Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or the Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter.

Yugi paused at the side of the shop, taking a few deep breaths. Atemu watched him curiously, his arms crossing over his chest. Yugi glanced at him, thinking. He knew he should have thought beforehandaboutwhat he would tell his grandfather concerning Atemu's unexpected presence, but he didn't have a heck of a lot of time to come up with a story this morning. He hoped his grandpa would believe whatever it was he could come up withoff the top of his head. He took one more breath and then moved. Atemu's footsteps sounded behind him as the two of them made their wayaround the building towards the front door.

Yugi pushed open the shop door, chuckling a little as Atemu jumped and looked above him for the source of thestrange sound, before following him through the doorway. Solomon was standing behind the counter, and the elderly man turned at the sound of the chime. The smile died on the old man's face before it had even begun, and Solomon stared at Yugi in confusion as he approached the counter with Atemu.

"Good morning Yugi." Solomon greeted, looking between Yugi and Atemu.

"Morning Grandpa." Yugi replied. Solomon straightened, and Yugi knew he was about to be interrogated.

"Who's this?" Solomon motioned to Atemu as he asked his question.

"This is Atemu. He's a friend of mine who just moved here from Egypt." Yugi started. He mentally applauded himself. That was a good start, and it soundedbelievable too. Solomon smiled and perked a bit at the mention of Egypt.

"Really now? An Egyptian native? How did the two of you meet?"

"We're pen pals." Yugi said quickly. "Kind of a foreign relations thing, you know." Solomon nodded, then his plum colored eyes flickered to Atemu.

What brought you to Japan?" Solomon inquired. Yugi froze. He hadn't expected that. Yugi shot Atemu a glance, and he blinked in shock, seeing the almost tearful look on the taller male's face. Confused, Yugi could only watch. Solomon seemed confused as well, and he reached forward and gently touched Atemu, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you alright?" Solomon asked. Atemu seemed to snap out of whatever it was that was going on with him at Solomon's touch, and he coughed lightly, a slight flush covering his cheeks due to his out of character moment.

"I apologize. Um, I've come to Japan for a fresh start." Atemu began, and Yugi mentally cheered again. "I haven't much however, and your grandson has so kindly extended his hospitality to me for the time being." Atemu finished. He ended with a light bow. "It is an honor to meet you." Solomon grinned.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you too. Now, why has Yugi brought you with him today?" Solomon's head tilted slightly as he questioned the Egyptian. Yugi stepped forward, laughing nervously.

"Well, he was curious about my job. He needs a place to work and thought he'd observe here for the day, and possibly get a job?" Yugi explained. Atemu shot him a surprised look, but his face quickly melted back into that expressionless mask before Solomon noticed. Solomon, himself, looked a littleunsure at Yugi's words.

"A job? I don't know if we really need another person here." Solomon admitted.

"Grandpa, you work so hard. I'm sure we can find something for him to do, and it will give you the opportunity to rest." Yugi told him.

"Hm... Well, we'll go ahead and let him observe today, and I'll think on it." Yugi smiled widely.

"Thank you Grandpa." Yugi walked around the counter and hugged the elderly man. Atemu gave another bow.

"Thank you Grandfather." Atemu spoke. Solomon smiled and gave a small nod.

"Well then, let's get to work. Yugi, Atemu, I have a shipment arriving today, so when it gets here, I'm going to need help unloading. Yugi, until then, you know what to do, and Atemu, you can help Yugi today." With that, Solomon grabbed his broom and headed outside to sweep the front sidewalk. Atemu waited until the old man had set to work and the door had closed before turning to Yugi with a glare. Yugi ducked his head, a blush staining his pale cheeks.

"You want me to work!" Atemu hissed harshly. "I have no idea how!"

"I know that!" Yugi whispered. "But what was I supposed to tell him!"

"Anything but that!" Atemu stepped around the counter and leered down at him. "He's going to find you out."

"No he won't. I can find something for you to do that you can do." Yugi assured him.

"I have never done manual labor a day in my life!" Atemu persisted.

"What Grandpa wants you to do is easy. All you have to do is carry boxes into the shop, and I can help you stock the shelves. Don't worry about a thing." Yugi gave him a confident smile. Atemu crossed his arms over his chest and kept glaring. Yugi sighed and stared out front to where his grandfather was. "Come on. We can find something for you to do." Atemu did as he was asked, following Yugi back to the closest where they kept most of their supplies. Yugi grabbed a couple rags and some cleaner and left the closet. Yugi strode over to the front windows, and he handed Atemu one of the rags.

"What is this for?" Atemu questioned him.

"This." Yugi sprayed the window in front of Atemu with the cleaner and demonstrated how to wipe it down with the rag. Once he was sure Atemu understood, he went to the matching window on the other side and proceeded to do the same. Atemu cleaned the window, his eyes straying over to Yugi every now and then. He was mostly doing it to watch how Yugi cleaned, but he found his eyes wandering over the smaller male's form more then once. Atemu shook his head and focused his eyes on his work with a little effort. He would not think of his master in such a way.

"Yugi? Atemu?" Solomon peeked his head into the shop as the two boys were just finishing the window. Yugi glanced up, watching a truck slow to a stop in front of the shop. "The shipment is here."

"Be right there Grandpa." Yugi told him. He took the rag from Atemu. "Go on outside. I'll be there in a second." Atemu ground his teeth together as his skin tingled, and he turned and walked outside. Yugi set the rags and the cleaner on the counter before going outside and joining Atemu. Solomon was talking to the driver, who smiled and nodded at something the elderly man said before walking around the truck to the back and opening it. He set up a small ramp as well.

"Alright boys. I need those boxes carried into the shop. Can you handle it?" Solomon asked. Yugi nodded.

"No problem Grandpa." Yugi walked up the ramp and grabbed a box, carrying it back down the ramp and towards the shop, his face wound in a grimace. Atemu mimicked the action, finding the boxes surprisingly easy to carry. Yugi dropped the box in front of one of the shelves, turning and watching Atemu drop the box next to his. Yugi followed him back outside, watching Atemu lean over and pick up a box. Yugi couldn't help himself, and he stared at the taller male's muscles flexed as he carried the box past him. Oh yeah, that was definitely drool worthy. Where was a camera when you needed it? He thought with a pout.

Yugifinally forced himself to stop staring and grab another box, giving a slight groan with the effort it took. Just what was in these boxes anyway? He was slightly jealous that Atemu made lugging these things around look easy.

After all the boxes were brought in, Solomon instructed Yugi to start unloading them and do inventory so they knew what they had. Yugi nodded and retrieved a notebook out of a drawer in the counter. He plopped down next to one of the boxes while Solomon sat behind the counter. Atemu kneeled in front of Yugi, watching as he opened a box and took something out, jotting something down in the notebook.

As he watched his young master's actions Atemu's curiosity got the better of him. "What are you doing?" Yugi looked up at the question and smiled.

"Jotting down what we got in the shipment. It's to make sure everything is here and just so we have a record of what we have, for accounting purposes." Yugi replied.

"Oh." Atemu sat down and crossed his legs Indian style. Yugi continued to work, getting through four boxesbefore Solomon called for their attention.

"How does a lunch break sound?" Solomon inquired.

"Lunch sounds awesome Grandpa. I'm starving." Yugi rose to his feet, groaning as his legs tingled. Darn things had fallen asleep while he had been sitting there.

"Switch the open sign then Yugi, and I'll get us something to eat." Solomon then turned and opened the door leading up to the apartment and started climbing the stairs. Yugi walked over to the front door and switched the open sign to one that said back in twenty. He joined Atemu back at the counter and gave the Pharaoh a warm smile.

"How are you enjoying your first day?" Yugi grinned. Atemu rolled his eyes and smiled a bit.

"Honestly it's not as bad as I first envisioned. The work does not seem difficult." Atemu admitted.

"Awesome." Yugi replied. "So... You wouldn't mind coming back?" Atemu turned to look at him, silent for a moment.

"I...wouldn't mind." Atemu replied slowly.

"Thanks. Sorry it's so sudden. I just couldn't think of another way to do things, and if I just left you at home..." Yugi trailed off.

"I understand. I know not the ways of your world." Atemu's tone took on a slightly bitter edge.

"That's something I can help you with, if you want to learn." Yugi offered. "I could give you a tour of my house too."

"A tour of your home would be much appreciated, considering I will be staying there for the time being." Atemu agreed.

"We can do that after dinner tonight then. Speaking of, I should probably figure out what to make tonight." Yugi moved around the counter and sat down, laying his head in his hand. Solomon came back a few minutes later, carrying a tray with their lunches on it. Atemu was quick to take it from him and place it on the counter. Yugi rose and grabbed two more chairs out of the store closet, setting them up.

"Are you enjoying it here, Atemu?" Solomon asked, taking a bite out of one of the sandwiches on the tray. Atemu took one for himself and nodded.

"Very much so, Grandfather. I thank you for the opportunity to work under you." Yugi was surprised at how polite Atemu was being to his grandfather. He could tell it wasn't just because the man was a stranger or Yugi's relative. Yugi could see something hidden in Atemu's eyes whenever he looked at Solomon. It was like he knew or recognized him from somewhere. There was a deep respect there, and Yugi wondered what exactly it was about his grandpa that garnered this reaction from the Pharaoh.

The three males finished their lunch in silence then, Atemu finding the meal oddly tasty. While Solomon took the tray back upstairs, Yugi re-opened the shop by flipping the sign backto open. Yugi then resumed his place on the floor and began taking inventory again. Solomon appeared a few minutes later and took up the spot behind the counter.

"Do you enjoy just sitting there writing in that book?" Atemu murmured, sitting back down in front of Yugi. The pale skinned male chuckled and raised his gaze to Atemu's ruby orbs.

"It's easier then figuring out the amount of everything we've sold and what kind of profit we've made." Yugi replied. The shop door opened with the familiar chime, and a young woman entered with a little boy trailing behind her. Yugi glanced up, then looked back to his grandfather. Solomon rose from his seat and strode towards the woman, starting a conversation with her.

"Who is she?" Atemu wondered.

"A customer." Yugi answered. "She's probably here to buy a game for her little boy."

"Games... What kinds of games do you sell here?" Atemu tilted his head, his ruby orbs shining withcuriosity.

"All kinds." Yugi lifted a box from one of the cardboard ones lying in front of him and showed it to Atemu. "Like this one here. It's aboard-game. This one is called Monopoly." Yugi wrote something down in his notebook before setting the game to the side. "There's also ones like this." Yugi took another game from the box. "We call this one Yatzee."

"Yatzee? That's a strange name." Atemu commented.

"Yeah, but it's tons of fun to play. We also sell decks of playing cards here, for games like War, Go Fish, or Poker." Yugi pulled out a regular deck of cards and showed them to the Egyptian.

"I've never heard of those games before."

"I can teach you how to play, if you're interested." Yugi raised his gaze slowly to Atemu's.

"You would teach me?" Atemu sounded dumbfounded.

"Sure, if you want."

"I... I would like that very much." Atemu looked truly happy for only a split second, but it was enough to bring a soft smile to Yugi's face. He really wished Atemu would smile more often. The regal teen was breathtakingly beautiful when he did. Yugi knew it would take more time before Atemu felt that comfortable around him, but he was making progress, and that was good enough for now. Yugi finally finished with the inventory a half an hour later, and he began to show Atemu how to stock the shelves.

The day began to come to an end as the sky began to grow dark. Yugi helped Solomon close up the shop, and he and Atemu bid his grandfather goodbye before leaving the shop. Yugi locked the door behind him, smiling as he watched his grandpa head upstairs, the hall light illuminating the shop for a moment before the door closed behind the elderlyman. Yugi led the way back to his car, taking a look at the watch on his wrist. It was nearly time for dinner, and from behind him, Atemu's stomach gave a hungry growl.

"Hm... I don't know if I want to cook tonight." Yugi mused out loud. "We could always get take-out."

"Take-out?" Atemu echoed behind him.

"Yeah, you grab something from another place and bring it home instead of making it yourself." Yugi explained. Atemu frowned.

"It matters not what you grab, so long as we get something. I'm hungry."

Yugi glanced back at his pleasure slave, a slight annoyance overcoming him at the other man's tone. "We'll get something soon." Yugi unlocked his car and arched a brow as Atemu stood where he was, staring at it. "Aren't you getting in?"

"I... I have to ride in this demon again?" Yugi fought back a laugh at Atemu's tone.

"If you expect to get some food and go back to my place, then yes." Atemu shot him a glare, crossing his arms over his chest as a giggle escaped Yugi's lips.

"This is not funny."

"Actually from my point of view, it's pretty hilarious." Yugi smirked, covering his mouth with one hand as he laughed. Atemu let out a childish huff and turned his head to the side, avoiding Yugi's eyes. "Come on, don't pout." Atemu's glare turned fiery as he looked into Yugi's indigo orbs.

"I am not pouting!"

"You're pouting."

"Am not!"

"Are." Yugi giggled again, his violet orbs shining. Atemu's crimson ones narrowed and he huffed again.

"Am not." Atemu insisted stubbornly. Yugi laughed.

"Okay, okay. You're not pouting. Can we get going now?" Atemu's gaze flickered between Yugi and the car, then back to Yugi.

"I wish not to ride in this metal monster again."

"No choice." Yugi crossed his arms over the hood of the car and laid his head in them, grinning. "Unless you feel like walking all those miles to my house." Atemu gave a wary look to the car before grimacing and getting in. Yugi chuckled and got in as well, reaching over Atemu to fasten his seatbelt. "Thanks for braving the metal monster." Yugi teased.

"Anything for my master." Atemu replied, his tone slightly sullen, as though he were sulking.

"Gee, thanks." Yugi started the car, fighting a laugh as Atemu jumped, but a snicker escaped anyhow.

"I'm so happy you find my torment amusing." Atemu snapped icily as he crossed his arms over his chest again, staring out the car window as it began to move along the street. Yugi rolled his eyes and turned left, heading for Burger World.

"Come on, be practical. If I had suddenly been thrown back into Ancient Egypt and forced to learn everything of your world, and freaked out over things you have been accustomed to your whole life, wouldn't you find it a little bit funny?" Yugi reasoned. "I'm not making fun of you. It just provokes a laugh is all. And I don't think you can tell me you wouldn't laugh."

"...I suppose I see your point." Atemu said slowly. He sat there for a moment before a thought crossed his mind, and a chuckle escaped Atemu's lips. "I can't really see you as the type to go horseback riding, or even be able to tame a horse in the first place."

"Me? Horseback riding?" Yugi laughed out loud at that one. "Oh yeah, there's a laugh for you. I'd probably end up getting trampled." Atemu laughed out loud as well at Yugi's words and the images they brought to mind.

"I do not think you would get trampled, but the image of you being tossed from the horse provokes a funny image." Atemu's eyes shined as they laughed.

"Oh yeah, and knowing me, I'd land on my butt too. Probably wouldn't be able to walk without pain for a week." That brought another round of laughter from both men as they each envisioned Yugi walking around with a limp and having to explain a sore bottom courtesy of an orneryhorse. As their laughter began to die down, Yugi pulled into the drive-thru for Burger World. Yugi ordered himself a hamburger and a large fry, along with a medium coke.

"What would you like?" Yugi asked.

"Um... I've never dined in such a place. The food is unknown to me." Atemu answered, looking unsure.

"Hm... How about a cheeseburger? Those are tasty." Yugi offered with a smile. Atemu nodded. It was better then nothing, and probably worth giving a shot. Yugi ordered the rest of the food and pulled up to the window to pay. The woman there handed him his change back with a smile of her own and Yugi pulled up to the next window for the food. He handed the bag to Atemu, and the Egyptian's mouth began to water when the pleasant aroma from the bag enveloped the car. Yugi set the drinks he'd ordered into the drink holders and pulled away, heading home.

"This smells delicious." Atemu commented.

"You can go ahead and try it if you want. Yours has cheese." Yugi told him as he turned right onto the street that would lead him home. Atemu opened the bag and pulled out one of the round objects inside, opening the paper. He stared at it for a moment before taking a bite, his entire face lighting up at the taste. Before Yugi had even pulled up to the house, Atemu had eaten his whole burger and half the fries. His drink was also half gone, and he was sipping it as Yugi stopped the car.

"Hungry, weren't you?" Yugi giggled as he undid their seatbelts and exited the car.

"A bit." Atemu chuckled, walking with him up to the front door. Yugi unlocked the door and flipped the light on as they stepped inside. As Yugi slipped his shoes off, he heard Atemu yawn behind him. Yugi laid his shoes by the front door, then straightened and turned to face Atemu.

"Tired?" Yugi questioned, noting how weary Atemu suddenly looked.

"Yes. Seems today took more out of me then I thought." Atemu admitted.

"You could go to bed if you want." Yugi suggested. "You'll need plenty of sleep before our shopping trip tomorrow."

"Yes, I shall retire then. Goodnight Yugi."

"Goodnight Atemu." Atemu turned and headed back towards the guest room, slipping inside and closing the door behind him once he got there. A small smile that Atemu was unaware of crossed his face as he sat down on the bed and removed his shoes. Today truly hadn't been as bad as he thought, although the start had been very unexpected. He hadn't expected Siamun's reincarnation to be here of all places. It brought tears to his eyes to remember the loneliness he had felt upon laying eyes on the elderly man.

Atemu snuggled under the covers, a sigh escaping him as his head hit the pillow. And the man was Yugi's grandfather... Secretly Atemu looked forward to more days in the shop. He wanted to talk with the man some more and get to know him. He knew it wouldn't be the same since he was not Siamun, but it would help to ease his loneliness some just by having someone who looked like him near.

Atemu snuggled deeper under the blanket and closed his eyes, drifting to sleep under the moonlight shining through the window.