Chapter 7

Time was moving on, the night was getting later. The two occupants of the game shop had moved some time ago from the kitchen into the living room. They sat opposite each other in armchairs deep in thought. Yugi couldn't stop his leg from moving from his anxiety. It was getting far too late now, they needed to go out and look for their missing friend. He shook himself refusing to let tears form, after all these years of being with Atem he knew that he needed to try and stay strong and not let his worry overwhelm him or he'd not be able to think straight. Getting up Yugi walked to the window once more and looked out but the window showed him nothing but the dark street and the lashing rain. Looking away he looked at his grandfather,

"We have to go and look for him." Yugi said, firmly, "Grandpa this is getting too late. He would have come back by now."

Slowly Grandpa nodded, "I agree Yugi but where do we start? Did he mention at all where he was going today?"

He shook his head, "No he didn't mention where he just said he was going further then he normally goes so he could be anywhere."

"Maybe we phone the police." Grandpa said, standing up, "They might be able to track him down quicker then we can."

Yugi nodded, it seemed like a sensible plan. Grandpa was halfway towards the phone before there was the sound of smashing glass from down in the shop. They froze, both looking at each other. What was that sound? Grandpa was the first to move, he moved to the top of the stairs and slowly began moving down with Yugi quick to follow. Had they imagined it? Was the noise of the rain outside making them hear things? Before they reached the bottom of the stairs Grandpa held his hand up to Yugi silently telling him to wait. He watched as Grandpa reached the bottom of the stairs and out of sight as he moved further into the game shop. There was a slight pause before he heard Grandpa let out a cry.

"Oh my, Atem! What happened?"

Yugi jumped the last few steps and rounded the corner but stopped when the scene came into view. Sitting in a slightly crumpled heap on the floor was Atem. One side of his face was covered in dark red blood, the source seemed to be a wound hidden in his hair line. There was also a steady stream of blood coming from his nose. He was soaked through, the collar of his clothes was wet with not only rain but blood too. He was sitting in a pool of broken glass from a glass shelf, it appeared he'd tried to hold onto the shelf for support but the glass had broken sending him to the floor. In a flash Yugi moved to his closest friend's side and placed a hand on his back. Atem looked up but seemed confused about his surroundings, his eyes found the broken shelf beside him.

"I'm sorry." He said, although his voice didn't sound like his, "The shelf, I… I did not mean to break it."

Grandpa shook his head, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry it's only a shelf. But what happened to you. Who did this?"

There was a pause, rather too long for either of their liking before Atem responded.

"I don't… I'm not sure." His eyes found the shelf again, "The shelf... I did not mean.."

"Don't worry about it," Grandpa tried again, "Do you remember anything that happened?"

Another long pause before Atem shook his head but then let out a small cry of pain, pressing a hand to his head. Yugi rubbed his back reassuringly and exchanged a look with his grandfather. Whatever had happened it was not good.

"Alright don't worry. Let's get you upstairs and sorted," Grandpa said, squeezing his shoulder gently.

Yugi looped one of Atem's arms around his shoulders and stood, bringing the once King with him. Atem let out another cry of pain but his hand pressed to his ribs this time. Yugi bit his lip, he had a feeling he knew what had happened but why or how he was not sure. Their progress up the stairs was slow, Atem was barely able to hold himself upright. He was shivering from his soaked clothing which made matters worse. After quite some time they made it into Atem's bedroom where Yugi lowered him gently to the floor, wanting Atem to be able to lean against the bed until they at least had him in dry clothes. He was pretty sure if they try to sit him on the edge of the bed he'd not be able to support himself. The former King looked completely disorientated, his face was incredibly pale. Yugi moved behind his friend and carefully began to remove his wet coat and shirt underneath. The former Pharaoh didn't resist which was not good in Yugi's eyes. Atem was not one to show weakness, he would have normally insisted he could sort himself out and point blank refused their help. But he did not, he allowed Yugi to remove his coat and shirt from him. Yugi just about managed to stop himself gasping at the damage he saw to Atem's chest. Deep purple bruises were littering his chest, but the biggest one was directly on top of his rib cage. Yugi glanced at his grandfather whose face was one of complete concern. As much as they wanted to ask Atem what had happened it was obvious that he was in no state to answer any of their questions. He was just not with them at the moment, he might physically be there, but his mind wasn't and this set alarm bells off for Solomon. It was becoming clear that this was not something they could sort themselves. Moving to a nearby cupboard he pulled out a thick blanket which he wrapped around the once King's shoulders to try and warm him up. He could not be sure how long he'd been out in the rain, but he suspected from the wound to his head that whatever had happened he'd been knocked out for a while and left exposed to the elements.

He stood in the doorway again looking down at the pair on the floor. Yugi was rubbing the once King's back with worry written all over his face and Atem looked as though he was going to pass out at any moment. His eyes were unfocused and his blinks were becoming slower. Letting out the breath he did not realise he'd been holding Solomon hurried down the corridor to pick up the phone and dialled the three digit number. As he spoke to the operator at the other end of the phone he heard Yugi calling for him. Hurrying back up the corridor with the phone still pressed to his ear and still talking to the operator Solomon found the two boys in the same position he'd left them. However, Yugi had wrapped his arms around the former Pharaoh who had slumped against him. He'd passed out. Relaying the new information to the operator he was assured that help was coming before the line disconnected. Placing the phone on the ground he looked at Yugi whose face was full of concern.

"Help is coming Yugi, there's no way we can help him here."

Despite the worry he was feeling his voice was strong and calm. The last thing any of them needed was to lose his head, it just wouldn't help.

"He just went Grandpa, no word he just…"

"It will be alright Yugi," Grandpa said, putting a hand to his grandson's shoulder, "He's going to be alright, help is coming and they'll get him sorted."

Yugi nodded slightly, he glanced down at the former King but he hadn't stirred. He had to be thankful for the fact that Atem had somehow managed to get back to them but that was typical of him. He had always had this inner strength that somehow kept him going until his body just couldn't cope any longer and gave in. They didn't speak for the next few minutes, both keeping a close watch on their friend not wanting to miss anything. It was as they heard sirens approaching that Grandpa asked Yugi to go meet the paramedics. Carefully handing Atem to him, he practically flew down the stairs and back into the game shop. Broken glass crunched under his feet and he sent a couple of small card packets flying but he paid them no mind. He was completely focused on the large yellow truck with bright lights flashing approaching. He held the door open for the two paramedics and led them up to the bedroom where they found that Atem had regained consciousness but was still as disorientated as before. He struggled to answer questions he was asked and from the looks on the faces of the paramedics they were worried. Yugi bit his lip as he watched the scene, he hated seeing the former Pharaoh this way and he felt guilty. He'd had a feeling. He'd had a feeling that morning that something bad was going to happen. He should have told Atem this and told him not to venture far away and maybe this might not have happened. The paramedics wasted no time, they gently stood Atem up and one of them took him away towards the waiting ambulance and the other turned to the other two in the room.

"We're going to get him checked by the doctors in hospital. We need to go sooner rather then later but only one of you can come with us. I'm sorry but it's policy, can you grab anything he might need and meet us in the ambulance?"

They nodded and the paramedic turned away to follow his colleague. Grandpa was quick to grab a spare bag and throw a couple of things inside it before hurrying downstairs.

"I'll go with him Yugi, best you stay here."

"What? No! Grandpa I want to come too, I can't just leave him when he's like this." Yugi protested.

They had reached the game shop, they could see the ambulance waiting outside but couldn't see what was happening inside.

"I know why you want to come Yugi and I don't blame you but it's better for me to go." Grandpa pressed on, turning to face his grandson, "The story is he's a distant cousin of yours which makes me, in the eyes of anyone else, the best person to go."

Yugi opened his mouth to protest further but Grandpa shook his head.

"I understand Yugi I really do but we can't argue about this any further, he needs to be in that hospital. I will call you as soon as I can but for now let's just focus on getting him help."

Letting out a breath Yugi conceded. He watched his grandfather hurry out of the game shop and into the waiting vehicle. He stood at the door watching the vehicle race off and out of sight.

For a while he just stood there staring at the spot where the ambulance had vanished. He had half a mind to disobey his grandfather and make his own way to the hospital but he thought better of it. This wasn't about him, it was better to make sure that all the focus was on the once King who needed it at this moment. Letting out a breath Yugi turned away from the door, shutting it behind him. Gazing around at the shattered glass on the floor he could see small drops of blood here and there. Anything that been on the shelf was all over the floor including the card packets which in his haste to get to the door he'd managed to boot across the room. Moving to the store cupboard he pulled out a broom and began to clean up. It was the least he could do and would almost keep his mind off the events of that night. After cleaning up the glass and picking up all the scattered items he headed back into the living room, collapsed on the sofa and pulled out his phone. No word from his grandfather yet. He found it very hard to relax, he would check his phone, put it down just to pick it up a minute later. Still no word. Hours past and before Yugi had realised it the morning sun had broken in the sky. The rain had finally stopped and the sun's rays bounced off the various puddles that littered the outside world. Standing up again Yugi checked his phone for perhaps the thousandth time before starting to get ready for school. He really did not want to go but he knew that the best thing he could do for Atem and Grandpa was to go. He didn't bother with breakfast or anything like that, he was not in the mood. Picking up his school bag, which was still slightly wet after the previous day's rain, he began the journey to school. As he walked he tried multiple times to get hold of his grandfather. He was desperate to know something, anything which would at least satisfy him that Atem was at least alright. But for all his calls he only got a quick text which he saw as he came to the school gates. It was from Grandpa simply saying not to worry and he'd call when he could. Letting out a sigh of frustration his eyes fell on the huge banner which reminded him of the previous day. He'd had a feeling then that something bad was going to happened, and it had. Tearing his eyes away and keeping his head down he walked as quickly as he could into the school and to his classroom.

People called out to him as they had been the previous day but on this occasion he didn't acknowledge them. He simply kept his head down and got into his classroom as quick as he could. The classroom was empty which was a relief, he wasn't up for talking about the tournament, not today. Dumping his bag down on his seat he moved to the window and looked out. He could just about see the roof of the hospital, although it was quite a way from the school. He wished he was there with them, the waiting and not knowing what was going on was the worst thing. Letting out yet another sigh he rubbed his eyes. Behind him the door opened and before he could react he'd been tackled from behind.

"There he is! We've been looking all over for you."

"Joey get off him."

Yugi saw Tristan pulled Joey off him and he got to his feet, trying to smile in greeting to his friends.

"Why the need to be so rough when you greet someone Joey?" Tea asked, looking half amused.

Joey shrugged, "I'm Joey Wheeler it's what I do." He looked over at Yugi, "Hey, you ok Yugi? Looks like you haven't slept."

Yugi tried, but failed, to smile at them, "I didn't."

His three friends glanced at each other before looking back at him. They knew Yugi well enough to guess when something wasn't right but they were hoping that he'd simply just not slept.

"Just too excited about the tournament to sleep, am I right?" Tristan tried, but it was clear he didn't believe that.

Slowly Yugi shook his head, he tried to steel himself. He couldn't cry, he needed to be strong. Atem needed him to be strong, he'd taught him to be that during these moments.

"Yugi." Tea said, "What's happened?"

The three of them drew closer to Yugi, ready to support him with whatever he was about to tell them. Looking at them each in turn Yugi drew in a breath and told them.

"Atem is in hospital."

Their faces fell as one, Tea went pale and her hands flew to her mouth. Tristan closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them and Joey was biting his lip.

"What happened to him?" Tristan asked.

Yugi shook his head, "We're not sure, he hasn't been able to tell us but I'm pretty sure he was attacked in the streets last night."

"What? Why? How is he now?" Joey demanded; his fists had clenched.

Yugi just opened his mouth and shut it again helplessly. Clearly, he did not know the answers to the questions. Joey tried to shake off his anger but the thought of someone attacking one of his friends did not sit well with him. But before any of them could say anything else the rest of the class entered followed by the teacher and the class soon started. Resting his elbows on the desk Yugi rested his chin on his hands and tried to pay attention but his mind was somewhere else. All he wanted was to know that his closest friend was alright. He had to be because surely after everything that had happened nothing else bad could happened to them, at least… he hoped not.