So, the beginning of this chapter kind of got away from me, but I got it back on track later in the chapter. So, I do not own Yugioh, enjoy!
Chapter 13
"…so it wouldn't work." Malik was saying.
"I just don't understand people like that." Yugi said shaking his head.
"I know right? They make up their minds about something, and then they can't be swayed no matter what. It's like they think only their opinion matters, and everyone else's is just bullshit." Malik said.
"Its people like that that make me pity the world we live in, the ones that have to make everyone else as miserable as they are. The ones that believe that they aren't ever in the wrong; it's just everyone else who's incorrect. I wish they'd just go crawl in a hole and stay there." Ryou said.
"People suck." Yugi said bluntly as they passed the last alleyway before they crossed over the red line. Not one of them saw crimson eyes staring out at them from the darkness of the alleyway.
"So what did you do about them, Malik?" Yugi asked.
"There was nothing I could do, like I said they had their mind made up about me already. The only thing that was within my power was to ignore them, which is what I ended up doing anyway." Malik said kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk.
"That's too bad." Ryou said as he took Amane off of Yugi's shoulders and put her on the ground in front of the shop.
"Yeah." Malik said shrugging as Yugi unlocked and pushed open the door.
"Well, enough of this morbid subject, who wants dinner?" Yugi asked looking at Amane.
"Me! Me! Me! Me!" she said waving her hand around.
"Alright, I'll get on it." Yugi said making his way up to the living quarters of the shop and into the kitchen.
Yugi pulled the Carp out of the freezer and started to defrost it. He cut up vegetables, and even made some rice balls with pickled plums in them. He knew his friends liked them like that. Next he made up a lemon sauce, to pour over the Carp. He was a good cook, which is what he was going to Tokyo University for to become a Chef. He hoped to one day open his own restaurant. That's why he studied so hard and tried out new recipes constantly, he had even made a couple. They were soups, but it was a start.
Yugi pulled the defrosted Carp out of the microwave and sliced them open so he could remove the bones and innards. Once that was done, he poured the lemon sauce over the Carp, and layered up the vegetables around them on the pan. He put the Carp into the oven and set the timer for one hour.
Next Yugi worked on making a dessert, because no meal was ever complete without one. He worked on making a chocolate pudding as he heard Amane's laughter escape from the living room. It made Yugi smile to know that there was still a thing called happy innocence in the world, even if his own had been diluted. Yugi scooped out the pudding into four separate bowls, put raspberries and mint leaves on them, and then put them in the refrigerator.
Yugi washed his hands, put his dishes in the dishwasher, and headed out into the living room. He walked in just in time to see Amane do a somersault in front of Ryou and Malik who were playing the Wii. Yugi caught the priceless vase that almost toppled onto her, and put it in a cabinet for safe keeping. He sat down, but before he could relax, the doorbell rang.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Ryou asked.
"Not that I know of." Yugi said grabbing a Styrofoam bat that had been spray painted silver on the way down to the shop. It helped to scare of unruly customers, which is what it was used for most days. Yugi approached the shop door, bat raised only to drop it as he recognized Serenity on the other side of his glass door.
"What can I do for you?" Yugi asked opening the door.
"Is Malik here?" Serenity asked.
"Yeah, why?" Yugi asked.
"Ishizu wants him to come home now." Serenity said.
"Can't she wait until after he's eaten dinner?" Yugi asked leaning against the frame of his door.
"No, apparently there was a brawl at one of their bars, and well, she wants him back in his territory now." Serenity explained.
"Alright, tell Ishizu to meet us in the park, I'll bring Malik there." Yugi said looking down.
"You have 20 minutes." Serenity said before walking away.
Yugi sighed, so much for a good meal, just like old times. He shut the door, picked up the bat and went back upstairs. What made Yugi's job even worse was walking upstairs and seeing Malik beating Ryou for once. Oh well, no one said their lives were easy.
"Hey Malik, it's time to go." Yugi said just loud enough for him to hear. Ryou paused the game.
"What? Why?" Malik asked turning around.
"Something about a brawl happening in Satake's territory, and your sister wanting you home." Yugi explained.
"But I'm winning!" Malik complained.
"Right and I got 20 minutes, well less now, to get you to the other side of the park." Yugi said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Malik's eyes widened.
"Okay, by Ryou. See you Princess." Malik said forlornly getting up and ruffling Amane's hair. He grabbed his stuff and made his way over to Yugi, slowly.
"Ryou, make sure you take the fish out of the oven when the timer goes off and not a minute later." Yugi said.
"Okay, bye Malik." Ryou said as he tried to show Amane how to play.
"I'll save you some fish and pudding for lunch tomorrow." Yugi whispered as they headed down the steps. Yugi threw his keys in the air, and caught them.
"Can we take your car?" Malik asked.
"No, I hate driving that thing." Yugi said grimacing. He owned a Yellow Volkswagen. It wasn't the shiny, nice year 2000 brand either. No, his Volkswagen was a 1980 something classic, that only worked when it wanted to. It was a piece of junk that seriously needed to be replaced. Yugi glanced at the garage, but shook his head, not gonna happen.
"Come on, we're running." Yugi said taking off. Malik groaned before running after him, easily catching up.
"Why do you like running so much?" Malik asked.
"I love to run because it's a great source of exercise, and it helps me stay in shape." Yugi explained.
"Well, I love how we don't have to run through Atem's territory to get to the park." Malik said as they passed through some trees and found themselves running along grass.
"I know right, the one time I don't have to worry about that idiot following me around." Yugi said with relief.
"Yeah, why does he do that?" Malik asked.
"Apparently I'm his, like I'm some kind of property." Yugi said scowling in distaste.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Malik said.
"Don't be, he's my problem, I've got to deal with him. Just like you have to deal with Bryan in your chemist lab." Yugi said waving it off.
"Not if Marik has anything to say about it." Malik said looking at the small pond in the park.
"You're not stupid enough to tell him, so there is no way he's going to find out." Yugi said casually.
"True, but Marik is part of a gang, and you know how he can get. How they all can get." Malik said mumbling the last bit under his breath.
"Yeah, but you need to fight your own battles. Besides can't you try to change his mind?" Yugi said as they slowed down to a walk since they were nearing Satake's territory.
"I already told you guys, he has his mind made up about me. Nothing I do or say is ever going to change that. It's something I'm just going to have to live with." Malik said as they came to a stop just outside of Satake's territory.
"MALIK! You're two minutes late!" a voice yelled making them both whip around. Ishizu was standing there in the shadows of the alleyway.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow." Yugi whispered before turning around and walking away. He flinched when he heard a smack of skin on skin; he just hoped that there weren't any bruises this time; Malik was running out of excuses for what caused them.
Yugi kept his head down as he walked back home, which is probably why he never noticed someone fall into step beside him until they smacked him against a tree. Yugi winced and opened his eyes to look straight into crimson. Oh, he was so not in the mood.
"What happened to keeping your hands off me for three days, huh?" Yugi asked easily shoving him away. A little too easily if you asked Yugi. He dropped his hands before continuing to walk on.
"What's bugging you?" he asked.
"Don't worry about it. It doesn't concern you in the slightest." Yugi said walking faster.
"Well, when it concerns you, I'm always worried." Atem responded cheekily.
"You sure this concern didn't start Thursday night? If you ask me I think that's when it started, when you noticed I actually existed on this planet. Though if you asked me again I really wish you hadn't, because my life was blissfully peaceful before that. Go away!" Yugi said rounding on him before walking away again.
"No, I don't think I will." Atem said following him.
"Why not?" Yugi asked spinning around to face him.
"Because we have unfinished business, you and I." Atem said stopping in front of him.
"Whatever." Yugi said rolling his eyes and walking away again.
"You know Yugi; I'm starting to get the impression that you don't like me." Atem said continuing to follow him.
"No." Yugi said sarcastically.
"Yes, I really am." He said. Yugi mimicked shooting himself in the head with a gun.
"I could help you with that." Atem said cheerfully from behind him.
"Help me with what?" Yugi asked.
"This." Atem said putting a black Revolver in front of his face. Yugi's eyes widened.
"Here, keep it, in case you ever want to follow through." Atem said putting it in his hand and then walking away.
If Yugi didn't know any better he would have said Atem chose a moment when he was alone on purpose to give this to him. Which was smart considering that Mira didn't allow guns in her territory unless you were in the top ranks. Yugi looked all around before stuffing it in the back of his pants, and pulling his sweatshirt down over it, praying to Kami that Mira never found it in his house. Yugi quickly made his way back to his house.
[Atem]
Atem smirked as he saw Yugi stuff it into the back of his jeans and walk away. He knew there was slim chance of him ever using it, but at least he had it, just in case. He just hoped it was never aimed back at him, at any time.
Atem walked over to the small playing area, and stood under the monkey bars. He still remembered when he was ten years of age and had fired his own first gun for the first time. He remembered sitting on top of these same monkey bars waiting for his mark to coming walking through.
"Okay dear, your Father and I will watch from here." The woman said as the small boy ran towards the swings. He giggled as he swung higher and higher.
Atem looked at the silver Revolver in his hands, and aimed it for the woman with the big belly. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, the man look right up at him, and jumped up in the way of the bullet. It went in through his side. The child on the swings screamed loudly, covering his ears at the sound of the gunshot. The woman gasped, and tried to get away, but he aimed his gun quickly and shot her twice in the back. He jumped off the monkey bars as the child went running towards its parents.
"MOMMY! DADDY!" he screamed.
Atem looked back once at the small child looking frantically around for any help, anyone to save its parents. There wouldn't be any help for five minutes at least. The Hospital was in Queen Bee's territory, Mai's territory. The kid's parents were gone for forever. His Father was going to be so proud of him, he killed the mean woman.
Atem pulled himself from his memories, and took one more quick look around the park before walking home.
[Mira]
"Why would he give him a gun?" Mira asked slowly.
"I'll ask around." Sheila offered standing up.
"There's no need, sit." Rebecca said coming into the room. Sheila sat back down.
"What have you got?" Vivian asked.
"According to the Servants that I just beat information out of, Atem has marked one Yugi Rida Mutou as his next conquest. The gun I figure is for his own measure of protection over the boy." Rebecca said sitting down.
"This is getting out of hand." Mira said resting her chin on her interlaced hands.
"How so?" Tracy asked.
"I can't be worried about Mutou 24/7, it's just not possible. My girls come first and foremost. However, I can't leave Mutou undefended either. Olivia, you are to deliver this to Mutou before school tomorrow." Mira said taking out her spare pocket knife and sliding it down the table.
"But!" Olivia started to protest. Mira's eyes narrowed at her slightly.
"Yes, King." She amended obediently.
"Then come back here. Do not walk him to school. He needs to walk himself." Mira continued on.
"Yes, King." She said again.
"Anything else going on that we need to discuss?" Mira asked.
Everyone looked at each other, before as one they shook their heads. Mira nodded and got up, leaving the dining room. Everyone was silent as the contemplated this new turn of events. Slowly one by one, everyone got up and left the room until only Olivia was left.
"Oh Yugi, I sure hope your kind heart isn't the cost for such a hasty decision." Olivia said quietly before she too got up and left. She had her Mother to get back too, her poor frail Mother.
[Time skip]
"What!?" Yugi asked in disbelief as he took the pocket knife from her in a dull stupor.
"I'm sorry, but I have no explanation. Take it up with Mira if you dare." Olivia said quietly before walking away leaving Yugi just standing there in front of his game shop. He sighed, slipped the knife into his pocket, locked his door, and started what seemed like a longer trek than normal to school.
Now what was he supposed to do? Slice open Atem's throat if he got too grabby? Yeah, right. Hitting and kicking to get away, fine. Bodily injuring someone with a knife, no. Yugi was so deep in his thoughts he almost walked right into Atem when he appeared suddenly in front of him.
"Hello Yugi." Atem said.
"Ah!" Yugi screamed jumping.
"Where's your female companion?" he asked not even commenting on Yugi's somewhat girly scream, which he was grateful for.
"I'm not worth their time." Yugi said walking around him.
"Really?" Atem asked curiously.
"Why do you care?" Yugi asked speeding up.
"Because you're mine now, I care about what's mine." Atem said running a hand through his hair making Yugi pull away.
"Hands off!" Yugi said whipping out the knife and pointing it threateningly at Atem.
"Oh, what a pretty knife this is." Atem said grabbing it out of his hands before Yugi even knew what happened.
"What? Hey! Give it back." Yugi said scowling. Atem laughed at him tossing it in the air and catching it.
"What a cute little pout. Makes me want to grab that bottom lip and suck on it." Atem said dropping his voice considerably leaning towards him.
"Ugh! I don't have time for this; I'll get it back after school." Yugi said backing away quickly into the middle of the street.
The next 30 seconds of his life happened so slowly, yet so quickly at the same time. He saw Atem look down the street slightly, his eyes widening, before he ran straight at him. Yugi took a hesitant step back, before Atem had grabbed him cradling his head between his hand and his chest, his other arm wrapped firmly around his waist. Atem hissed as his shirt came up, and his bare back connected with the concrete on the sidewalk on the other side of the street. A dark blue car drove by, not even aware that it had almost run both of them over.
"Are you okay, Yugi?" Atem asked from underneath him.
"Uh, y-yeah, fine." Yugi said getting off of him before absent mindedly helping him up.
"Are you sure?" Atem asked placing his hands on his shoulders.
"See you after school." Yugi said patting his arm and starting to walk away.
"Okay then, see you after school." Atem said smirking. The kid was in slight shock, but didn't seem to care. Atem walked up behind him, opened his backpack and slipped the knife into it. He then stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked away. So much for a normal morning.
Right I have a poll up on my profile, so make sure to give it a look over, and vote for what story you want me to work on next. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed Guest and User alike. Also, thanks to everyone who are/have following/favorited this story. Please review. Midnight ;p