Chapter 1: Descent
Author's Note: This is a Christmas present for PharaohsGirl18 Merry Christmas!
A bright light shone from a dark, overcast night. It formed a beam and shot straight down into a sleepy suburb of a Japanese town of Domino City, momentarily illuminating the street.
When the light disappeared, a lone figure stood in the street, now illuminated by a streetlamp. He was wearing all white, which stood out against his tan skin which was washed out in the lamplight and present condition. His eyes were closed and breathing shallow.
Suddenly an uearthly noise emanated from him, shattering a nearby window as he collapsed to the street.
A car headlight appeared, heading toward the prone figure and screeched, it's tires making it's own unearthly noise. "Is that someone in the street?" an old man exclaimed in the passenger seat as a blond teen drove.
"Yeah that's what it looks like." Joey glanced in the rearview mirror as he saw his friend Yugi burst out of the backset. "Where are ya going, Yuge?"
"Helping him!" Yugi called back. He jogged over to the motionless figure and knelt to examine him. "What the-?" they heard him gasp.
"Yugi, what's wrong?" Grandpa called, concerned.
"Joey, help me get him in the car!" Yugi called, looking back at the car, his eyes distinctly panicky.
"Stay in the car." Joey instructed Grandpa before hurrying after Yugi. "Woah, is that?" Joey asked as he got a good sight of the teen.
The teen had spiky hair exactly like Yugi and as Joey helped Yugi lift him onto his shoulders, he noticed that the teen looked almost exactly like him with subtle differences. "Let's get him back to the shop." Yugi advised.
"Maybe he should go to the hospital." Joey suggested, surprised at how little the teen weighed. "Jeez, do all you guys weigh nothing?" he teased Yugi.
Yugi ignored the jab. "Let's at least see what we're dealing with before we insist on a hospital. He might have been traveling too long and collapsed."
"So long after dark?" Joey raised an eyebrow. "And didn't you see that beam of light in this area?"
"Yeah…" Yugi helped Joey carry the teen to the car and laid him in the back seat. Yugi slid in beside him.
Joey drove to the shop and they managed to get him to the couch. "Does he have any injuries?" Grandpa asked, concerned.
"I ain't going to check." Joey held up his hands in defense.
"Of course not." Yugi sighed. He examined the teen's body with his hands and eyes. He saw that there was several spots of blood on his chest and stomach.
"If you're going to keep doing that, buy me dinner first." Came a croaky, slightly accented voice, making all three of them jump.
"You're awake." Yugi blushed as he looked back at the teen's face. Indeed his eyes were open, a deep crimson color. "I was just checking for injuries."
"For that I have many. But I will heal." The teen shifted uncomfortably.
"Can we get you anything?" Grandpa asked, always the host. "Something to drink?"
"Some water would be nice. Traveling makes me thirsty." Atem nodded slowly, then touched his temple, where a small cut was.
"Let me clean that." Yugi offered. "We don't want it to get infected."
"Don't worry about that. I need to heal on my own and get to work." The teen said dismissively.
"What is your name?" Grandpa asked.
"Atem." The teen replied, taking the water Grandpa brought. He drank it in one gulp.
"Did you see that light that appeared before we found you?" Joey asked excitedly. "You must have."
"Yes, I saw it." Atem nodded. "Now I must sleep."
"Just call if you need anything." Grandpa nodded and motioned for the other two to leave.
Atem settled down and quickly fell asleep.
Atem entered the kitchen shirtless the next morning, having taken a shower before coming in. "Morning." He greeted, going to the fridge.
"Morning, Atem." Yugi greeted, trying to avoid staring at Atem as he had never seen someone so toned.
"Something wrong?" Atem went to the table, raising an eyebrow.
"We aren't used to having a guest here." Grandpa explained.
"Ah, and I'm making you uncomfortable?" Atem gestured to his chest.
"No!" Yugi said quickly. Then his gaze lingered on the teen's flawless chest and stomach. "How?" he gasped.
"How what?" Grandpa asked, staring at Yugi. Atem stared calmly back at him.
"His shirt was covered in blood last night. How could he be unharmed today?" Yugi asked, eyes wide.
Atem shrugged. "I heal fast."
Yugi shook his head, a dog with a bone. "No one heals that fast. "What's going on?"
"You aren't supposed to know yet. In time all will be explained." Atem replied.
"You sound like a fortune cookie." Yugi groaned.
"Let him do things his way." Grandpa advised Yugi. "He has his reasons."
"I mean you no harm, Yugi." Atem explained.
"How do you know my name? I never told you it." Yugi narrowed his eyes.
"I know many things. And I will explain at the right time." Atem replied coolly.
"Fine." Yugi sighed. "Who are you Atem?"
"I cannot answer that yet, Yugi."
Yugi groaned in frustration.