Kaiba yawned as he entered his office. It had been weeks since Salem started living at the mansion and Kaiba was fed up.
He had noticed in her first couple of nights she would spend hours tinkering with her watch. He asked her if she was okay, but was only given a nod in response.
Then she started using the basement lab, rarely ever coming to bed and being gone in the morning before Kaiba was up for work.
He thought things were off before, but since Anansi's betrayal, Salem hadn't been the same.
Kaiba sat at his desk and sighed, powering up his laptop and monitors. He opened his briefcase and took out yesterday's speech.
Running for governor was definitely causing more stress, but he couldn't think of a way out.
His campaign rally the morning prior had been lackluster, and his speech was boring and poorly written.
It made him look completely incompetent as a leader.
He angrily crumpled up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket.
His phone buzzed and he looked at the message.
Mokie: Turn on the news. Salem's holding a press conference.
Kaiba furrowed his brow and took his tv remote out of his desk drawer. He pressed the on button and a shiny silver monitor came out of the left wall.
He changed channels until he saw a familiar curly mane.
Salem looked as majestic and regal as ever.
Member of the Press: Ambassador Wahab! I'm here with the Domino Gazette! Our followers want to know your thoughts on Kaiba Seto's campaign for governor?
Salem clears her throat before speaking into the many microphones on the lectern.
Salem: My thoughts? Do you have a question about the issues at hand? This press conference is about the upcoming Summit, not-
Press: Ambassador Wahab! Does Mr. Kaiba express his political opinions with you privately? Is it true you two are cohabitating at the Kaiba Mansion?!
The press in attendance begin to whisper and murmur amongst themselves.
Salem sets her lips in a tight line.
Press: Ambassador Wahab. I'm a representative of TV Tokyo. As an politician, and being as young as you are, do you really think that Kaiba Seto could change Domino City for the better? What could a CEO of a gaming company possibly know?
Salem sighs and places her hands on the podium.
Salem: As an American citizen, I know that there are human rights issues all over the world. Seto Kaiba has specific programs in place at his company that make sure that his employees are treated with respect-
Domino Gazette: But how does this benefit our city?!
Salem: In Domino, there are a high number of single mothers who live below the poverty line. Many of these women lost money through divorce, death of a spouse, or are victims of rape. So many intelligent women are discriminated against in the workplace either due to pregnancy or-
TV Tokyo: What does this have to do with Kaiba Seto?
Salem rubs at her temples and gives an exasperated sigh.
Salem: There is an online program for single mothers to learn how to code. This program was created and funded by Seto Kaiba himself. Kaiba Corporation hires at least %85 of their coders through this program, giving those who are invisible to society a second chance at a career.
Salem sips a glass of water and continues.
Salem: These are the kind of structures that need to be put in place so that the disenfranchised can rejoin society. Do I think that Seto Kaiba runs his company with Intelligence, hidden compassion, and a keen eye for the future? Yes. Do I think he'll be able to transfer that leadership over to politics? The city of Domino won't know until Election Day. What I can tell all of you lovely people of the press, is that a new perspective is the best way to solve current issues-
Domino Gazette: Are you saying that a vote for Seto Kaiba is a vote for the future?
Salem sighs again, done with answering off topic questions.
Salem: Sure.
The members of the press go into a frenzy as they all start shouting more questions at Salem.
Salem: Do any of you have questions on the upcoming Peace Summit? I will not answer anymore questions about Seto Kaiba or our relationship.
The press becomes silent. Suddenly one person, stands up and leaves, followed by the rest of the press representatives.
Kaiba turned off the the monitor, fuming.
He didn't know if he was mad about the blatant disrespect the press had for Salem, or the way Salem completely emasculated him by coming up with a better speech at the drop of a hat.
A vote for Kaiba, is a vote for the future.
Shit.
That's good.
Now he really didn't have a way out of the race.
Or worse, he could win.
He felt a stress headache building behind his eyes as Mokuba barged into his office.
"Seto! Holy shit, did you see that? I completely forgot about that program! That would have been great to use in your speech!" Mokuba said excitedly approaching the desk.
Mokuba ran his fingers through his raven hair and sighed happily.
"Seto, cheer up! Salem just saved your ass!" Mokuba said sitting across from Kaiba in the white chairs.
Kaiba pinched the bridge of his nose, "There's no reason she should be getting asked about that. She should know not to answer-"
"Seto, stop. You obviously aren't trying, and yesterday it showed. It's not Salem's fault that the press was more interested in your relationship and campaign than whatever the fuck she was supposed to talk about." Mokuba said straightening his bow tie and glaring at his older brother.
"I'm not trying because I don't care about any of this. This was your idea, Mokuba so you make it work." Kaiba scolded, furiously starting the day's work.
Mokuba rolled his eyes and stood up,
"Maybe you and Salem should take a vacation. It's obviously been a while since you've had sex."
"No." Kaiba growled, furiously typing.
Mokuba leaned against the desk and sighed.
"Is everything okay between you two? You've been more tired than usual. I do think it's a little early for her to be moving in. You two have only been together four months."
Kaiba kept his eyes on his monitor, "It's only temporary. She had a break in at her estate and she's staying with me while she hires new security."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?! Is she okay?" Mokuba rounding the desk and standing next to his brother.
Kaiba didn't know the answer to that. She definitely wasn't the same, and he didn't know how loose of a definition of 'okay' he wanted to use.
"She'll be fine when she's back in her own space." Kaiba said, trying to convince himself more than Mokuba.
Mokuba nodded and went to sit across from Kaiba.
"You know, Seto. Isono told me you took Salem to the space station a little while ago. I didn't think you'd ever want to see that place again." He said, relaxing into the white leather.
Kaiba stopped typing and shrugged, "Things change."
Mokuba nodded again and scoffed, "Yeah. I guess they do...but then not really right Seto?" He narrowed his purple-grey eyes at the older male.
Kaiba looked into his brother's eyes, "If you have something to say, spit it out."
"Are you using Salem? She seems like she really cares about you and-"
"What could I possibly be using her for?" Kaiba said with a roll of his eyes.
He knew full well his was using Salem.
Sex wasn't happening between them anymore so all they had left of the relationship was her promise to help him resurrect the pharaoh.
Mokuba shook his head and leaned forward,
"I stopped by last night and she was home but you weren't. I saw her working away on that little watch of hers. When I asked her what it was she ignored me. Then, I took a look at her notes. Papers everywhere. She wasn't even trying to keep it a secret…" Mokuba said with a laugh.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow at his younger brother. He wondered why Isono didn't tell him that Mokuba visited last night.
"Seto, that woman is a genius and what do you do? Use her genius for your own personal gain?" He continued, standing up and walking to the floor to ceiling windows behind his brother.
Kaiba resumed his typing, "I don't know what you're talking about." He said nonchalantly.
Mokuba scoffed, "Sure, Seto. Fine, whatever." He said walking over to the door.
"Just know that when you bring him back, you'll be hurting Salem. I can tell she loves you. She wouldn't be putting herself through hell if she didn't." He walked out of the office and slammed the door behind him.
Kaiba sighed and put his face in his hands. He didn't even think about what would happen when Mokuba found out what him and Salem where up to.
He rubbed at his eyes and held his breath.
"Salem doesn't love me, does she? Even if she does, it hardly matters now. Tonight's the night." Kaiba thought to himself.
Yes.
Atem comes home tonight.
Finally home from his long day at work, Kaiba walked into his bedroom, hearing Salem humming in the bathroom.
He sighed and set his briefcase on the coffee table in the corner of the room. He walked into the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe, watching Salem lather her silky skin.
He loosened his tie and cleared his throat,
"Someone's getting comfortable." He said crossing his arms and tossing his bangs out of his eyes.
Salem gazed at Kaiba and smiled mischievously,
"I had a rough day. Why don't you join me?" She said leaning against the back of the large soaking tub.
Kaiba felt his pants grow slightly tight. It was tempting, but he needed to stay focused.
"No. We have work to do."
He heard Salem sigh as he walked back into the bedroom.
Kaiba didn't feel bad withholding his affection from Salem. It was the best thing to do to ensure a clean break.
He knew that as soon as Atem was alive and in his arms again, he wouldn't have space for Salem emotionally.
Kaiba changed into his black slacks and turtleneck combo. He decided it would be best to take his white trench coat out of retirement.
He didn't know how they were going to go and get Atem, but Kaiba wanted to make sure he was prepared.
He went into the back of his closet and looked at the iconic coat. His duel disk was sitting in a display case next to the outerwear.
Kaiba took a deep breath as he donned his jacket and fastened the gear.
He awkwardly walked out of the closet. He had forgotten how much the tech in the shoulder pads impeded his movement.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw Salem standing in the middle of the room in an athletic black turtleneck and black military combat pants with matching boots. She was tapping and scrolling on the screen of her watch.
She glanced at Kaiba and chuckled,
"Nice jacket. Did you want to bring attention to yourself? Wear something darker."
Kaiba scoffed, "I'm not going to find Atem without being prepared."
"Uh huh, what are you gonna to do with your duel disk, habibi? Throw it at someone who has a gun?" She asked crossing her arms.
"You have your ways, I have mine." Kaiba said, adjusting the padding on his shoulders.
"Tanin-"
"Don't call me that." Kaiba spat, ready to finally be reunited with his rival.
Salem sighed. "Seto, this is a simple retrieval mission. We need to stay in the shadows. Before we even get to Atem, I need to get a power source. We'll be shot on sight with you wearing something like that."
Kaiba crossed his arms, "I'm. Not. Changing." He was done with the conversation.
Salem rubbed at her temples, "Why are you acting like this? I really don't understand. Did I do something?"
Kaiba looked into her honey colored eyes, feeling nothing.
"Let's just get this over with." He said, breaking eye contact with her.
Salem bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She knew this was going to happen. She just didn't expect it to happen immediately.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, "We're going to a secret base. It's simple enough and if we're careful-"
"You say that every time we use the portals and it's never simple. Let's just go and what happens is what happens." He interrupted, fed up with Salem's planning and strategy.
It never made any difference once they were in a different universe.
"Are you saying you don't trust me?" She asked, typing coordinates into the watch.
"No I don't. I don't trust you at all." Kaiba stated matter of factly.
"Well, okay then. Good to know." She said emotionlessly as she opened the portal.
"After you." Kaiba said with a glare.
Salem rolled her eyes and went into the portal first, feeling Kaiba's eyes on her back as he followed her.
Kaiba followed as cautiously as he could when they entered what seemed to be a testing facility. He caught up with Salem quickly as she broke into a sprint.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her around a corner to hide from the security guard.
He wasn't going to make that mistake again.
As the guard passed, the smell of Salem's skin invaded Kaiba's nostrils.
He realized he was still holding her close to his body once the coast was clear.
His body felt cold as she left his grip and kept walking down the hallway.
He followed even closer this time, watching her bouncy curls sway in her high ponytail.
Shit.
"Keep it together asshole. A clean break."
Salem opened a door and pulled Kaiba inside, shutting it silently behind her.
"Okay, here it is. Once we take this, the alarm will sound. I'm going to open the portal to take us to my home lab but it won't stay open long." She whispered, approaching a glowing cube.
"What is this? And what reality are we in?" Kaiba asked, thoroughly confused.
"This is basically the 'man made' version of the plana cube you showed me. I knew it looked familiar in your blueprints, so I did some digging-"
"Okay fine. But where are we?"
Salem opened a pocket in her combat pants ready to take the item,
"We're still in your reality, I've just teleported us to Area 51 and-"
"What?!" Kaiba's whisper was almost a shout.
Suddenly there was commotion outside.
Salem opened the portal,
"Go now!" She said grabbing the cube, pocketing it quickly.
An alarm blared loudly,
INTRUDER ALERT
INTRUDER ALERT
INTRUDER ALERT
Kaiba grabbed Salem's arm and pulled her into the portal with him, feeling it close behind them as they landed roughly on the cement floor of Salem's basement.
He gasped as the tech in his jacket dig into his shoulder. He blinked rapidly as Salem sat up and took the cube out of her pocket.
His stomach did backflips as she stood and took the cube to her computer.
He slowly found his was to his feet as Salem placed the cube on a small tray.
The computer scanned the energy source as she synced it to her watch.
Amazed, Kaiba watched the cube become smaller and smaller, until it was the size of sugar cube.
Salem took a deep breath in and pointed the watch at a far wall.
The computer beeped in rhythm as the AI counted down,
5
4
3
"Get ready to follow me. Don't go ahead, to pull me around. If we get separated, I will not be able to find you." She said, taking slow even breaths.
2
1
DNA MATCH, LOCKED ON, ACTIVATING...
Salem activated the portal and it opened in a swirling vortex of pink and crimson.
The portal stretched until it was taking up most of the white wall.
Kaiba looked at Salem's outstretched arm and saw it shaking. He was starting to understand what Mokuba was saying earlier.
There was no reason for Salem to put herself through this. Especially after being betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust.
Kaiba realized that in the time that him and Salem have been together, she had lost everyone around her that she could rely on.
Except him.
He studied Salem's forlorn expression as she lowered her arm.
"Let's go." She said, walking into the portal not bothering to look back at Kaiba.
Kaiba stood speechless.
A clean break.
A clean break…
He walked into the portal behind Salem.
A clean…
Shit.
He looked around, his surroundings familiar from when he first made his journey to the afterlife.
He followed Salem who was just a few strides ahead of him.
He kept his distance as they walked through the barren desert.
Kaiba saw Kemet, the resting place of the night pharaoh, in the distance. He grunted as he ran into Salem's backside.
"Why did you stop? Let's go." Kaiba said, trying to get her to look at him.
He turned his attention to whatever Salem was staring at and paused.
Standing ready to block their path, was Priest Set, his doppelgänger.
Great.
Salem bravely approached the tall dark man and spoke in the ancient language.
Kaiba stood resolutely behind Salem, glaring at the priest. He remembered that the priest gave him major trouble when Kaiba and Atem were discovered laying together in the rose garden after a passionate session of lovemaking.
The priest nodded at Salem and glared back at Kaiba, leading the two into the palace. His blue cape flowed magnificently behind him as he showed them into the throne room.
Kaiba blinked as the sun blinded him momentarily. His eyes adjusted as he saw a figure running up to him.
He felt the air knocked out of his lungs as he fell to the ground.
He found himself looking into deep pools of crimson red.
Atem.
"Kaiba!" Atem yelled excitedly, throwing his arms around the brunette. He didn't care that he was making a scene in front of his court.
Kaiba had come to bring him home!
Kaiba wrapped his arms around the pharaoh,
"I've missed you." He whispered.
The two slowly stood up, Atem still hanging off of Kaiba's torso.
Salem was standing next to Priest Set watching the two men reunite. She sighed sadly, knowing this was the end of her time with Kaiba.
"You did a good thing. The pharaoh hasn't been the same since that man left. You're a good person." The priest whispered to her.
She smiled sadly.
"Yeah. Thanks." She said crossing her arms and rubbing at her shoulders.
It was time to leave.
Kaiba looked into Atem's eyes, ecstatic.
This was really happening.
He turned his attention to Salem and his heart fell into the pit of his stomach. He saw the sadness in her eyes as she processed the end of their relationship.
He became confused as she walked over to the two males and smiled at Atem.
"Hello, pharaoh. Nice to finally meet you in person." She said absentmindedly as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a syringe filled with a foreboding colored liquid.
Kaiba grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. He pulled the syringe from her hand as she cried out in pain.
Atem stepped back and glared at the woman. He knew Kaiba had been sleeping with someone but he didn't know it was someone as dangerous as this vile piece of work.
"Seto, you're hurting me!" She yelled, gasping as Kaiba twisted her arm more.
"Good. What is this?" He growled, waving the syringe in front of her face.
"We don't have time! The portal will collapse if we don't hurry. Please, Seto...you have to trust me..Atem needs what's in the syringe to crossover with us…" She pleaded, eyes watering from the pain in her shoulder.
Kaiba released her and examined the syringe. If Atem did need this, why didn't Salem explain that earlier?
Atem looked between Kaiba and Salem. He was ready to be alive again, and if he had to trust Salem to get out, he would do so.
He put his arm out and gazed deeply into Kaiba's eyes,
"Do it. I'm already dead, what's the worst that can happen?" Atem said with a smirk.
Kaiba sighed and looked back at Salem, who was rubbing her arm and shoulder.
She started to walk back the way they came,
"Trust me or don't but I'm leaving. I won't be able to open another portal from this side and I refuse to be stuck in the Egyptian afterlife for the rest of my days." She said disappearing into the palace.
"Kaiba, it's okay. Just do it." Atem said, grabbing Kaiba's wrist and pulling the syringe closer to his arm.
Kaiba froze.
No.
This could have been Salem's plan.
To completely get rid of Atem.
Love makes people so crazy things right? Who's to say that Salem wouldn't do something to keep Kaiba all to herself?
Kaiba looked into pools and crimson and took a deep breath. He pushed the need into the bend of Atem's arm and administered the liquid.
Atem immediately lost consciousness and fell into Kaiba's arms.
"Shit. Fuck, Atem! Wake up!" Kaiba yelled, shaking the limp pharaoh in his arms.
"There's no time…" Kaiba thought, slinging the pharaoh of his shoulder and running after Salem.
He couldn't find her on the path they had traveled together.
Shit.
She wouldn't leave would she?
"You did just dislocate her fucking shoulder asshole."
Kaiba found his way back to the desert and saw the pink and red portal still glowing in the distance. He adjusted his grip on Atem's body and ran as fast as he could.
As he got closer, he noticed Salem waiting by the portal.
...She stayed…
Kaiba ignored her gaze as he ran through portal and into her basement lab, frantically laying Atem down to perform CPR.
He felt Salem's presence behind him but he stayed focused on Atem. He put two fingers to Atem's wrist and was immediately relieved.
A pulse.
Salem closed the portal and went to kneel in front of Kaiba.
"He's fine. The solution I gave him was to help his spiritual body convert into an organic one. He needs a safe place to rest and recover. Maybe he can have Yugi and his friends bring some of his favorite games to the Kaiba Mansion-"
"I didn't tell Yugi and his friends about this…." Kaiba interrupted, he realized he'd just made a crucial mistake.
He couldn't have anyone know Atem was back.
Shit.
Salem sighed and stood up, still cradling her arm.
"Well, just get him in a bed where you can monitor his vitals. He'll be weak for a couple months but I highly recommend that he gets all of his shots and he gets registered. That way when he's ready to venture out, he can." She started to walk out of the lab when Kaiba called out to her.
"Salem, wait."
She turned and looked at Kaiba,
"Yes?"
"He needs to stay here. With you."
"My answer is no." She said, giving her shoulder a tender rub.
"Please. No one can know. You're the only person I can-"
"Trust?" She finished, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"You said you don't trust me. Just today you did! Why would I do anything for you after this?" She asked, flinching when she tried to gesture.
Kaiba thought for a moment.
That's right.
Why?
"Why would you help me with any of this? You knew what would happen if you helped me bring him back-"
"Don't you dare, Seto. You told me I could trust you! You told me I was safe with you, mish kida? You lied to me and then cut me off emotionally as soon as you knew we had everything we needed to bring him back. Did you even really, truly care for me? At all?"
"Of course I did!" Kaiba yelled, standing up with Atem in his arms.
"...I still do...It's just...he's all I've ever known. Being with you made me miss him more...yes, I felt like I was trying to replace him with you but you need to understand-"
"I did understand! Why do you think I agreed to help you? I didn't know you'd turn cold to me the minute Atem was close enough to be real-Ah!" She groaned in pain and fell to her knees.
Kaiba laid Atem down on one of the tables and ran over to Salem. He reached out to help her up and she flinched, scooting herself away.
He examined her shoulder from a safe distance and sighed.
He had definitely injured her.
Kaiba's guilt hit him all at once as Salem struggled to stand on her own two feet. He tried to help her yet again but was too late and she fell to the floor.
She breathed heavily and stayed sitting, defeated.
"Fine. He may stay here, but you will sleep in your own in bed every night. Put him in the guest room. I'm going to the hospital." She said, standing herself in one big heave.
"Let me drive you." Kaiba said, trying to get a better look at her arm.
"I'll call, Jackson. I'll be fine. Besides, Atem needs you." She said, walking out of the basement and slowly making her way up the stairs.
Kaiba turned to look at the unconscious pharaoh.
Wait.
Jackson?
Anansi's number two?
Didn't he quit?
Months ago?
Kaiba took Atem's body off of the table, and started walking to the guest room.
He walked up the second set of stairs, in deep thought.
Why wouldn't Salem tell him that she had hired security?
He knew their relationship suffered because of-
"Kaiba?" Atem whispered, his eyes opening slightly.
Kaiba pushed the door open with his shoulder and laid Atem on the bed.
"I'm here." Kaiba answered, moving a loc of blonde hair from Atem's face.
He smiled at the sleepy pharaoh and took off his trench coat.
Might as well get comfortable.
He slipped of his shoes and laid down next to Atem, wrapping his arms around the smaller male.
"Kaiba?" Atem whispered, slowly falling back to sleep.
"Yes, Atem?" Kaiba answered, feeling as if he was floating in a cloud.
"Thank you for bringing me home."
He's BACK!
It's all downhill from here! Lol
Highlight of My Life will be updated next weekend!
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