Dragon: So here we are for the last story. If for some strange reason you haven't read Egyptian Dreams and Egyptian Miracles you need to go do so before you proceed.
Seth: About damn time I came back
Seto-whines- Couldn't he have stayed in the past?
Atemu-smirks- If he had stayed then I couldn't get my wish! –purrs- And I sooooo want my wish!
Dragon-groans- Desidera, I believe we have created a monster!
Desidera: For that reviewer who wanted us to be more careful with Egyptian...We are sorry if our Egyptian sentence structure is not correct. But it's better than nothing, right? We are trying as hard as we can and it's really not easy to look all of that up. Ignore it for the sake of the story, ok?
Seth to Seto link
"By Ra, you damn Tomb Robber, what have you done now! I promise you I'll have you killed!"
Once sedated bodies sat up in an instant as the new figure stood at the foot of their bed. Crimson and sapphire blinked as they locked onto azure, too stunned to do anything else.
The visitor smirked back at the couple, as he made his way to sit down on Atemu's side of the bed. "Seems things here went better than I thought they would. And here I was thinking that Bakura had went and messed things up."
Atemu stared wide-eyed at the man beside him. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Somehow, someway, Seth had appeared in this time, this place, and in the same room as he and Seto. A childish grin graced his face as he launched his still naked body at his Priest, knocking them both to the floor.
"Seth! Mrw-t! wi iw s-pr tw!" (Love! I have missed you!)
"Shhh, p3y-I pr-3." (my Pharaoh) Seth smiled as he wrapped his arms around Atemu who had his face buried in his chest. They held each other as if a storm was about to come, as if a wave was about to sweep over them, as if nature itself had decided to pry them apart no matter what.
It was so loving and so sweet, and yet to Seto it was the most painful thing he had ever seen. There he was sitting in the bed where he and the love of his life had just slept together, had just shared the most intimate pleasure, and next to him that same man he loved was passionately embracing someone that looked like his twin. First he sat unmoving, unbelieving. It must be a nightmare, it couldn't be true.
But Seth suddenly turned to him, his expression somehow guarded.
Hello Seto, he suddenly heard a voice ring in his head. He stared, at the same time thinking, 'No, please, this can't be happening to me'
Accept it, Seto. I'm here now, it wasn't really my fault. I will explain it to you and to Atemu.
"Wy Seth! Wy tw-k m-n?" (How, Seth? How are you with us?)
"It is a long story, Atemu", the High Priest said solemnly, absently running his hand through Atemu's hair.
"Wait!" Seto cried, having found his voice again, burning with jealousy, "How come you can speak Japanese but I had to teach Atemu?"
"It's because of the Sennen Rod. You are I in this time. Because we both are destined to wield the Rod, we are connected. I know all your thoughts and feelings. Because of this I know your tongue. Atemu's potion wasn't designed to work the same. Since I only wanted to be here in spirit and not in body I wanted to be able to understand what I was hearing and seeing. Because of this I used the Rod as the focal point of my spell."
"You…what?" Atemu voiced his confusion, "You wanted to get to the future?"
"Yes", Seth explained softly. "I wanted to see how this worked out between you two, if the potion worked. It troubled me every night and every day. But because I thought it was impossible to get both my body and my soul to the future I attempted to make my spirit travel through time to let me see how things were going. But then everything got turned upside down."
His eyes turned a darker shade, as he stared at the wall.
"I always told you we had to kill that Tomb Robber, my Pharaoh. He is dangerous. I was preparing the spell that would send my soul to the future at night. Apparently he and his allies thought I was sleeping. The darkness of the shadow realm was about the room as he entered. Bakura leaped onto the bed, like a cat really, and sliced through the sheets with a long knife. It really was my luck that I wasn't lying in it, but hidden in a corner. I attacked him when he was still unaware of my presence, but he is a skilled fighter."
Seth glanced at Seto, feeling the other's memories of a similar fight, before continuing,
"Somehow he got in touch with the rod that was laced with an unfinished spell. My shadow magic must have mixed with his, and the spell was completed, differently from what I intended to achieve. And so here I am."
"And I am glad you are," Atemu whispered and tilted Seth's head down. There was wonderful, tingling anticipation between them when they leaned in to share a gentle kiss.
There was a loud crashing noise and Seth winced in sudden pain, head snapping up to meet Seto's eyes, who was now standing beside the bed, his nightstand thrown over in rage, his eyes blazing. His heart was clenching painfully, like someone was slowly squeezing the blood out of it. He could feel it growing colder, as if it would turn to ice any moment, and yet it hurt so much. Jealousy consumed his entire being, he lost control of his mind and his body.
"Seto!" Seth cried, sensing his incarnation's pain and fury, "Do not…"
But it was already to late.
"There they go again, Atemu! Your wonderful gods you worship so much! First they show me true, unbearable desire, then they give me what I want most in the world only to take it away the next day! And give it to someone else!"
Seto grabbed a random book, lying on a small couch table, and hurled it against the nearest wall, not even looking at it, because he was already gripping the next item on the table, which were his boxer briefs. Without interrupting the flow of his words he stepped into them.
"He had you in the past, he had your love back then and all I could do was watch. Can you imagine how difficult it was for me? But I still had the thought of the future and of Yugi's other, that didn't belong to him but was my very own obsession."
Having found his pants somewhere next to the bed he picked them up, while ranting on.
"The second he appeared all you said to me was forgotten. You fell into his arms, you wanted to kiss him, and you didn't once look at me, not once. What kind of relationship is that? I was wrong to trust you, I was wrong to believe you could ever love me like you love him."
"Seto…" Atemu whispered, scared, but the blue-eyed CEO's commanding voice shut him up.
"Do not try to play games with me, Atemu!"
His voice was like steel, with a cold, metallic reverberation, while he buttoned up his wrinkled blue shirt.
"I'm sick of your games. I'm sick of you, and of him. You don't need me here, I will leave you. Make sure both of you are gone when I return. I have a little brother and a company to take care of, I don't have the time to throw you out personally."
As he looked back, grabbing his trench coat he couldn't mask the agony in his face that Atemu had looked at for so many times. Seth shivered at the extreme emotions he received from the other boy, yet knowing he felt only part of the hurt Seto had to bear.
"No, please, Seto!" Atemu called desperately, as he jumped up to go after the other. But Seto slammed the door in his face and was gone.
The echo of the terrible sound filled the room as Atemu broke down in front of the door with a scream of helpless fury.
Fighting against the onslaught of emotions that Seto was unknowingly sending him, Seth stood up and pulled one of the blankets off of the bed. Walking over to the distraught Pharaoh, he gently placed the blanket around Atemu's shoulders, drawing him into a comforting embrace.
"Oh gods Seth, what have I done?"
"Hush, Atemu. You haven't done anything, not really. You still love me just like I still love you. But I am content that you are happy now. I wanted you to be with Seto in this time. And I was truthful in what I said. I only wanted to come here to make sure he had done what he was suppose to do and that you were alright. I have no indention of taking you back with me. Not that you would go back would you?"
Emotional crimson eyes glanced up into Seth's before they looked away unable to look the other in the face. "I…"
A sad smile pulled at Seth's lips as he took a hold of Atemu's chin, gently making them make eye contact. "You will not hurt my feelings. He is still me and if you love him then you and me are still together; just in another life."
"I still love you Seth, I think I always will but Seto is my life now. He has my heart and soul. No I would not return with you. I'm sorry."
"Do not apologize my Pharaoh," he said as he kissed the top of Atemu's head, nuzzling into the silken locks. "I understand. I'm actually glad. You have a new life here, away from the worries, the burdens, and death threats. You can live as you should now."
Atemu chuckled as he relaxed his body finally against Seth. "Speaking of a new life. You shouldn't be calling me Pharaoh anymore. I should be calling you that, Pharaoh Seth."
"tw iw rb-w3t pr-3 Atemu n wi. P3y-I dw3w hr mSrw sbA." (You are always Pharaoh Atemu to me. My morning and evening star.)
"Such flattery cousin." Atemu let out a sigh. "I need to find Seto."
"Yes we do. I must make him understand that I have no will to take you a way. And you need to reaffirm your love to him."
"Yes, but I'm not sure how to find him. I do not know much about this city and I do not know how to drive."
"Ah, that's where I come in. I'll just have to dig into our link."
"Alright," he said as Atemu stood up. "You find him and I'll hunt you down some clothes. You can't go around in Pharaoh attire."
Leaving Seth on the floor, Atemu pulled the blanket closer around him and walked over to the closet and began to find something for him self to wear. It had been along time since he had moved his stuff into Seto's room; ever since they had spent the first night just sleeping in the same bed.
Rummaging around, he found a pair of black leather pants that he had grown fond of and slipped them on. After buttoning up a blood-red long sleeve silk shirt, he quickly found a pair of black jeans and a black turtleneck of Seto's to give to Seth.
"I found him." Seth said from behind Atemu. "He's at his office."
"Hmm, figures. Kaiba Corp. is a safe place for him right now." Atemu walked over and handed the clothes to him. "Put these on and then we'll go."
Fingers typed mercilessly on the keyboard as sapphire eyes scanned the figures being imputed. Body tense with more emotions than he cared to admit, Seto tried his best to drown himself in his work. But his heart and mind were in a constant war with each other, resulting in more than a few mistakes in his work.
In his mind's eye, he could still picture Atemu and Seth together looking at each other with love and joy radiating in their eyes. He could just image what they were doing in his bed right now, while he was here trying his damnest to forget what he had witnessed.
Were they laughing at him? Would the evidence of their lovemaking be left like a calling card, taunting him, torturing him with its presence? Or was Atemu already back in Egypt standing beside Seth as they ruled the great nation together, quickly forgetting their time they had spent together?
Too many question and he wasn't sure he wanted the answers.
Weary eyes slid closed as his fingers stopped moving over the keys. He was going to have to face the facts that Atemu was not his anymore and maybe never really was. A hollow chuckle spilled from his lips. He had lost the only person he had ever loved to another him of all people.
Sighing, Seto got up from his desk and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Unfocused blue eyes peered out into the Domino nighttime skyline while he crossed his arms over his chest, trying not to think about the pain he felt in his heart. Such feelings were new to him and he was helpless to stop them. But while he was here he could at least hide from his brother's knowing eyes and questions. And he wouldn't have to walk into an empty house again.
"He learns fast," Seth stated with barely concealed pride. They were standing on the sidewalk waiting for the bus to arrive and take them to Kaiba Corp. since neither of them had a remote idea of how to drive a car.
"He just shut the mind link down. I have no idea what he thinks or feels or where he is."
Atemu fidgeted nervously. "Great. Now how much longer till that damn bus thing arrives? He could have gone anywhere and we have not a chance of finding him."
"Don't worry, my pharaoh," Seth tried to calm him down, "We will find him. Where else would he go? It wouldn't make sense for him to leave, he feels safe where he is right now."
The other sighed. "I guess you're right, Seth. I'm just worried. Damn, I feel so guilty, I should have been more considerate, I should have thought about his feelings. But it was such a rush of happiness to see you again…Ah, I'm so terribly sorry."
Gently Seth took his hand. "I promise you we will find him and then you can tell him that yourself. All will be well, Atemu, trust me."
Atemu squeezed his hand and they went back to staring ahead. Occasionally the crimson-eyed teen would glance over at his former lover who examined the new world with confusion but also delight sparkling in his eyes. He was not afraid of all the things that had scared Atemu when he had seen them for the first time, or perhaps he just didn't show it. The sounds of cars and their remarkable speed didn't scare the High Priest, the skyscrapers didn't intimidate him, things and pictures moving on their own, like magic, held no threat to him. Strangely, Seth wasn't affected by any of it.
Somewhere back at the station a signal rang out and they saw the bus rounding the corner, coming to a stop in front of them, doors springing open. Holding Seth's hand tightly in his, Atemu gathered all his courage and climbed into the foreign vehicle.
"Why doesn't any of this intimidate you?" Atemu wanted to know when they were both sitting somewhere in the back row, far away from the other people.
"I do not know", Seth answered quietly. "Of course it's strange and fascinating and so very different from Egypt…but I know that I will return home, so I regard it as a dream."
"Home," Atemu said softly, "What's home? Where is home? I have no idea Seth, I think I feel at home here now, but every time something new is thrown my way I get that feeling that I will never be a part of this time."
Seth lifted their clasped hands to his lips and chastely kissed Atemu's fingers. "Home is with the ones you love. You will be at home in Egypt as long as you love me and I am still there, as long as our era lives. But you are here now with Seto, and he loves you as you love him. You will be at home wherever he is, be it this…Japan or Egypt or the afterlife."
Atemu was silent for a second then he smiled and told Seth very quietly, "I want to embrace you now, cousin."
Seth quirked an eyebrow, "Why, then go ahead, love"
"Oh, but I can't", Atemu snickered, "People here are modest. They don't even dare to bare their chest when others are watching."
"Are you sure the reason aren't just those horrible temperatures?" Seth mumbled, crossing his arms to draw some warmth from there.
Finally the bus arrived at the Corporation building and they jumped out, quickly making their way through the large glass doors. All around them people in black suits were hurrying along; only one person was seated at a table, staring at what Atemu recalled Seto calling a laptop. It was a young woman with blonde hair that was tied back in a ponytail high on her head.
"Excuse me," Atemu approached her, "We were trying to find Seto Kaiba…"
The woman glanced up briefly, and then returned to her work, starting a long speech beginning with, "I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Kaiba doesn't receive random visitors. You need an appointment, or a very pressing issue to…"
Suddenly she stopped, her head snapping up again, eyes fixed onto Seth.
"B..but…Mr. Kaiba. Uhm. This…there is someone who wants to see…you."
"What?" Atemu spun around. "Where is he?"
"He…he's standing right next to you…sir", the poor lady whispered, Seth staring at her without saying a word.
"Uh", Atemu said, finally realizing the error. "Uh, there you are Mr. Kaiba," he quickly tried to take control of the situation, "Well, we should go to your office then"
Seth just nodded along with the secretary as Atemu gave him a sign to follow him.
Having been with Seto to his company only once before he only loosely remembered how to use the elevator and where to find the CEO. He trusted his instincts though and led Seth into the small metal cabin that would lift them up to the top floor where he suspected Seto to be.
Before long, Atemu and Seth found themselves standing outside the massive doors of Seto's office. Seth heard a sigh coming from his smaller companion and raised an eyebrow. "Atemu?"
"I'm just nervous is all," he whispered as crimson eyes looked up into concerned azure. "I've never had to do this before. I think I would rather face down a hundred Bakuras than to have to go through those doors and see his haunted eyes. I know he doesn't want to see me right now, and I've hurt him terribly and I think…."
"Enough Atemu," Seth's voice was firm but gentle, cutting off his words. "You love him and he loves you. It may not be easy, but you two will work things out. I have faith in my future self and in you. So…" He placed his hand on the door, "Shall we proceed?"
"You're right, I can do this…for him and for us."