Rivaled Partners
Chapter 3

"You'll never truly be happy this way, Kaiba-kun. Your selfish nature is just going to continue to push everyone away and when you finally need help, there will be no one there to save you from yourself!"

"I don't need saving! Just like I don't need you or your tachi no baka!"

"Fuck it, Kaiba! You want to dig your own grave? Then feel free to do so because I don't care anymore! I have more important things to worry about then saving your ungrateful ass!"

"Well then, good night and good riddance, Yuugi!"

"One of these days you're going to need my aid, and when you do, I won't be here for you! And if I am, good luck getting me on your team!" And with that, Yami stormed off in a fit of rage, punching the wall of the blimp in his frustration.

Seto sneered bitterly, as he watched his rival's retreating frame disappear from view, "I, Kaiba Seto, as your partner, Yuugi? That'll be the day." He looked down at his watch, seeing that it was later than he had thought, then strode back to his room to use what precious hours he had left to rest, not that he counted on actually getting any.

Those had been the words that they had exchanged a half a decade ago, and never had Seto ever considered that he would ever be wrong about what he had said to Atemu that night. Never once, that was until he heard Atemu's voice on the other end of the telephone line.

"Something wrong, Kaiba-kun?"

"But you-- you're dead."

The reply was soft and bitter, "Oh right. That."

Seto rubbed his temples, assuming that someone was just playing a cruel joke on his mind, "It doesn't make any sense. This goes against the laws of nature!"

"Nature is cruel, Kaiba-kun."

Seto closed his eyes, "I don't understand."

Silence overcame the line then something that sound like 'yes' was heard in the background, "Listen Kaiba-kun. Antonio-sama says that you should just come down to HQ this afternoon and we can chat a little more then. In any case I'm sure that you're busy."

Seto blinked, "This ca--"

A sigh, "Just come by later, alright? Goodbye."

"Wait!" But all that he heard was the buzz of dial tone. Seto shook his head, believing that he had imagined the whole thing and placed the receiver back down on its resting place.

Seto had not been able to concentrate that whole morning and by late afternoon he still hadn't finished what he had wanted to. All that he could think about was that phone call that he had received from 'Yami'.

The light for his lane changed to green and he pressed on the accelerator, turning the steering wheel ninety degrees to the left to start his turn, the wind blowing through his chestnut locks. He returned the wheel to its original position once he had completed the turn through the intersection and continued on ahead.

Kaiba Seto wasn't one to listen to music in his car, let alone listen to it anywhere else, so surprisingly the radio was on. And what was more shocking, Seto was humming along with the current song; his finger's drumming on the wheel as his Viper sped down the Domino City streets.

Seto's destination was the only place where the media couldn't follow him, a small parking garage in the center of the city. He sped into the garage as soon as it came into view, barely missing another driver who cursed at him. He simply shook his head and drove to the lowest part of the garage, the light of the world above disappearing from his view. Slowing down to barely to around five miles per hour, he reached the parking zone below. True it was dark beyond all belief, but he knew the area well. He backed into a parking slot neatly next to other cars and shifted the gear to 'park'.

Opening a hidden compartment in the roof of the car, he reached inside and pulled out a belt buckle with the word 'Viper' on it. Smiling to himself, Seto removed the buckle that said 'KC' on it and placed that into the compartment, snapping on the new one. Then he reached into the compartment again and pulled out a pair of thin, black shades that had been specially made for him. The brunette put them on so that they were resting on his nose bridge and closed the compartment.

To complete the look, he removed his infamous white trench coat and neatly folded it, reaching under his seat and pulled out a simple black, leather jacket. Slipping the jacket around his shoulders and torso, Seto got out of the car and opened the trunk, placing the folded trench coat inside. Then he locked his car and walked down the dark tunnel that led to the agency's entrance. After scanning his key card through the high-tech security system and having it scan his retina, the double doors opened slowly and he walked inside, the said objects shutting behind him.

The main room consisted of a huge plasma television, a black leather sofa with matching armchairs, a desk with a few computers and a phone, a pair of floor lamps, and a coffee table complete with a coffee maker. Of the agents that were present, three of them sat on the sofa and in the armchairs, another one stood against the wall chatting on his cell, another one typed at a computer, and the chief agent, Antonio, sat upon the sofa with his laptop upon the coffee table, showing a PowerPoint presentation on the television to the other participating agents. Of the three other agents that sat around Antonio, one was reading a book in his or her armchair, while the other two asked questions about the presentation and voiced their opinions.

All eyes focused on Seto the moment that he stepped inside, and then as if nothing had happened, the agents returned to whatever they had been doing, paying him no more mind. Antonio rose from his seat and greeted Seto, a warm smile spreading across his face as he spoke about Seto's new mission and his sympathies for the loss of Jounouchi. Seto knew what was coming but he choose to simply nod nonchalantly and say little, allowing the older man to elaborate on how crucial the new mission was to the future of the agency and so on. Surprisingly Antonio said nothing about the brunette's new partner, and the CEO supposed that there was a valuable reason for that the topic being undiscussed.

Antonio left Seto alone once more and resumed the presentation with the eager agents, much to the brunette's relief; he hated having to listen to people rant on and on. His eyes drifted around the room looking for 'Yami', someone that he still believed hadn't really been on the telephone that morning. It was then that he realized that the reading agent's head was blocked by a floor lamp, so he couldn't see what the person looked like, although he swore that he saw a spike of hair poking out from behind the obscuring object. To confirm his suspicion he stepped forward, the agent's full form coming into view.

"Yami."

Atemu sat in the black armchair, his intoxicating eyes of crimson scanning the page of the book that currently captured his interest. His hair was just as Seto remembered it; his spiky tri-colored as brilliant as ever, the blonde bangs complimenting his face perfectly. He was wearing a black tank that accented his toned muscles and chiseled abs, along with a pair of snug black slacks with a black belt and silver buckle; thin, tinted shades adorned his face, and a pair of black leather boots wrapped themselves around his feet. His skin wasn't the pale white that Seto remembered, but his ancient skin tone instead; the luscious tan bringing out his boyish beauty and eternal youth.

The spiky-haired man looked up when he heard his nickname called, removing his shades and he caught the brunette's gaze, their eyes locking and it looked as though both of them were seemingly frozen in time. After about half a minute of mindless staring, Atemu closed his book, setting it on the coffee table, getting to his feet as he cleared his throat.

"Kaiba."

Seto snapped out of the gaze at the sound of the other's melodic voice, "Come on. We can't talk here."

Atemu nodded slowly, "Of course not," seeing that everyone was looking at him, he gulped, tearing his gaze back to Seto's eyes, "Where did you have in mind?"

"The coffee shop in the center of town, of course," he paused when he saw an indefinable emotion on Atemu's face, "That is alright with you, right?"

Atemu nodded again, "Affirmative," he really did want to get out of the building, "Coffee is perfect."

Atemu's hand gripped onto the leather seat below him, "Can't you slow down? You'll kill us!"

Seto smirked as he sped across an intersection, "Nonsense. An experienced driver such as myself would never let this car crash."

Atemu closed his eyes, "It's not the car I'm worried about! It's you!"

Seto blinked as he changed lanes. Just exactly had Atemu meant by that? "Stop whining like a baby. I have control over this vehicle and it will not crash."

Atemu sighed and put his shades back on; Seto wasn't going to listen to him no matter how hard he tried, so he decided to silence himself and put his faith in the brunette, silently praying to Ra that they wouldn't crash. After all, Atemu didn't have plans to return to the afterlife before his time came.

To Atemu's amazement, Seto was able to park the Viper with it unbelievably still in once piece. How the hell that had happened, Atemu couldn't fathom, but in any case he hoped that Seto wouldn't put him through something like that ever again, though he knew that it was highly unlikely that he would get his wish. He supposed that if there was anything that Seto loved more than technology and superiority, it was undeniably speed and adventure. This was once of the many things that reminded Atemu of the cerulean-eyed priest that he had known so long ago.

The former king smiled to himself, recalling that he himself had once loved riding his chariot across the Egyptian sands, the reins firm in his hands as his horses seemingly glided down the banks of the Nile. He had especially cherished riding in the chariot with his mortal father, Pharaoh Akunumkanon, the then-heir's lance within his grip as the two hunted geese that flew overhead. The cool air would rush through his tri-colored locks as his father's royal falcon screeched, the sun bathing its magnificent russet wings as it soared over the company. The High Priests Seth, Mahaado and Akunadin had hunted and rode at their chariot's side as the column followed from behind, all of their eyes upon the beloved-Pharaoh and his immortal son. And Atemu loved the thousands of miles of sand had seemed to stretch on forever, because they made him think of everlasting freedom and that there was always something new out there just waiting to be discovered.

Seth, with his sun-kissed skin that had always seemed to glow, would sometimes allow Atemu to ride in his chariot on hunts and scouting missions when Mahaado was preoccupied with his own business or just wasn't around at the given time. The brunette had taught the Prince many things about hunting and war that Mahaado didn't feel were appropriate or didn't have time to teach him. The smiles that Seth gave him would fill the Prince with a wonderful feeling that flowed throughout his body, and his confidence would soar whenever he was around the brunette.

'It's so different now,' thought Atemu as Seto opened the driver's side and stepped out. The spiky-haired man did the same, shaking his head, 'Back then he would have never been so reckless like he is today.'

Not seeming to notice the nostalgic expression on Atemu's tan face, Seto led the way to a small table outside of the coffee shop, and without exchanging a single word, the two sat down across from one-another in the provided chairs. Seto found himself gazing at Atemu with a soft air while the attractive former king took in their surroundings. There was just something about the other man that perked Seto's interest beyond his comprehension. Unfortunately for the CEO, Atemu realized that the brunette was looking at him in that way.

"Something wrong?"

Seto shook his head slowly, "No."

"How did you know that I liked coffee?"

"I didn't. I just assumed that like all other freaks of nature, you enjoyed insane amounts of caffeine."

Atemu made a face, "Oh ha-ha, Kaiba." He crossed his arm as the waitress made her way over to their table. "But seriously why?"

Seto smiled in a cocky manner, "Who doesn't like coffee?"

Atemu chuckled, "Only freaks of nature of course."

Seto was about to make a comment but the waitress cut in, "May I take your order?"

Atemu wasn't reluctant to show Seto that he could take care of himself, "I'll have a light chestnut roast with a little sugar, cream and whip, please."

"Is that all for you?"

Atemu nodded, seeing that Seto was looking at him wide-eyed, "On second thought. Make it extra whip."

Apparently the girl hadn't caught the joke, "And for you, Kaiba-sama?"

Atemu smirked at Seto, who simply shook his head, glaring at the spiky-haired man, "A decaf vanilla roast. No cream, sugar or whip. Ever."

She blinked at the CEO's words but knowing that he always tipped well, wrote the orders down anyway and left.

Seto was still glaring at Atemu with disgusted vehemence, "That wasn't funny."

Atemu simply smirked further, "Well, Mr. Vanilla Roast, being called a 'freak of nature' wasn't funny either."

Seto made a face, "Enough chit-chat. You owe me an explanation, Yami."

Atemu sighed and folded his hands in his lap, "Yes, I suppose that I do."

Seto crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, "Well?"

The spiky-haired man frowned, "How do I know that you'll believe what I say?"

"You don't. But regardless if I will believe your words or not, I want to know why you're back in my time period," Seto paused, "And how it's possible that you could be here."

The waitress returned with two mugs of coffee and set them on the table along with the bill then returned to her work once more.

Atemu closed his eyes, "It's a long story."

"I have all evening."

Then he opened them once more, "Alright." Taking his mug into his hands and sipping his coffee, Atemu proceeded then to explain to Seto what had happened to him in the time after he left.

-Flashback-

The stone below his feet was cold and he shivered, "My father wants to see me?"

Mahaado nodded slowly, "Yes my king."

"Why would Pharaoh want to see me?"

A soft female voice spoke, "Not His Grace, Majesty. But your true father instead."

"My true father? What?"

"She means Asar, my Pharaoh."

Atemu stopped in his tracks, staring at Isis and Mahaado in shock, "That can't be! I'm no god!"

Shada shook his bald head, "God you are, Pharaoh."

"But that makes no sense!"

Karim chuckled, "Not everything has to make sense to be true, Your Grace."

Atemu made a face at his deceased High Priests and Shimon, the old man walking at his side.

"He's right," added Shimon.

"So let me get this straight. I'm some form of All-Mighty Heru."

"You are Heru," they all replied in unison.

-End Flashback-

"So you're saying that your priests told you that you are some god?"

Atemu nodded, "Yes." And with Seto's unbelieving gaze upon him he continued.

-Flashback: Three Years Later-

The voice that spoke to him in his mind was soft yet commanding, 'Welcome back my son.'

"Thank you, Father."

The god of the underworld smiled without smiling, 'How much we have missed you. How was your trip to the Summerland?'

"I had quite a good time, Father. Tehuti took me hunting and Heret-Het showed me her valley."

Another comforting voice filled his head, 'My son! You are finally back!'

Atemu turned toward where he thought the voice had originated to see his divine mother's beautiful face. The goddess's eyes were shining with happiness, "Mother."

Aset rushed over to him and took him into her embrace, hugging with arms that he could not feel, though her aura surrounded and comforted him in ways that a human's could not. But something was strange about her aura; she was emitting all sorts of grief, 'It is not over, my son.' Her divine voice was sad and uncertain.

"What is not over, Mother?"

'Your destiny has not yet been fully achieved.'

"Forgive my tendency to be naïve, Mother, but what are you talking about?"

'There is still something that you must do in the Land of the Living.'

"What's that Mother?"

'I cannot tell you, because I do not know myself.'

"Then how am I supposed to know what I'm supposed to do?"

'You will just know, Heru. You will know like you have always known, like you know now, like you will know in the future.'

"I understand Mother. What must I do?"

Asar's voice filled his head once more, 'You must return to the Land of the Living at once.'

Atemu bowed his head, "I shall."

Tears streamed down Aset's divine face, 'Good luck, my son.'

Atemu smiled at her and walked through the white portal that opened at his command, "I shall return soon, Mother." Her grief, at seeing him go once more, filled his entire soul and for a moment he found himself frozen with sadness. He shook off the feeling and walked into the portal, feeling his bone, muscle and skin returning, and hearing her voice echoing after him.

'Remember me when you dream.'

-End Flashback-

Seto tried to take in what Atemu had just told him but he found it extremely hard to accept such a far-fetched tale. But he had to admit that for so long he had not believed that Atemu had existed, but of course he had been wrong, and now anything that the former king told him was more than possible, "So how did you end up at the agency?"

Atemu took a last sip of his coffee, "When I arrived back here, I knew that the first thing I had to do was find myself work and shelter."

Seto sipped the last of his coffee as well, "That's understandable."

Atemu chuckled to himself, "Actually, I found out about the agency by accident."

"Let me guess. You stumbled across the academy on your search for a job, thinking that it was the law enforcement," Seto mused.

Atemu placed his mug aside, "Actually, that's exactly what happened."

"And they sent you to the academy for two years?"

"Yes."

"Then after you graduated, you met Antonio?"

"Exactly."

-Flashback: 5 1/2 Years After The Ceremonial Battle-

"You're Yami, yes?"

Atemu nodded, "Yes sir." He handed his diploma to Antonio.

The other man looked over Atemu's diploma and paperwork, "Everything seems to be in order."

A few minutes passed then Antonio spoke again, "Welcome to our branch of the agency, Yami."

Atemu smiled and bowed his head, "Thank you sir."

"Luckily for you one of our agents retired last week, we have an opening for you."

"That's wonderful. What type of person will be my partner?"

"A most accomplished individual. He is one of our finest agents. You ever heard of Kaiba Seto?"

Atemu's mouth dropped and he nearly fainted, "Yes," he paused, "I've heard of Kaiba Seto."

"Wonderful! We'll be seeing on Monday then?"

"Yes sir."

"In that case, you are dismissed."

Atemu bowed his head once more and left Antonio's office. Shock was still written all over his face, 'Kaiba! I swear, someone is laughing at me up there,' he mused.

-End Flashback-

After Atemu had finished his story, Seto examined the bill then pulled out his wallet and took out the proper amount plus a small tip. Rising to his feet, he tucked in his chair and started back to the Viper, Atemu following closely behind him.

Seto opened the car door, "Let's go get your belongings."

Atemu shook his head, "I don't have any else."

Seto blinked, "You mean to tell me that you have absolutely nothing but the clothes that you have on right now and that little denim bag in the car?"

Atemu nodded slowly, slightly ashamed of the fact, "That's all I have."

Seto grunted as he slid into the Viper; Atemu doing the same, "Hn. I suppose that I'll have to take you shopping tomorrow."

The former king blinked, "What? You don't have to do th--"

"You're not fooling anyone, Yami. I can see that you're in desperate need of new clothes, extra under-garments and some decent shoes."

"I'm not in need of anythi--"

"I insist, Yami. Besides, do you really want to spend all day tomorrow with the maids?"

"Maids? What maids? I'm afraid that I don't understand, Kaiba."

Seto inserted the key into the ignition and started up the engine, "Do I have to spell it out for you? You're my partner now. You have almost nothing to your name. I'm basically your host family, the only one in this whole city that you can turn to now, and it would displease me to know that you had to sleep on that little leather couch when you could have your own room at Kaiba Mansion."

Atemu eyes widened, "You can't be serious, Kaiba."

The CEO shook his head, "I've never been more serious."

Atemu closed the car door, "I don't know what to say."

"It's simple. Just accept my proposal and promise that you'll allow yourself to be endlessly pampered."

After realizing that Seto was absolutely correct, Atemu smiled at him for the first time in six years, "I promise." And at that moment, Atemu's confidence soared and for a split second, he swore that he heard Seth's voice at his ear, telling him that everything was going to be alright.

-To Be Continued-

A.N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've been super busy with school and my other stories. I hope that the length of this chapter made up for the wait. Yes, I know that the opening scene did not happen, but it was needed to add drama to the story. And Asar is Osiris, Aset is Isis, Heru is Horus, Tehuti is Thoth and Heret-Het is Hathor.