NEXT CHAPTER! I know you guys have been waiting for this very moment and I have been working on how I was going to pull this off. I now have prepared for this very moment to make the finishing blow to this pier duel. Review please!
Duke drove his car quickly with Mai following them. Serenity bit her bottom lip with her fingers fidgeting. She wanted to run up to Atem in his strong arms and know that he was okay. She was so scared, she couldn't speak. Tristan could sense the nerve-wrecking atmosphere where Serenity was. He was starting to feel sorry for the poor girl.
Duke kept his eyes focused as he saw the pier and knew he had made it right on time, especially when he saw Joey, Hanaski, and Atem on the docks. Seto and Mokuba were standing right outside of the area where the boys were dueling.
"We're here!" Duke said.
"Atem!" Serenity cried out, reaching her hands to grab the door out of reflects. As soon as the car stopped, she heard an explosion, coming from the bomb above an anchor, which dropped right down to the sea and carrying Atem with it.
"ATEM!" Everyone, including Serenity, cried aloud as Atem splashed into the sea.
"ATEM! WHERE IS HE?" Serenity screamed in fear, feeling tears leaking through her bandages.
"Serenity!" Joey cried.
"What happened?" Duke asked with glaring eyes.
"Some asshole named Marik brainwashed Joey and Hanaski and now your friend's in the sea!" Seto replied.
"What?" Serenity asked confused.
"Don't worry!" Mokuba said, not making any haste, and hooked some wires into the life point box where Atem's key was. The wires, hooked onto a mini calculator-like machine, decreased the numbers of Joey's life points down to zero. The box lid flipped open and showed Atem's key. "Here it is!"
Before anyone could say anything, Serenity grabbed the key, knowing how to sense movement from being blind and knowing where Mokuba's position and the key was, then dived into the sea.
"Serenity!" Joey cried aloud, but it was too late. Serenity dove into the sea, attempting to rescue Atem.
"Can she swim?" Tristan asked in panic.
"She took swimming lessons while being sick at the hospital. I hope she knows what to do when rescuing someone drowning," Joey said, feeling more nervous than he ever was before.
Serenity swam deeper into the sea, feeling the bubbles slowly escaping from her nose. Though, she couldn't see in the sea, she could detect movement and she felt little bubbles that were not from her. She kept following the bubbles until she felt a slap from a hand. Atem was trying to swim up to the surface!
Serenity lowered her body at Atem's level, so she wouldn't get hurt by his swishing arm, then wrapped herself under his discombobulated arm. She pressed her mouth against his, so he wouldn't breathe the water in his mouth, while unlocking the cuff from his discombobulated arm.
Atem felt warm lips against his and wanted to open his eyes to find out who this person was, but knew if he did, his eyes would hurt like hell. The only thing he could do was swish his only arm back and forth while kicking his legs, but neither of them could reach this stranger. He also felt the cuff on his arm unlocking and removed from his wrist.
Serenity quickly removed her lips from Atem's and covered it and the nose with her hand while swimming behind him. She jerked his head up while swimming her boyfriend up to the surface. She knew she was supposed to place his arms behind his back, but was afraid that Atem might accidently hurt her with all the swishing and slapping around he was doing. Though, his arms did seem to relax a little bit while swimming him up and Serenity was able to reach to the surface a little easier.
Serenity pushed Atem as far high to the surface as she could. He gasped aloud and began coughing and breathing hardly. He grabbed onto the side of the docks to get some air.
"ATEM!" Joey and Hanaski cried aloud in happiness.
"You're okay!" Hanaski cried in joy.
"Hey guys, give him room!" Tristan told everyone.
Serenity put one arm around Atem and said, "It's okay, Atem! I'm right here!"
Atem recognized that beautiful voice, filled with innocents, anywhere. He tiredly moved his head and saw Serenity, bandages still around her eyes and her hair and clothes all wet. She saved his life!
"Serena," Atem said horsily. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried and wanted to see you," Serenity replied before holding Atem in her arms and resting her head on that warm soft chest. She felt tears gathering on Atem's black T-Shirt. "I was scared I'd lose you!"
"You gave us quite a scare!" Mokuba said.
"Don't ever do that again, Atem! I should beat the living daylights outta you for that!" Joey glared.
"Sorry, but my friends are more important than myself," Atem replied.
"At least you're safe!" Serenity said with a warm smile before she and Atem climbed out of the water. That's when Atem realized something.
"I think I discombobulated my arm," Atem cringed from the pain.
"I can fix that!" Joey said before taking Atem's shoulder, and pulling it back.
"AH!" Atem screamed before moving his arm again. "Thanks."
"No prob, buddy," Joey smirked. "It's the least I can do after almost killing you."
Atem smiled at Joey, then Serenity took a deep breath and began to reach for the back tie of the bandages around her eyes.
"Hey, you're taking off your bandages!" Tristan said.
"I want to see the world and you were right, I can find courage in myself. I found the courage to come all the way here and I can find the courage to see," Serenity said before her bandages fell from her face.
Atem stood frozen still as he watched those eyes flutter open, revealing those hazel eyes that made him melt. Even though he was no longer five, he still felt himself melting by the sight of those beautiful eyes. Serenity began seeing the brightness of the world for the first time in years. She saw a group of people. One of them had to be her Atem.
One man was a tall brown haired man with bright blue eyes, who wore a white trench coat with black underneath. That wasn't Atem! Another was a blond haired scruffy man with chocolate brown eyes and a sly smirk, who wore a sporty shirt and dirty jeans. This was Joey! There was a small boy with long messy black hair and bright violet eyes, who wore some pants and a striped shirt under a vest. He was a cute little thing, but this was obviously not Atem. It was the boy who retrieved the key! There was a man with long hair in a ponytail, which seemed like he hadn't washed in days, bright green eyes, and wore raggedy clothing. This was probably Duke. There was a man with brown hair, seemed like a tough guy, and wore a brown coat and jeans. This was Tristan, the serious one. Where was Atem?
That was when Serenity noticed a shorter guy. He held spikey black hair and blond bangs and those dark violet eyes that were more beautiful than the night sky. His muscles were tight and warm and his smile made her world seem brighter. This was him! This was her Atem! There were no words to this. He was more beautiful than the last she saw him.
"Atem," Serenity whispered before she placed her hand on that warm soft cheek. "You're beautiful!"
Tristan flinched, he did not expect Serenity to have any interest toward Atem, though nothing could prepare him to what came next. Atem took Serenity in his arms and kissed her warm lips, laying his tongue against them to take in that wonderful taste. Serenity let a slight moan escape her nose. A part of her wondered if this offended Tristan or not, though it was not like Atem would've known about Tristan's crush toward her and it wasn't like she was the one doing the kissing. Serenity decided to worry about Tristan later and hoped he would understand and not let his jealousy ruin a good friendship. She doubted it!
Tristan glared at Joey and whispered, "why didn't you tell me she was with him?"
"It's worth seeing you squirm when you're thinking dirty about my sister," Joey whispered back. Atem never heard any of this. Tristan shot daggers at Joey in reply. He was going to have to make Joey pay for that!
After the kiss, Hanaski ran up to Atem and showed the millennium puzzle. Atem looked down and saw the puzzle in his friend's hands. Hanaski said, "I believe this belongs to you."
"Thanks," Atem replied, taking the puzzle.
"And since we both have six locator cards, we can follow the map to the hidden location!" Seto brought up as Atem nodded in reply, his hands on Serenity's hips.
"According to the deadline, I should be on the blimp by tomorrow right?" Atem asked.
"You're smart."
"So, what's your name?" Serenity asked.
"Seto Kaiba, president of Kaiba Corporation!" Seto replied.
"Hello Mr. Kaiba," Serenity greeted as she put out her hand and her and Seto shook hands. "Atem's told me all about you. You're a really good friend!"
"Pleasure to meet his squeeze," Seto smirked.
"Yeah, I'm Mokuba, Seto's brother!" Mokuba introduced himself. "Wow, she's hot! I can see why you like her!"
Atem snorted while Serenity giggled, saying, "aw, that's sweet."
"Glad to see everything turned out alright!" Mai smirked as Atem looked over at the blond woman.
"Mai Valentine! How'd you get here?"
"I followed your friends here when I heard you were about to drown yourself," Mai replied.
"How many locator cards did you gather?"
"Six and no more!"
"Nice!"
"Looks like I'll be seeing you at the finals!"
Atem smirked and nodded, then said, "since I don't have to do anything until tomorrow, I'm thinking about taking my girlfriend out."
"A DATE?" Serenity squealed excitedly.
"My treat. I heard a new Planet of the Apes was on."
"That'd be wonderful and maybe after, we can go for ice cream!"
"Then it's settled."
"Have fun, just remember to check the blimp tonight before it takes off to the hidden location on the map," Seto said as Atem nodded.
"Good, because I don't want your ego to be too high," Atem teased before Seto gave a glare in return.
Seto and Mokuba left on the helicopter and Atem and Serenity left for their date. They said goodbye to their friends before they left. Of course, Hanaski joined along, since his house was on the way to the movies anyway. Atem placed the puzzle back around his neck and felt Yugi's excitement that he was alright. Atem smiled at the feeling of Yugi's presents inside him once again.
Atem decided to change to Yugi, since he was anxious to check and see how Hanaski was doing. He asked, "Hanaski, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Hanaski replied with his childish smile. Serenity noticed something different about Atem. It was as if he was another person at this point and sounded like the one she talked on the phone with. "Thanks for the save."
"Anytime. I was scared I would never see you again."
"I was scared I would never see you again, especially when At- you almost drowned."
Yugi showed a childish smile, then gave Hanaski a tight hug. Serenity giggled and asked, "Atem, are you okay? You're acting completely unlike you!"
"I'll explain later," Yugi replied before turning to Hanaski. "I'll see ya later! Oh, and where's Tea?"
"She's at the hospital with Ryan. I think that ring is making Ryou go loopy again," Hanaski replied.
"Ring?" Serenity asked.
"Oh no," Yugi whispered. "You better go to Ryan before things go out of hand."
Hanaski nodded, then left to his house. Yugi said to Atem, 'you're probably gonna have to tell Serenity now.'
"Good idea," Atem agreed before taking over, then facing Serenity. "Serena, there's something I have to tell you."