do nothing but flinch at the crude words that echoed throughout his head. Tristen and Duke coughed rather loudly, trying to cover up their laughter and Anzu just smiled and squeezed Yugi's hand.

Seeing Seto's discomfort at having been seen showing affection, he decided to turn everyone's attention onto him. "Hello everyone." He said as he extended his arm and gave a sharp whistle.

A piercing cry came from above making everyone turn their heads in that direction. Broad, agile wings stretched outward, before they flapped once, sending the majestic bird into fight. Silently, Jiyuu tucked his wings slightly, letting him descend down towards his target. Once close enough to Atemu's gauntlet covered arm, he splayed his wings again, flapping them a few times, till his sharp talons sank into the elk hide.

Bringing out another piece of meat to the falcon, he turned and grinned at the astonished looks on everyone's faces.

"Wow Atemu, when did you get the bird?" Yugi asked in barely a whisper, not wanting to startle the fierce looking falcon.

"When they went to the zoo yesterday," a sly grin spread across Mokuba's face. "Atemu wanted to free it and so my brother bought it and had workers come yesterday and built the aviary."

Seto scowled as Joey cracked up. "What's so funny, mutt?"

Seeing an argument was about to start, Yugi stepped forward as he pulled something out of his deck case. "Atemu, I brought these for you. I think they belong to you more than me."

Raising an eyebrow, he released Jiyuu, took the gauntlet off before taking the cloth-covered item from his look-a-like. Carefully removing the fabric, he gasped when he say what it was. "Osiris! Ra! Obelisk!" Then he looked at the last card given to him, "dw3 R! Mahaado…" (praise Ra)

Still as a statue, he stared at the four cards given to him. He couldn't believe that his ancient Ka monsters were now nothing more than playing cards from what Seto had told him, but to see them, hold them like this tore at his heart. Especially seeing his friend's Ka and Ba together on a flimsy piece of papyrus.

Seto was studying his love when he noticed the sorrowful look take over his face. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, he spoke in barely a whisper. "Atemu? Daijouba ka? (are you alright?)

Crimson eyes tore away from the precious cards in his hand to look into concerned cerulean. Then he swung his sight to Yugi and smiled slightly. "Hai. Arigatou Yugi."

"Hey Kaiba! Have you two dueled yet? Has he wiped the floor with ya yet?"

Seto growled at the blonde, "No mutt we haven't. We've been two busy with more important things."

"Whoa! Kaiba thinks something else is more important than dueling!? Man he must be in love!"

"Joey," Tristen warned, "Maybe you should quit while you still have your head."

"Have you even showed him how to play with the cards, Kaiba?" Yugi asked while watching his dark study the cards in his hands.

"No, I haven't."

"Well why don't we teach him? Two of us could duel each other and someone could explain it to him while he watches. Then someone could duel him once he's learned the rules."

Seto looked over at Atemu, thinking about what Yugi suggested. Nodding his head, he replied; "Alright, but we'll do it tomorrow. It's already late and Atemu needs time to set up a deck."

"You're going to give him cards?"

"Of course!" Mokuba chirped, "My brother has every card ever made! He has a whole room full of them!"

Joey groans, "Then that means he will get some of the best cards ever made! That's not fair! It took us years to prefect our decks!"

Seto just smirked as he placed and arm around Atemu's waist. "Then I suggest you go home and work on your mediocre skills."