Hey readers! Im happy to report that my horses jaw has completely healed!
So this chapter answeres almost all your questions about this story. I hope you enjoy it because I enjoyed writing it! Though I wish I could have portrayed some scenes better. If you see any mistakes or errors, let me know.
Thank you to all my reviewers. You make my day when I see a review.
Disclaimer: Still have vet bills to pay off. Maybe in the distant future.
There are some situations that are not worth understanding. When these situations arise it's practically useless in attempting to understand the problem.
Atemu stared at the people in front of him. He recognized Marik immediately and remembered that the last time he saw him was when he pulled him from the water. After that he had disappeared. Instead of his usual attire Marik wore no shirt with cargo pants. His gold jewelry was in place.
The person next to him was Pegasus. The tournament holder wore a red suit. At first glance you saw his left eye covered up but on a closer inspection you could see a golden glint. The man had his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
The woman from the museum stood next to Pegasus and wore the same white dress. A millennium necklace was on her neck and it unnerved Atemu. It was as if the eye was watching him. Not only that, the woman kept giving him the expectant look.
And last but not least was Seto Kaiba. The blue-eyed CEO didn't flinch when Atemu steadied his gaze onto him. Kaiba just held a stoned expression, void of any emotion. Atemu silently struggled against his restraints feeling very betrayed. Pieces started to click together and form a picture. The picture was in front of him the whole time.
"Mokuba never got kidnapped…did he?"
Crimson bore into blue.
"No."
Anger. It filled his battered body, ran thick through his veins and took any reason left. Atemu closed his eyes in order to suppress it, and then he remembered he was betrayed. And because of the betrayal Yuugi was who knows where. Eyes snapped open to reveal blood red irises.
So many words threatened to escape Atemu's mouth and the teen gritted his teeth in order to stop himself. The restraints held fast and he wished with all his might that this was not happening. But wishes were after all just wishes. Wishes couldn't find Yuugi. All they did was bring false hope.
As fast as the anger came it dissolved. He was too weak to be angry. His arms were above his head and his shoulder muscles began to ache. The metal on the Holding arms were chafing his wrists.
"Why did you take Yuugi?"
Annoyance briefly flickered through Kaiba's features but it was not directed towards Atemu. The CEO bestowed his annoyance on the man in the red suite. Pegasus rolled his eyes and flicked his white hair.
"It was a precaution" Pegasus casually replied.
"Did I not specify that Yuugi was not to be harmed!"
"Very clearly but we could not risk the chance of Atemu not coming." Annoyance was laced in Pegasus's voice. "Don't worry, he's perfectly fine."
Kaiba gave an agitated sigh and rubbed his temples.
"Did you get the ring?" Marik asked impatiently. Out of the four Marik was the only one not in possession of a millennium item. He did not want to stand by while everyone had fun from the events to come.
"Well did you?"
"Of course I did. We do need all seven items. Where is Shadi? He should know by now that the Pharaoh is in our possession."
As if on cue the room darkened to a deep violet. A cloud appeared in the middle of Atemu and the four people. It was a mix of black and purple. From the top of it something white began to emerge. Soon a tan man stood where the cloud was. He was wearing a white turban with a golden key dangling from his neck. In his hand was a golden scale with an eye on it.
"Nice of you to show up." Kaiba pointedly glared at the man. Atemu assumed this man was the one they were talking about earlier, Shadi. Shadi glanced back at Atemu and studied him quickly. Shadi turned back to the group.
"I am here now that's all that matters." Shadi walked over and joined his peers. Atemu flicked his gaze at the five humans. What right did they have in keeping him prisoner. He didn't break any rules or make anyone upset.
"I demand you to release me and return Yuugi to me." The teen tried to sound intimidating but there's only so much he could do.
"You're in no position to make demands" Marik replied. He reached his hand towards Kaiba. The CEO handed him the millennium ring with a grunt. Marik quickly placed it over his head.
"Do you know why you are here?" Shadi stepped forward and asked. His eyes were black and they unnerved Atemu. When Shadi got no response he continued.
"3000 years ago a prosperous country ruled its land. There was peace among its people and everyone lived happily. The country was Egypt."
Shadi paused and stared at the teen.
"In an attempt to keep the peace, the Pharaoh at the time, Ahknemkhanen, had one of his priests create the seven millennium items. The millennium rod, key, scale, eye, puzzle, ring, and necklace. These items hold great power and were entrusted to the six priests for safekeeping while the Pharaoh received the millennium puzzle."
Atemu's eyes glanced down at his puzzle. He still didn't see how all this related to him. His arms were going numb and he attempted to shift position with no success. Shadi continued,
"A traveler from a distant land caught wind of the items and decided to take over the world. This man was no other than the Thief King Bakura."
Was the Bakura he met one of the same? He also thought that it was ironic that the purpose of the items was to maintain peace but instead it was going to create war.
"At the same time, the current Pharaoh had fallen gravely ill with a slim chance of survival. Before he passed, he entrusted the millennium puzzle and his kingdom to his only child, the prince of Egypt.
The prince readily accepted his new responsibility and took over once his father was laid to rest. The prince became Pharaoh at 18 summers. This was Pharaoh Atemu."
Atemu froze and stared at Shadi with an open mouth. Hundreds of thoughts poured though the teens mind. Was this why everyone was calling him Pharaoh? Absurd. It was just a coincidence that they both had the same name. The pharaoh was dead and the era of pharaohs had passed long ago. Plus there was no possible way he was connected with a dead king. Atemu's eyes fell on the puzzle.
"Soon war ravaged Egypt and Pharaoh Atemu fought full force in attempt to stop it. But the young Pharaoh was naïve and inexperienced. Bakura captured the king and ripped his heart out of his chest and stabbed it. Before anything else could be done, the priests intervened and cast an enchantment."
Atemu recalled the horrible pain he felt in his chest after that one dream he had. The hallway he was in looked like a palace. Did the peircing scream belong to Pharaoh Atemu?
"You see there was so much hope and potential for the Pharaoh. Unknown to the previous pharaoh, the items held a different purpose. The items are the gateway to the Shadow Realm. A place so dark and morbid that only one person is able to access it. Pharaoh Atemu was that person.
Control of the Shadow realm and its creatures insured domination of humankind but the one person who had access to it was now dead. Not wanting to lose the only chance at the great power, the pharaoh's priests tore the soul out of the pharaoh body until his vessel would be born."
Atemu felt cold, "Vessel?"
"Yes a vessel. A body that would be able to carry the pharaoh's soul until he's ready to be reawakened. A body that was identical to the pharaoh's own.
You, Atemu Motou are nothing but a vessel to our Great King, Pharaoh Atemu."
"What? Now you're just fucking with my mind. I am my own person and not some fucken vessel to fucking dead man." Atemu didn't even know where the outburst came from. The teen wanted to feel anger. After all someone just implied he was a shell. But there was nothing pulsing through his veins. Atemu could feel denial building in his brain. He was not a shell.
Everyone ignored his outburst.
"But you are Atemu. Your soul doesn't belong to you. Nothing does. Your thoughts, aspirations, goals are not yours."
"No" Atemu said. But it was more of trying to convince himself that the others. The teen tried to deny it but found he had no strength to. He was mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. Too much had happened in the last couple of days to wrap his mind around anything.
There was no possible way that he was a shell. Things like this didn't exist.
Atemu almost agreed with them until a spiky haired kid popped up in his thoughts. Yuugi. If he gave up now there was no telling on what would happen to the youngster. Atemu was the only one thing left in Yuugi's life. Determination came into the teen's eyes, even though it was a miniscule amount.
"No" Atemu said with more feeling.
"Your parents are on this. Well, they were on board." Shadi calmly replied. Atemu felt sick. His stomach turned and he had to bite his lip to keep the bile down. This…man was now making stuff up. "They were part of our organization and they knew if they conceived a child it would be the vessel. Since they wanted the Pharaoh back they married and had you.
When you were born it was obvious that indeed you were the vessel. Preparations were made and on your sixteenth birthday you would be sacrifices to release the Pharaoh's soul. After the Pharaoh would be released they wanted to start their own family and they had Yuugi."
Numbness had taken over Atemu. The only thing he felt was the squeezing pain in his heart. It wasn't true, they were lying. Though it did explain why there were never photos of the teen around the house. Why his birthdays were never a big deal.
"They were so happy to have a son. A son who had his own soul and would live the life the way he wanted. A son that was not you."
Tears streamed down the teen's face. He remembered when Yuugi was born. His parents had ignored Atemu for weeks and had forbidden him from seeing the infant. One week Yuugi wouldn't stop crying until Atemu picked him up for the first time. It was then the brotherly bond formed and the duo was inseparable.
They were trying to make Atemu hate Yuugi. It was impossible of course but the teen's tears increased at the reality of someone trying to separate them. The reality that what they were saying was true.
"Unfortunately your parents decided to crash into a car and not survive. The two of you then were given into the care of your grandfather. He also knew of the plan. The he too died and we lost track of you.
Until you met Seto Kaiba."
Atemu gazed at Kaiba remembering their first encounter.
It was four months ago. He had taken Yuugi to the opening of Kaibaland. When Atemu spotted Kaiba, he marched to him and arrogantly demanded the blue-eyed man for a duel for his World Championship Title. The man accepted, dueled, and lost. So forth their rivalry began.
Atemu laughed the memory. He was so bold and confident. Living life to the fullest. Now look at him, tied to a rock and blubbering like a baby.
"Kaiba informed us and we began discussing ideas on how to lure you into our trap." Shadi ended it because there was nothing left to say. He gazed at the five people again. Pegasus set up the tournament with the three million dollars knowing Atemu wouldn't refuse. Ishizu had brought the museum exhibit in order for the events to begin. Marik made sure Atemu got to the island safely.
There was nothing Atemu could think of that contradicted what Shadi said. Atemu was a vessel for the Pharaoh's soul. His own existence was a lie.
Sighing defeated, Atemu retreated into the deepest corner of his mind and curled up in the fetal position. He passed memories of his friends. The times when there was no troubling dreams, near fatal accidents, or the worry of getting Yuugi back. Memories of game nights, duels, late night study sessions, and lame jokes flitted before his again would he see Yuugi laugh or smile.
There was only one regret in Atemu mind. He would never see Yuugi grow up. Someone else would be there. Erasing Atemu from Yuugi's life.
His mind went blank.
There he became the vessel for Pharaoh Atemu.
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