I am so sorry. I have no excuses really other than I forgot. To be fair, I have started Sixth for had about three breakdowns over the workload and lost my memory stick again. Which is as annoying as hell because I practically live off that memory stick. Anyway, you don't want to hear me waffle about how badly organised a person I am, you want to read this.
So yeah, enjoy. I love this chapter, lots of sweet moments.
The Kaiba mansion was… different. That was Yugi's first thought when they reached it. He had expected something huge and flashy, something that would compete with the epic scale of the Kaiba Tower in the centre of town where Seto worked. Instead the building, although huge, was simple, nothing showing it to be any different from the surrounding houses in this neighbourhood. Moderately large front garden with shaped shrubbery and a certain style of architecture. But you could almost tell that someone different lived here even by the first glance.
The Kaiba Mansion was mostly lit, not by electricity, but by candlelight. Thousands of candles greeted Yugi when he first entered and at first he wondered why. He vaguely noticed that Mahad seemed a little more at ease here and that even Atemu looked a little more at home but he was too busy caught up in the place. There were light fittings but no one seemed bothered to use them, the candles placed in expensive candle holders, even a few thicker ones sitting on decorated dishes, giving the place a warm feel. The hall had solid marble floors, waxed to shine, but no one seemed to notice it other than Yugi, walking over the floor as if this were a regular occurrence. Everyone had moved ahead of him bar Atemu as he took the place in.
"Are you all right?" Atemu murmured in his ear. He looked nervous for some reason when Yugi turned to look at him.
"I'm fine. It's just… this place… I've never seen anything like it!" he whispered, unsure why it felt wrong to raise his voice here. It was like being in a church: it felt disrespectful to raise his voice. Atemu smiled.
"It's not too different from home when it's lit with candles," he said quietly. Yugi turned to look at him but Atemu was already moving ahead, following the path that Set and Mahad had taken.
"I thought you hadn't been here before!" Yugi gasped as he ran to catch up with Atemu, who moved surprisingly quickly for someone with such short legs. Atemu just smirked.
"It was a statement. There was nothing in it to say that I had been here before," Atemu said, glancing down at Yugi. Yugi scowled playfully, as he always did when he did this. It still irked him that he was the shortest in the family.
"Are you two going to hurry up or should I just leave you in the doorway?" Seto had stopped at the bottom of the grand stairway, having turned to scowl at them. Yugi ducked his head, wishing that Seto was at least a little more understanding. After all, he had seen that this was all new to him. Atemu just shot Seto a look that pretty much said he didn't approve of Seto's harsh behaviour which caused the young CEO to turn away. Yugi wondered if this was because he felt bad or because he was bored of waiting. It was hard to tell with the elder Kaiba brother.
Seto led them up the stairway and down some rather long corridors. Yugi soon lost his way and hoped that someone would be able to tell him where to go when he was required to move somewhere. The house was much bigger than he had originally thought. Atemu didn't look as if he were having the same problem although Atemu was hard to read even on a good day. Eventually they ended up standing outside two doors next to each other.
"These are the only interconnecting rooms in this building apart from mine and Mokuba's," Seto said, something softer in his voice rather than the harsh exterior Yugi was used to. For a moment Yugi wondered what had changed. He was looking at Atemu with some sort of emotion in his eyes but he wasn't sure exactly what. Sympathy? Empathy? Pity? It was difficult to tell. "I thought you would appreciate it a little better than the others. Mahad, your room is across the hall. Enjoy." The last word was said in a short tone of voice and Seto stalked away as soon as possible. Yugi watched him go, standing in the corridor with the others.
"He's… nice this evening," Yugi muttered, unsure of what to say. It was almost as if there were two different aspects to Seto's character that were warring with each other at the moment. It was confusing. Mahad seemed just as confused.
"He is certainly harsher than I am used to. Normally Seto has far more patience," he said, staring after Seto as he could see where he had gone. Yugi looked at Mahad with a frown.
"Are we talking about the same person?" Atemu scowled down at him.
"Seto is under a lot of pressure from both running his company and his own father. I don't suppose our own father's presence here is making anything easier for him, let alone our own presence in his house. He prefers to keep the two different aspects of his life separate," Atemu snapped a little harshly. They both turned to look at him but were interrupted by the arrival of Mokuba.
"Hey Yugi! Atem! Seto didn't tell me you had arrived yet!" Mokuba called, running towards them from the opposite end of the corridor. Yugi turned, blinking at Mokuba's sudden appearance, wondering where he had come from. Mahad looked just as mystified as Yugi felt.
"That's because your brother isn't being very hospitable at the moment," Atemu said, smiling. Yugi wondered how he was the only one unfazed by any of this. Hadn't Grandpa said that Atemu came from a very different world? Things were definitely getting out of control.
Mahad had never been so confused in his life. First his prince had a twin that he had never known about, then he had been thrust into a strange vehicle by a man whose nature had only ever been calm (yet still passionate) like a child, then he had been shocked to find his prince working like one of the common folk, now to find that Seto, Seto, had been keeping his own secrets close to his chest. He had known that Seto was secretive about the place he called home but he had never expected anything like this. It was clear however, that Atem knew all about this little secret as well.
At the present moment however, Mahad was trying to collect his rather muddled thoughts. Never in all his life had the magician ever been so shocked, not even when Mana had managed to freeze him (accidently) and then left him for over an hour as she forgot that she was meant to be finding the reverse spell. Hell, in that incident he had had time to reflect upon her progress and calm down enough that when he was freed he hadn't uncharacteristically blown her halfway across the country. That would be a little unfair after all. Mana was many things but horrible didn't even enter her vocabulary.
However this situation was completely different. Mahad wondered how many other secrets the royal family held that they had kept secret even from him the closest thing to a friend Atem had (other than perhaps, Bakura). It was almost reaching the point where it was ridiculous.
The young boy, who was as yet unnamed to Mahad, finally seemed to notice that he was there. "Oh, hey," the boy said, a little quieter than the shout of a moment ago. "Um… you're Mahad right? The guy from the hospital?" Mahad nodded his head slowly and gave him a smile. He was good at hiding his emotions although not as good as Atem.
"Yes, I am Mahad, although I am afraid I have heard little of you my young friend," Mahad said politely. The boy seemed to deflate a little, but tried to make up for it by putting on a big smile.
"Well, I'm Mokuba! I run everything my big brother doesn't get time to! If you want, I can show you around a bit before tomorrow?" Mokuba seemed keen to get to know him and Mahad got the feeling that although this boy might know of Seto's trips to Egypt he knew very little about them. That would mean that both Atem and Seto were either lying or only telling their brothers' half-truths. And the sad thing was Mahad could see why. Both Yugi and Mokuba seemed to glow with a childish innocence, something that had been lost to him long ago, denied to Atem and stripped from Seto. This innocence was like precious water in the desert. Neither wanted their brothers' to let it go and to tell the truth would do just that. So Mahad just smiled and gave his consent.
"I would love a tour. Your house is certainly impressive," Mahad said, catching Atem's eyes. Atem gave nothing away, only a small smile on his lips. Tomorrow would certainly be an interesting day.
Bakura wandered the city slums as easily as if he were a shadow. The people round here had learned long ago to leave him alone. Bakura had always had that effect on people and sometimes it irked him that people would take one look at him and think that he was some kind of mugger. It wasn't as if he had wanted to become a street beggar and live on scraps! And that was only when he was five years old! He growled and shook his head, trying to throw the thoughts off.
He found himself wandering back up to the wealthier areas, sticking to the shadows of the houses. People in places like this, Bakura had learned a while ago, were all the same. They took one look at a hardened soul like him and tried to extinguish it. Back in Egypt he would have had to run for his life. Here the people called the local police, a bunch of useless men whose only real weapons were Taser guns. They weren't a problem for him but he preferred to be left alone, especially tonight.
He didn't like the news that Akhnankhamun was leaving his vigil in Egypt and coming over to Japan. It would be the first time that something had brought him all this way since he had travelled the world as a young man and Bakura wondered how he had coped. He still remembered six years ago, when he had first arrived, and had run away from the man taking him to the so called 'safe-house' where he would be kept captive for tuition. The lights were blinding to someone used to the night getting dark and staying dark. A bright night was not something Bakura had been used to. It still wasn't. In his mind the whole place was unnatural.
At ten years old Bakura had known more of the world than any of these up-market kids, playing in the local park. He had seen his own parents murdered in front of him, watched his own brother be dragged away, kicking and screaming because he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. At least, that was what he had thought for years. It was only at ten years of age, lost in an alien world, that Bakura had learnt the terrible truth. Taken in by the palace after saving the young prince from a cobra (after he had been bitten of course. Atem was good at getting himself into trouble even at a young age), he had been sent away again after the king had learned that the street child and the prince had become close friends. It was in Japan that he learnt to read and write. And it was in Japan that he had seen his little brother again.
Ryou probably remembered little of his time in Egypt. It was clear that he remembered nothing of their parents. He had the light skin and white hair of an albino, half of which he shared with his elder brother, his eyes the same shade of brown. Ryou's hair however, was always neat and tidy, his clothes always worn correctly. And it was in these parks that he would play. There was no burning fire of his third year, no shouting men of his fifth. Just peace and tranquillity in a neighbourhood that was safe. Bakura had been seven and that day still haunted him.
He stood in front of the house now, watching through the open curtains his brother lead out a happier life. The Hashini family were nice and treated him well but there was just something about them that Bakura couldn't stand. Perhaps it was the fact that they had unknowingly snatched his brother away from him? Perhaps it was just that he was jealous that they could give Ryou the life he never could? Perhaps he was just envious that it had been his brother they had taken and not him. But Bakura didn't like living in the past. After all, the past had nothing but pain to offer him now.
And with that thought he turned away from the sight of his brother laughing in the light and returned to the shadows where he belonged.
Yugi had never seen rooms like the ones in the Kaiba mansion. His room was huge, the walls painted beige and everything feeling almost old and experienced. That was the feel the room gave off but it also seemed decked out for royalty. Things just seemed to get weirder and weirder. His bed was huge –a four poster bed of course- and the wardrobe looked as if it would hold three people's clothes rather than the meagre amount that Yugi had brought with him. Did Seto expect him to stay for a longer than he had thought? At least Atemu didn't have much of a problem, only having the clothes that he had brought with him.
Yugi sighed and dumped his bag on the bed. The door that connected his and Atemu's rooms was nowhere to be seen although Yugi suspected that since Kaiba liked the dramatic, it was probably concealed somewhere. Obviously very well since there was no sign of a crack in any of the walls. He supposed that the next day would be a long one and wondered if he should go to sleep soon. It was already dark outside, something he had barely noticed at the time he had spent with the others.
The evening hadn't exactly been all that great. They hadn't had time to put their things in their rooms as the Kaiba's head of security, a man named Roland that Yugi had met only once before, had arrived to tell them that dinner was ready and that they had to leave at that moment. They had all still been standing in the hall with their bags. The least Seto's servants (because he seemed to have some) could have done was put their bags in their rooms for them but Seto had been as un-hospitable as possible, having them leave the bags exactly where his guests had been forced to leave them. Dinner had been a very quiet affair, served in the dining room clearly designed for aweing guests and not entertaining them. Everything in the Kaiba mansion screamed money and power but somehow didn't really reflect Seto. At one point Yugi might have thought it did, the rooms as un-human as Seto portrayed himself, but now… Yugi wasn't sure what to think. Seto had spent all of dinner lost in thought and had barely eaten. Even Mokuba didn't disturb him. They had all returned to their rooms the moment that they had been allowed to go. There didn't seem to be anything left to say.
A loud noise from downstairs made Yugi jump, jolting him out of his musings. There was the sound of shouting and then someone swore. Yugi popped his head out of his door in time to see Atemu stalking down the corridor muttering to himself. Yugi decided to join him, not wanting to be left alone to his thoughts again.
"What's happening?" Yugi asked as he jogged to catch up with his brother. Atemu blinked and looked down at him in surprise.
"Bakura's decided to be an asshole again. By the sounds of it he just raided some room and is probably trying to get away again," Atemu said, his voice tight. Yugi gulped suddenly remembering the stories that Bakura was a thief. Now it seemed that that part was true.
"Why?" Yugi whimpered stopping in the corridor. Atemu paused and looked back at Yugi with a reassuring smile.
"Because he's an idiot. It's not like he wants any of it. He'll return it in the end. Thieving is Bakura's way of letting off steam," Atemu said, gesturing him to follow him. Yugi felt his legs starting to move again, following his brother with the faith he was starting to get used to. Atemu just seemed to trustworthy now that he had gotten past some of his brother's eccentricities.
"How do you get a hobby like that?" Yugi wondered out loud as they turned down the stairs. Atemu just had a sad smile on his face as they came to the scene.
"By having your most of your life ripped away at a young age. Then having the rest peeled away piece by piece." Yugi didn't understand the analogy but he did understand what was going on down the stairs. Bakura was being held by three security men, a rather expensive looking vase sitting unharmed by the far wall. Bakura looked as wild as an alley cat but twice as dangerous, all wild eyes and snapping teeth. He didn't look as if he were having a good day. Atemu seemed to know this as well as he descended the stairs.
"Let him go," Atemu said quietly when they reached the foot of the stairs. The security men turned to Atemu as if he were mad.
"Sir?" one of them said, clearly questioning Atemu's sanity. "He's just tried to steal half the most valuable objects in the house!"
"I'm sure Bakura intended to return them in time. And an eighteenth century vase is not the most valuable thing in this house believe me. Now let him go." Yugi was amazed at the authority that oozed from every pore n Atemu. It was as if he were born to rule over men. The security men looked at each other warily before loosening their grip. Bakura shot up and away from them in seconds his teeth bared, eyes on them. Atemu just walked calmly over to him and said something quietly in their home language. Bakura snapped something back and Atemu's eyes hardened. He gave a short answer of his own and crossed his arms. Bakura seemed to take this as a warning and stepped back, his hands at his sides.
"Fine," Bakura snapped, switching back to Japanese. "I'll behave." Atemu nodded.
"Good. Father wants a report from you as well." Bakura growled at that. Atemu ignored it and began to walk away. Bakura took a few deep breaths and then his usual smirk slipped into place.
"Hey, Atem!" he called. Atemu turned, eyebrow raised. "You know me. I would have sold that stupid vase on EBay rather than return it." Atemu gave a short laugh and Yugi found himself left wondering what had just happened.
Yeah, I will try t update faster next time. lots of time now I'm on half term and then I'll probs disappear until Christmas. nice present for you at that time of year. Anyway, I am supposed to be answering reviews so here goes.
Aqua Girl 007: I'm glad that your enjoying this story and thank you for your lovely review. I think I've mentioned before that I'm trying to write Mana into this story for someone else but because I'm keeping her in Egypt you will have to be satisfied for that with mentions of her. There will be, however, a sequel which is going to be set in Egypt and will feature her much, much more but for the purposes of this story, she won't be in it properly until towards the end. I'm about halfway through at the moment (I think) and so the sequel shouldn't be too far away (so long as I keep writing/updating).
CrimsonStrawberry17: As my constant reviewer I feel slightly guilty that I've left this so long without answering your reviews so here is the next chapter and I hoped you enjoyed it. To be fair your probably right that it is extreme but that's pretty much what i needed to make this story work. But I'm glad your still enjoying it and not sick of me by now.
Lady Fai: I'm glad that your still enjoying this fic and still here. I'd be sick of myself by now for not updating so I suppose you have more patience than me.
Magical Guest: Another Mahad moment! I'm sorry to have to let you know this, but he will disappear again in a few chapters but he will return! probably nearing the end of this story because I think it's heading towards an end. But don't fear! he will play a bigger part in the sequel because that's based mainly in Egypt!