I don't not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Howls Moving Castle. Here goes chapter two of 'Atems Moving Castle'. drop a review to let me know how I do
Recap:
Right after Yugi has been discovered by Bakura and Marik, they seem to be at least casual friends. Joey introduces himself and tells them they need to get back to work not a moment to soon though. Atem has returned, and Yugi might be in more trouble than he thought, now that he knows who rescued him that night.
As Atem came into the room, he paused. He hadn't been expecting the old man. What he had expected even less though, was to feel a powerful curse that had been placed on the old man.
He looked at Bakura and Marik. Glaring at them, and heard a slight squeak of fear from the old man. He decided to ignore it for now, he would deal with the old man in a minute.
"Why are you two just standing there? Go practice your spells, and make sure you don't slack off again." He stated, then turned to Yugi, and spoke again his voice and features softening slightly. "May I ask who you are and what you are doing in my house?"
Yugi's mind went blank, before he came back to his senses, and jumped slightly when he saw that Atem was staring at him.
"Oh! Sorry, my name is Yugi Mouto. I was hired to clean your home. Unless you end up deciding you don't like what I've done." Yugi said, his eyes going up to meet Atem's.
From behind Yugi, another voice spoke up. "That's right Atem. I hired him, sick an' tired of dis' mess you leave behind." Joey said, making Yugi jump as he had forgotten Joey was there.
Atem looked at Joey, then back to Yugi and nodded. He walked to where the stairs were before turning and telling Yugi a few things.
"Don't go overboard, I don't need you messing up my potions in the bathroom. Also, leave my room alone. Other than that, you have free range. No matter what Bakura and Marik may threaten," Atem said, before turning once more and going up the stairs.
Yugi stood silent for another moment, before a low growl sounded in the room. He froze, and his eyes widened. He looked around, as Joey chuckled.
"When was da' last time ya' ate?" Joey asked, as Bakura and Marik came back into the room.
Yugi blushed slightly, and shook his head. "Just an hour or two before I got here. Then I slept for around two hours."
Yugi looked around seeing a pan, and a basket with bacon and eggs in it. He picked up the items, and cleaned them as best he could, before walking back to where Joey, Bakura, and Marik stood.
Yugi set the basket on the side of the old fashioned fireplace, where the fire could not reach it easily. Then he put the pan over Joey, and an argument ensued.
"No way, your not my master, I only listen to Atem." Joey almosted shouted at Yugi. He went to push the pan away with his fiery arms.
"Well, I'll just have to tell him about our deal then, won't I. Unless you let me cook, since you were the one who reminded me that I hadn't eaten in a while." Yugi replied in a whisper.
Joey's eyes widened, and he stopped pushing against the pan. He glared at Yugi, then put his arms down allowing the pan to be put on him. He grumbled, and glared at Yugi from under the pan.
"May all your bacon burn, and may all the eggs be rotten." Joey said, annoyance evident in his voice.
Yugi chuckled, and started placing bacon and eggs in the pan. The smell of bacon and eggs, as well as the sound filling the room. Marik and Bakura sniffed the air, and watched in wonder as Joey let Yugi cook.
They had been here for almost two years, and still couldn't do that. They shared a look that said, 'Who exactly is this old man?'.
It wasn't much longer before Atem came back down the stairs, sniffing the air. He walked over to Yugi and Joey with a slightly surprised look on his face.
"You're surprisingly docile Joey. What happened to only allowing me to cook with the heat you provide." Atem said, teasing in his tone, and then grabbed the utensils Yugi was using just in front of where Yugi's hand was. "Let me see that. Hand me eight more slices of bacon, and four more eggs." He said taking Yugi's place in front of Joey cooking.
Yugi did as he was asked, and handed Atem more bacon and eggs. His movements slightly slower than normal from the shock of Atem taking over. He seemed so much nicer than the stories told. Plus, Atem had saved his life.
While this had been happening, Bakura and Marik cleaned the table off as best they could. They also found some clean (clean-ish) silverware to use, as well as plates and a few bowls. The bowls would be used for tea, as Yugi had found a kettle after handing Atem the bacon and eggs he had asked for.
They all sat at the table, and Atem separated the meal evenly between the four of them. Then he looked up at Yugi, and asked him a question.
"So what are you hiding in your pocket?" Atem asked, staring at Yugi.
Yugi looked up with a surprised look in his eyes, a question on his lips. "What? I haven't got anything in my pockets though…" Yugi said, putting his hands in his pockets, pausing in his speech when he felt a piece of paper.
He pulled it out, and stared in shock at the red piece of paper in his hand. It had a strange symbol on it, and Atem held his hand out. Yugi reached out to give the paper to Atem.
To his further surprise however, the second it touched Atem's hand even just barely, it sparked. The two quickly pulled their hands back, and stared as it burned a mark on the table. Bakura and Marik also watched with interest, as Atem leaned forward just a bit so he could see it better.
"I will find you soon, magician of shadows. Your heart is mine." Atem said, seemingly reading the markings. "Can't be good for the table." He finished, placing his hand over it then swiping it to the side.
When he removed his hand the marking was gone, and his hand had a very light burn mark on it. Yugi stared, watching in surprise as Atem picked up his plate and walked over to Joey, dumping the food in the fire's mouth.
"Joey, move us five miles southwest. It won't do for the witch of the waste to find us." Atem said, Bakura and Marik looking up from their food in shock.
Joey swallowed without chewing, and then the four people could feel the castle moving once more underneath them. Yugi looked around, then noticed that Bakura and Marik were staring at him, apprehension in their eyes.
"You're working for the witch of the waste?" Marik asked, his voice held danger.
Yugi bristled at the accusation. He glared and stopped eating.
"I would never work for her, she's the reason i'm c- mrgh- mmn-." Yugi stumbled over his speech, then slammed his hands onto the table in anger startling the other two still at the table.
"IF I EVER GET MY HANDS ON HER, I'LL RING HER NECK!!" Yugi shouted in anger, "Finish your breakfast." Yugi said, only slightly more calm. Then shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth.
Time skip:
Yugi had begun cleaning, and was sweeping everything , while Marik and Bakura took tables, books, and other important things out the door till he was done. As they walked out with more books, an old man walked up.
"Excuse me, is Atem here?" The old man asked, his hand reaching out and lightly grabbing Bakura's shirt from behind.
Bakura looked at him and shook his head before speaking. "Come back later, we've got an old magician on a rampage in there." He said, his eyes rolling slightly up to the heavens when he heard Yugi from the inside.
"I heard that Bakrua, and if I hear any lip from you don't put it past me to whoop you. I may be old but I'm not frail." Yugi shouted from his position in the house.
Bakura winced slightly, and bowed to the old man, then went back into the house as the old man turned and left. Yugi handed him more books before he was even up the stairs, and this time Marik was right behind him.
They finally finished getting everything out and Yugi started the in depth scrub of the floors. He placed a sheet on the floor in front of Joey, picked Joey and a single log up with a shovel and set him to the side.
Joey looked slightly panicked when the log was smaller than he was, as Yugi swept the ashes onto the sheet. As he finished Atem came down and placed Joey back in his rightful place, with a few more logs to burn up.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't torment my friend." Atem said, referring to how close Joey had been to going out. "Make sure he doesn't go overboard while I'm gone." Atem said, looking between Bakura and Marik. Then walked out the door.
Yugi nodded, and then continued with what he had been doing, getting the ashes outside. When he came back in he walked up to Joey.
"Sorry Joey, I was just trying to clean around you. Thought you would be more comfortable." Yugi said in apology. His eyes showed just how sorry he was.
The people he was with now didn't know this, but Yugi had always been a gentle soul. He would rather be injured himself then see someone he cared for hurt. They didn't know that though, but it showed through just slightly as he said this.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Marik stood, and went to the door, putting on a magical disguise. As he opened it, Yugi couldn't see out very clearly, but he heard the conversation.
"Is the great magician Mahaad here?" Yugi heard the voice say.
Marik shook his head before replying. "No, he's out right now i'm afraid. May I help you?" He asked.
The man outside the door handed Marik something, then spoke again.
"He is required to appear before the King. He has been summoned for the war ahead of us." The man said, then bowed slightly and turned, walking away.
Marik came back up the stairs leading to the door, setting the letter on one of the many tables. Not thirty seconds after he had taken off the disguise, there was another knock on the door.
Marik, sighed, and replaced the disguise. He walked down the stairs and opened the door again. Once again, Yugi heard the conversation, this time moving closer to see the other speaker.
"Is the great magician Shadi available?" The man outside asked.
Once again. Marik said no, and asked what he could do. Just like the first time, the king had summoned him to fight in the war. Yugi paused in his listening, to wonder, 'What exactly is this war for?'
Yugi was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of the door closing. Marik walked back up the stairs, placing another envelope on top of the other. Yugi looked at them curiously for a moment, then went back to his cleaning.
He had finished downstairs by cleaning the fireplace, now it was time for upstairs. He picked up his bucket, and walked to the stairs leading to the second floor. Bakura jumped up, and him and Marik, who had already been standing, jumped in front of Yugi.
"You can't go up there!" The two teens said in perfect sync. Yugi looked at them with an amused look in his eyes.
"Better hide anything you don't want me to clean." Yugi said, smirking when their eyes went wide.
"Save our room for last!" The two yelled lightly as they ran up the stairs to their shared room. As they did, Yugi made his way up the stairs behind them.
Yugi walked slowly, and looked around at the work he had to do up here. He went into the bathroom, which was covered in several multicolored liquids that had since dried. Yugi wasn't sure what they were, and was sure he didn't want to know.
He grimaced at the smell, just from standing in the doorway to the room. He moved on, to see where he should start. As he walked, he walked by an open door, that was Marik and Bakura's room. They were running around with stuff in their arms, as if trying to find a safe place to put all of it.
"Not ready yet, not ready yet!!" Bakura said when he saw Yugi. Marik nodded in agreement and closed the door to make sure Yugi wouldn't come in.
Yugi ignored the two, and walked to a door that was closed to see where it led. It was kinda stuck, but he got it open. He also got a gust of wind in his face. He walked out of the door, and to the railing that was on this 'porch'.
In his view was a lake that was as clear as the sky, and shone brightly where the sunlight hit it. He looked up to the sky, and saw a spark coming up from one of that many chimneys. On top of all the beautiful places that could be seen, they were moving.
Yugi ran back inside, where he could just see Joey from the top of the staircase. He leaned over the railing.
"Is that you moving the castle?!" He asked, half exclaiming.
"Of course, no one else does any work around here." Joey replied, his annoyance evident.
"I'm thoroughly impressed. You're a first rate fire demon, I like your spark!" Yugi said, before running back up the stairs out of Joey's site.
Joey froze momentarily, his thoughts trying to wrap around what Yugi had just said. He blinked once, then smirked. Soon he was outright smiling a big dorky grin,
"He likes my spark!" Joey exclaimed in happiness, the castle moving slightly faster, and the spark outside flaring once more.
Yugi was back outside at this point, and Bakura and Marik now joined him. They looked out with him, and just slightly watched to see what he would do.
"It's beautiful. Where are we?" Yugi questioned, turned slightly to face the two teens.
"It's called Star Lake. This is where Atem goes to get away from the witch of the waste. It's out of her reach because it's so clean." Marik answered, Bakura nodding in agreement.
Bakura looked to the side as he heard light tapping noises. What he saw completely baffled him, and he tapped Marik on the shoulder. Marik turned to look, and paused, then reached out and but grabbed the pole sticking out. He pulled, but it was more stuck than he realized.
"Bakura, grab on. It's stuck pretty well, and shouldn't be here." Marik said, as he moved just enough for Bakura to have room to grab the pole as well.
They pulled, and when it didn't budge, changed the angle they were pulling at. The stick got caught on the edge of the joint. They pushed it back down, and turned it so it wouldn't get caught again. And as it came out revealed a scarecrow with a turnip head.
"What an odd place to find a scarecrow…. How'd it get up here though?" Marik asked.
"He's been following me since I found him upside down in a bush the other evening. Don't know why, or how but he always seems to get stuck like that." Yugi chuckled as the scarecrow bounced over the castle.
It almost seemed to be saying thank you. That's what it looked like anyways. Yugi smiled and then went back inside to keep cleaning. By the time he got done, the sun was setting and the scarecrow was helping put the laundry out. Then he and the boys carried a small round table out to the edge of star lake where they had stopped for now, to have some tea.
It was getting darker now, and as they sat on the bank they started discussing what the odd scarecrow could be to be able to move around like they did.
"He's probably a demon… don't you think?" Bakura asked, as he took a bite of his buttered bread.
"I suppose. But he must be a good demon, because he led me here. Plus what demon helps with laundry?" Yugi said, a small smile as he did.
Bakura and Marik both nodded, as the scarecrow came and just stood next to them. As the sun fell, it began to rain, and they all ran back inside.
It wasn't much longer before the color dial by the door switched to black. The color only Atem was allowed to use. Though it wasn't too terribly late, Bakura and Marik had gone to their room for the night, and Yugi was already asleep.
Joey, who never really slept, opened his eyes and looked at the door as Atem walked in. Atem sat in a chair by the fireplace, and put his feet up. He was breathing shallowly in his exhaustion, and he was still partially shifted as some sort of bird creature.
"You shouldn't keep doin' that… one of these days you wont be able to change back. You know that right?" Joey asked, as Atem completed the transformation back to human.
Atem sat still for only a moment longer before standing, and walking to where Yugi was sleeping. He pulled aside the curtain a little, and his eyes widened just a little at what he saw. In the bed, was not the old man he had known only for a day, but the young man he had saved the week before.
Atem sighed, and then spoke to Joey as he let the curtain fall. "This war is terrible. If it doesn't end soon, the king won't have any more wizards to summon at all. They've all shifted into different beasts to aid in his foolish pursuit."
Joey nodded as best a fire demon could.
"All because of a stupid rich boy. I hope that prince gets what's coming to him if he's eva found." Joey seethed as Atem turned to go up the stairs.
Yugi slept, but it was not restful. In his dream, Atem had returned to his home. Yet he was not himself. He had turned into a bird-like beast, who attacked all that came near him.
Before the dream could change again, Yugi woke with a start at the sound of running water.
And that's the end of chapter two redone. Hope you enjoyed it, and drop a comment to let me know what you think.