Ok, question: Why did I have Pegasus challenge Atem in a web came and not a video tape? I chatted with Aqua Girl and even she agrees that the video tape thing is just unrealistic. The millennium eye can only search a person's mind, nothing more than that. If that were Ishizu, then that would be understandable since she can see into the future. Pegasus, though, can only read people's minds in present and can only do it one at a time. A web cam chat takes place in the present and I'd think that anyone can duel on a web cam chat. Also, we don't use video tapes anymore, so... might as well modern things up a bit.
Oh, and remember, the dueling here does not follow the normal rules of Duel Monsters. Even the Dragon Capture Jar does not act like it is described. This was how it originally worked in the manga. I also am gonna add some littlekuriboh references just because I love his Yugioh Abridged Series videos ^^. Review please!
Atem set his laptop at the very end of the coffee table to add room for his cards. Everyone gathered around to see the outcome of the duel. Dueling the creator of Duel Monsters was like a dream, everyone would want to participate in this. Though, for Atem, he didn't have much of a choice and the company's protection was on his shoulders. As long as he had the second key, there might as well be a target on his back.
Atem placed the deck on the right side, in front of the computer to where Pegasus could see it. Pegasus placed his deck on his right before drawing out five cards just like Atem. The creator smiled deviously with a mocking chuckle.
"Common Gloomy-boy. Why do you look so angry all the time? We're just playing a card game, let's enjoy ourselves," Pegasus mocked as Atem glared even deeper.
"Stop f***ing with me Pegasus! At least I don't act like a gay pedophile!" Atem insulted back as Pegasus gave a dark chuckle.
"Oooo, defensive are we? I suppose I can give you credit for an impressive insult. I'll let you go first in that honor."
"Don't mind if I do," Atem smirked while drawing a card. "I'll summon out Koumori Dragon in attack mode!"
"I figured you'd..."
"I'm not done yet!"
"Because you're gonna combine your Koumori Dragon with your knight right?" Pegasus asked as everyone gasped, including Uka. She looked like she was having a heart attack.
"STOP F***ING WITH ME, PEGASUS! Just because you have a f***ing millennium item, does not give you the right to invade my mind!" Atem spat. 'At least I know what power the millennium eye gives him. He can read people's minds. I wonder if that's how he knew I had the key.'
"Probably," Yugi shrugged.
"Anyways, I can't have you do that, so I'll use my trap card Dragon Capture Jar," Pegasus declared while activating the trap card. The picture of Koumori Dragon got sucked into the screen and captured into the jar. Atem became seriously annoyed. "See, I knew you would play that card, so..."
"I TOLD YOU STOP F***ING WITH ME!"
"Temper Atem-boy. Temper," Pegasus mocked with his index finger moving side to side.
"Kiss my ass."
Pegasus chuckled and said, "then let's continue on, shall we? I don't have all day."
"This is bad, brother. He can read your mind with his millennium eye. We have to find a way to counter it," Yugi said.
'I'm working on that. Just give me time to think!' Atem glared at Yugi as Pegasus stared at his opponent cock-eyed. "I play Silver Fang in attack mode!"
"Let me guess: in the next turn, you'll play the mystical moon to boost up his strength right?"
"DAMNIT PEGASUS!"
"Again with the temper. You really do need to tone that temper of yours down a notch."
"I WOULD IF YOU STOP IT WITH YOUR DAMN CHEATIN'!"
"I wouldn't really call it cheating, since the rules don't say anything about using millennium items," Pegasus grinned manically as Atem glared back at the white-haired man. "Aw well, I play Dragon Piper. This releases your Koumori Dragon and lets me take control of it."
Atem glared furiously as the Dragon Capture Jar freed Koumori Dragon and Pegasus was now in possession of it. The dragon emerged from the screen of Atem's computer while Silver Fang emerged from the card and they battled. Since this was a shadow game between Atem and Pegasus, only they could see this happening. The rest could only see Atem and Pegasus playing Duel Monsters with their cards like the table top version of it. Though, they did notice Atem acting a little strange as if there were actual monsters on the field.
The Koumori Dragon blasted Silver Fang and depleted Atem's life points down to 1500. Atem was sick of Pegasus cheating with his millennium eye. The worst part of it was that there was no way to counter Pegasus' cheating tactics. Yugi glanced at his brother in a worried manner. Was there some way to counter Pegasus' cheating tactics? Anything at all!
Pegasus clapped with a huge smile on his face, saying, "now, wasn't that fun? This must make you feel ajar... ha! Get it? A-jar!"
"You have a very odd sense of humor. You find it humorous that you can cheat and get away with it," Atem glared with his arms crossed.
"Very much indeed. I can read all your ever thoughts and feelings. I know your deepest fears and your love interest, which is sad to say that you're still single," Pegasus mocked in a grinning manner as Atem glared furiously.
'At least he knows I'm not dating Tea,' Atem thought while rolling his eyes. Pegasus laughed at the thought inside Atem's head.
"Complicated with love interest. Though, I don't see why people would think that," Pegasus shrugged. Atem glared even deeper as he drew out a card.
"I summon out Great White in attack mode!" Atem declared as Great White emerged from the card in attack mode.
"Then I summon out Oscillo Hero in attack mode," Pegasus grinned. Oscillo Hero emerged from the computer screen. "With this, I can cut your Great White's attack in half."
"Shit!"
"Hang in there, Atem!" Joey cheered as Atem watched Oscillo Hero take down Great White, leaving him with now 1300 life points.
'F***! He can see all my damn cards and there's nothing I can do about it!' Atem screamed in his head. Yugi stared at his brother with longing.
"You can't defeat me, Atem. Just face reality," Pegasus chuckled darkly.
"Don't give up, brother! You can do this!" Yugi cheered his brother. Atem looked back at his brother, and then thought of something.
'How limited is this... mind scan?' Atem asked himself. He noticed Pegasus turning cock-eyed. He was like this when talking to Yugi last time. Not to mention Pegasus seemed to think it was silly for people thinking that Atem was going out with Tea. Atem was aware that Pegasus misunderstood the meaning of what he was saying, but could it be because he does not know about Yugi? "Pegasus, it seems you only know my cards if I'm the one playing them right?"
"Why of coarse. We are playing Duel Monsters aren't we?" Pegasus asked casually, not knowing where Atem was going at.
"Then let me show you my magic trick," Atem smirked as he closed his eyes. 'I need you to pick out the card and think of a strategy while I will be your hands.'
Yugi knew where his brother was trying to do and replied, "definitely."
Everyone stared confounded, including Pegasus as Atem closed his eyes and his hand drew the next card in the deck. Yugi picked out the monster to put in defense while Atem thought in his head the monster that he would've chosen. He was hoping thinking this could fool Pegasus and possibly lead him to the wrong conclusion. It occurred to Atem that maybe Pegasus can read his mind, but not Yugi's.
Yugi moved Atem's hand to the card just drawn and placed it face-down in defense mode. Atem was thinking in his head that he put down a monster card called Zombie Warrior in defense mode. He kept this imprinted in his thoughts as Pegasus chuckled oh so darkly.
"How amusing. You can guess what cards you holding without looking at them," Pegasus laughed mockingly as Atem.
'Not completely. Not even close,' Atem smirked at Pegasus, deciding to talk to the guy through his mind like he does with Yugi.
"Wait, can you do that?" Joey asked as Atem shook his head. The blond became more confused than ever. What was Atem doing?
"So, I will summon, Rogue Doll in attack mode. She destroys all zombie-type monsters, so I'm afraid your Zombie Warrior is toast," Pegasus smirked as Yugi chuckled. Atem chuckled too, knowing he had just fooled Pegasus big time. "What's so funny?"
"It seems I found a limit to your millennium eye by using my millennium item," Atem replied, showing his millennium puzzle. Pegasus knew about the puzzle since it was always around Atem's neck, but he didn't know the powers it possessed. Uka was completely lost at this point. It was obvious that this guy can read her son's mind, but what was her son doing? "Let's see what this monster really is."
Atem flipped up his face-down monster to reveal non other than the Dark Magician. Yugi grinned excitedly. Even Pegasus seemed completely baffled. How was it possible that Atem could fool the mind reader like this? Atem kept a wider smirk since this monster was more powerful than he expected. He eyed Yugi who held an exciting grin.
'Nice choice, Yugi,' Atem said as Pegasus' eyes widened in shock. The teenager looked back at him. 'Confused? You shouldn't. My millennium item can hold two souls. It has the power of Unity. Yugi was the one who chose the Dark Magician for me, so you wouldn't know what I had face-down.'
Dark Magician attacked Pegasus' Rogue Doll and Pegasus' life points dropped down to 1100 life points. Pegasus chuckled darkly, which grew louder and louder. Atem cocked his eyebrows, wondering what in this world Pegasus would be laughing about.
"Impressive, but I knew about Yugi-boy since the day we met. I just never expected you to have him help you. You're not the type who'd give up your own pride," Pegasus chuckled before giving a shrug. Uka's eyes grown even wider. She was unaware of Yugi's existence. "Buuuuut, I suppose you'd have to when Yugi-boy has to deal with criminals on a regular basis."
"Criminals?" Uka questioned glaringly. Atem did not have time for explanations at this point.
"Let's continue on, shall we? I have to be at a meeting real soon. Let's put up a time limit. Shall we say fifteen minutes?" Pegasus persuasively asked as a 15:00 countdown appeared on the upper right-hand corner of the screen. "When the timer reaches 0, the one with the higher attack points wins. And, as you know, a penalty game awaits for the loser... oh, excuse me, I mean a timeout."
"Bring it!" Atem glared. "My Dark Magician still attacks!"
Dark Magician attacked the Koumori Dragon and died, leaving Pegasus with 300 life points. Atem kept his firm smirk as Pegasus drew his next card. A wide smile appeared on his face.
"I summon out my Illusionist Faceless Mage in attack mode," Pegasus declared as Atem kept his eyes narrowed. "I equip this with Eye of Illusion. Are you ready Atem? I hope you are, because our monsters are about to battle."
The Dark Magician and Illusionist Faceless Mage attacked each other. With that, it ended up being a draw since Illusionist Faceless Mage was protected by Eye of Illusion. Though, there was still more to come for Atem than he knew. Something told him that there was more to this duel than met the eye. Atem watched the clock and knew he had five minutes left before the game was decided on who won or lost.
Atem drew his next card and held a smirk saying, "I summon out Celtic Guardian in attack mode, then he'll attack your Illusionist Faceless Mage!"
"Not so fast, Atem-boy..." Pegasus smirked before being interrupted.
"WILL YOU STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
"Fine... Atem. Anyways, thanks to Eye of Illusion, I take control of your Dark Magician. How fun!" Pegasus grinned excitedly as he clapped his hands.
"Aw shit!"
Dark Magician showed the Eye of Horus in the middle of his chest. He changed to Pegasus' side of the field and attacked Celtic Guardian, destroying him and wiping out Atem's life points, which were now 200 points. Atem knew if he didn't do something quick, he was going to lose the duel. There was barely any time left and Atem had to counter attack.
Atem drew his next card with a quick swift and thought quickly.
"I summon out Summon Skull in attack mode!" Atem declared as Summon Skull appeared with boldness as the clock reached 0.
"Ooooooo, so close, but the game was fun while it lasted. I must say, that was very impressive. You've shown more talent that I ever expected," Pegasus grinned excitedly while clapping his two hands. Atem glared furiously with frustration in himself. "But, as you know, the loser gets a penalty game and you have less life points than me. I still need you to be at the tournament in order to gain control of Kaiba Corp. So, I'll have to have this penalty game affect someone else. Hmmm." Pegasus rubbed his chin, before snapping his fingers. "I KNOW!"
All of a sudden, Solomon started feeling as though he were being ripped apart from something. His body went limp, only being caught by Tristan and Joey. Everyone stood there gasping and widening their eyes in shock. Uka made a short scream as she watched her father-in-law suddenly limping lifelessly. Atem and Yugi watched in horror as their grandfather suddenly stood there without anything to control his body.
"GRANDPA!" Atem and Yugi cried at the same time. Yugi shown tears in his eyes.
"Now, if you do enter Duelist Kingdom and win, I'll return your grandfather back into his old body. Though, I'll make it fair and let him stay with you," Pegasus said before giving a wave. "Ta-ta."
The web came was off and exited from the screen, in its place was a window that showed a video-like clip of Atem's grandfather as if he was on web cam or video.
"Ateeeeeem!" Solomon cried as Atem stared at the computer screen in pure horror. His grandfather's soul had been sealed into his computer.
"Aw shit!" Mokuba exclaimed.
"Gramps just got sucked into your computer!" Hanaski said as Uka's shock overwhelmed the woman, so much that a sigh escaped her and she fell onto the floor, or was about to if not caught by Tea and Hanaski.
"Grandpa," Atem muttered, slowly standing up and about to blow a gasket. Everyone backed up, knowing what was about to happen. "THAT SON OF A BITCH! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS PEGASUS!"
"Atem, calm down!" Tea shouted, grabbing Atem's two arms. Atem took long breaths before finally settling himself down and plopping onto the couch.
"Grandpa, I'm so... so sorry," Atem muttered.
"Aw, don't feel bad, Atem. I'm doing just fine in here! Don't get so glum over me!" Solomon glared as Atem sighed before clutching onto his legs.
"Where should we take your Ma?" Hanaski asked.
"Her room. I've got a huge amount of explaining to do when she wakes up," Atem replied as his friend nodded. The kids heard someone enter the game shop, though they stood silent.
Ryan entered the room and noticed the quiet environment. He gasped when he saw Solomon on the floor unconscious. He ran over to Solomon's side and asked, "What the hell happened here?"
"Watch your language, Ryan! As if you kids don't get enough bad influence as it is!" Solomon glared with his arms folded. Ryan stared at the screen of Solomon, than looked down at the unconscious body.
"His soul was sealed into my computer by Pegasus. He challenged me to a shadow game when I refused to participate in his mother f***ing tournament," Atem explained as he heard his grandpa clear his throat. "Sorry."
"So, some rich homo realizes you're not participating in some f***ing tournament, so he decides to f*** with your grandpa?" Ryan smirked before letting out a chuckle. "And I thought Kaiba was a bitch."
"Ryan!" Solomon rebuked.
"Forget it, Gramps. It's like South Park at our school," Ryan said while rolling his eyes. "At least it is in most of my previous schools."
"As if life wasn't hard enough already. Mokuba and I just became the big cheese for the Big Five, my grandpa's soul is in my f***ing laptop, and if I don't participate in this tournament, Grandpa will be stuck as digital pixels for the rest of his life," Atem glared deeply before letting out a sigh.
"Stop being so negative, Atem! I'm okay, now aren't I? Mokuba's safe and I'm sure you'll be A-Okay," Solomon declared with his fists on his hips. "Besides, I don't think you'll want to visit Serenity looking so glum."
"I suppose you're right, but... Yugi still feels depressed," Atem admitted, staring at the floor.
"Really?" Tea asked in worry.
"Hm-hm," Atem nodded.
Joey stared at his friend blinkingly, and then rolled up a magazine he found on the coffee table. He made the rolled-up magazine look like a speaker phone. Joey, than put the smallest hole part of the rolled-up magazine up to his lips and shouted, "HEY YUGI! CHEER UP!" right in front of Atem, which made him jump and grab the magazine out of reflects.
Atem took the rolled-up magazine and held it in the same position Joey had it in and shouted in front of his face, "TALK NORMALLY, GENIUS! HE CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE!" The blond tripped over backwards and landed on his bottom. Everyone gawked up laughing like crazy over that scenario.
"I wonder if Pegasus knows anything about the millennium items," Ryan wondered as Atem stared at his white-haired friend cock-eyed. "I mean, we have millennium items and so does this Shadi you once told me about, maybe Pegasus knows something."
"You might be right," Atem agreed while rubbing his chine. "Yugi's been curious about his lost memories Ryou spoke of, maybe Pegasus knows something about how to retrieve them."
"Lost memories?" Tea questioned confounded. It then dawned on her. "You mean Yugi doesn't remember anything about his past?"
"Wow, and it took you this long for you to find out?" Ryan asked sarcastically with a smudge.
"Well, it's not like Yugi brings it up!" Tea defended.
"Guys, I... don't mean to be rude, but... Yugi's very depressed right now and..." Atem said, trying to find the right words to say.
"You want us to leave?" Joey asked understandingly.
"Pretty please?" Atem asked as Joey gave everyone a signal to leave the game shop.
Atem sighed while pulling himself up from the couch. He walked up to his room and closed the door behind him. He sat on his bed as Yugi appeared in spirit form with tears streaming down his cheeks. Atem embraced his brother in a comforting hug. Yugi stained Atem's shirt with streams of tears while feeling the warm embrace of his brother. He couldn't help, but wonder if this whole mess would've been prevented if he was the one who played against Pegasus.
After a while of Yugi crying, Atem dressed up for bed to be ready for tomorrow. As soon as his nightgown was on, he pulled himself under the covers and held Yugi close while he snuggled his face in Atem's chest. Atem held his brother tightly as sleep finally took over both of them. Today had been a very long day indeed.
The next day, Atem dressed himself early and got on his motorcycle, driving on his way to Joey's house. As soon as he got there, he parked his motorcycle and sat himself down in Joey's car. Joey was in the driver's seat while Atem had shotgun. Joey drove down the road, leaving Domino City. The hospital, where Serenity was staying at, was several cities away near where her and Joey's mother lived.
Joey's mother, Atem still hadn't forgotten the poor dear woman. Abused harshly by Joey's drunken father and risked her life protecting her two kids. Joey's mother finally divorced her drunken husband and left with her daughter, who was near blindness since birth. Serenity was never able to see clearly as a young kid, but she would always recognize Joey and Atem by their voices. It had been years and Atem's voice had cracked since then. Would Serenity ever recognize him? There was too much on Atem's mind to answer that.
After about several hours, and a gas stop, Joey finally made it to Johnson Hospital. The boys exited out of the car and walked down the parking lot on their way to the Hospital. They walked inside and took the elevator, knowing which floor and room number Serenity was in. Joey and Atem had to get visitor's tags before entering the hospital into a patient's room, so the doctors knew they weren't kidnappers.
While the boys walked down the hallway, they saw a familiar woman with light brown hair and age that was shown on her face. She looked much older than Uka, who was practically her age. Atem stood in widened shock, as if he just saw a ghost. This was Joey's mother, Rochell.
"Joey! Atem!" The woman gasped as she place her bags down and the boys gave her a hug. Atem felt emotion overwhelming him.
"Mrs. Wheeler," Atem choked out.
"Mom," Joey said in a normal voice.
"Boys!" Rochell cried out in weeping tears. "I can't believe it's you!"
"Mom!" Joey cried out.
"How's Serenity?" Atem asked.
"She's been waiting for you... Joey. She didn't say anything about you, Atem. This is a surprise," Rochell exclaimed.
"That's the idea," Joey chuckled before looking at his friend. "Atem wanted to visit with Serenity."
"She... she'd be more than happy," Rochell said with a slight smile. She placed each hand on the boys' shoulder. "Last I heard, you both were in some sort of gang... I... I wasn't sure if that was true, but..."
"It is," Atem admitted as Rochell stared at the boy. "Old news. We... we were young."
"I see," Rochell nodded before a sigh left her. She smiled again. "I'm so happy to see you boys again."
"Same here," Joey replied before staring at Serenity's room number.
"She's awake if you want to see her," Rochell said as the boys smiled.
Joey was the first to walk into Serenity's room. Atem followed his friend shyly, since it had been years since he last saw Serenity's face. Serenity was in her hospital gown laying on a soft incline bed, its front upside. Her face was covered by the long strands of dirty blond hair that fell on her face due to that face staring at her hands on her lap. Her mouth seemed even with no emotion to it.
Atem bit the bottom of his lip as Joey walked next to his sister with a hand on her shoulder. The girl looked up at her brother with a soft smile.
"Hey Serenity," Joey greeted softly.
"Joey, is that you?" Serenity asked as she reached her hands up to touch and feel the traces of his face. Since she was nearing blindness, doing this was how she could recognize a person or know their complection. Atem stood quiet and blank while watching Serenity feel traces of Joey's face to know it was him. "It IS you!"
"Hey sis. How you feeling?" Joey asked while sitting on the bed next to his sister with a strong arm around her gentle body.
"I'm fine! I just knew you'd come and see me!"
"So that's Serenity?" Yugi asked, who was next to his brother.
'It is,' Atem replied with his arms crossed and an emotionless face staring at the young girl who was talking to her brother.
"She's gorgeous!" Yugi responded. A smile peeped across his lips. "She seems nice."
'She is.'
"Oh, Serenity," Joey remembered right away. He looked at Atem's direction and gave a nod. Atem walked inside Serenity's room and next to Joey. "I brought a surprise for you."
Atem was able to get a full glimpse of Serenity's face. Serenity looked up towards Atem's direction oh so slowly. Her dirty blond hair pushed back from her face from the gravity. She held a face of pure innocents, much like Yugi's. Though, her hazel eyes were pointed at Atem, but scrunched, as if trying to get a visual picture. Serenity's cheeks were soft from appearance, despite her hitting her late middle school age. Atem was astounded at how much innocents Serenity still held after all these years.
"S... Serenity," Atem whispered, which could never be explained in words. He wasn't sure if Serenity would recognize him or not, but Atem was surprised he still could recognize this girl. The girl he once saw at ten years old and yet, she still held those childish innocents, aside from the breasts, vase-shaped body, and long skinny legs. "Remember me?"
Serenity scrunched her eyes a little more while reaching her hands for Atem's face. Atem was almost taken aback on how soft those fingers felt against his face. They were like the soft hands of a small child who never held a care in the world. Atem continually stared in a blank shock. Serenity's face seemed focus on trying to picture the face she was feeling in her head. When the girl reached her hands up to the blond bangs, that laid casually on Atem's face, a small gasp left her mouth. She slid her hands to the back of the hair that was spiked up.
"A... Atem?" Serenity whispered in a gasp. Her arms were shaking and tears built up underneath her glowing eyes that were seemingly blue from where Atem was at. "Atem... is... oh my gosh!"
Immediately, Atem embraced the girl and felt her weeping on his shoulder. Atem felt like crying himself, of all the times he cried as that small ten-year-old boy watching the beautiful young girl leave before his eyes. Atem clutched a handful of Serenity's dark blond hair while the other arm was tightly, but carefully, around the girl's tiny waist. Serenity immediately stood up, both arms tightly around Atem's neck and still weeping on the boy's shoulder.
Atem didn't know what to say or how to react. He just kept his grip around Serenity, trying his hardest not to cry, but luck wasn't on his side. Atem wept inside Serenity's long hair. There was so much to say. So much he wanted to get out, but couldn't put it in words. It wasn't just the fact he missed her, but the fact that Atem knew in his heart that he was falling in love with this young girl again.
"Serena," Atem muttered in his lips, the nickname he once called Serenity. "Oh gosh! I missed you so much, it's not funny."
"I missed you too," Serenity wept, her arms slipping slowly around the arms. "I... last I heard... I'm so sorry!"
"About what?"
"I heard you and Joey were involved in some sort of gang and... I knew it was because I left and you took your depression on..."
"Serenity, it was never your fault and don't ever think that!"
"He's right. You can't make our problems your fault, Serenity," Joey agreed factually. A smile peeped on his lips. "We decided to join that gang to get high and drunk. It had nothing to do with you."
"To be honest, you weren't even the source of the f... messed up life we were facing," Atem said, wanting to restrain his lips for Serenity's sake.
"I suppose," Serenity muttered in her lips, while her head was leaned against Atem's chest. The girl looked up at the teenage boy with a slight smile. "I'm glad you decided to come."
"Same here."
Atem smiled softly before sitting on the side of the bed. Serenity climbed up on the incline bed, pulling the covers up to her waist. She peered toward Atem's direction while padding beside the bed, which had room for another person could sit. Atem nodded before kicking off his shoes and scooted on the bed right beside Serenity. Atem wrapped his left arm around Serenity before she turned her head and gave a childish smile.
Joey smiled happily, he could see that the once puppy love between Atem and Serenity was blossoming again. Atem needed a girlfriend who wasn't a whore or had issues of her own, like Olivia. Serenity was still pure, so her virginity was safe and secure with no dirty thoughts in her mind. Atem lost his virginity, but knew which girls to limit himself with. He especially knew that Serenity was off limits when it came to sexuality. Heck, he was restraining his own speech and he rarely did that with anyone.
Joey walked up to the love birds and offered, "how about I get some food? I heard there's a cafe downstairs."
"Why, so you can eat up our grub on the way up?" Atem asked teasingly as Serenity chuckled.
"NO! Seriously Atem, I get don't that hungry."
"Sure you don't," Atem smirked sarcastically while rolling his eyes. "Just make sure you don't get high along the way."
"Very funny," Joey said grimly before leaving out the door.
"So Serena, how have things been going for ya?" Atem asked while rolling his finger in Serenity's hair.
Serenity gave a slight chuckle before replying, "great, now that you and Joey are here." Atem gave a sweet smile before Serenity sighed while looking up at the ceiling. "The doctor said that I'll be permanently blind by next year unless I get my surgery done somehow."
"Joey and I have been saving up money for you for the past few years. Even the times when we were having issues," Atem assured Serenity, with a dark tone to the last sentence. "I'm entering a tournament held by Pegasus called Duelist Kingdom."
"Really? Sounds like fun," Serenity said smilingly. "What kind of tournament is it?"
"It's a Duel Monsters Tournament. Have you ever heard of the game?"
"No, not really. Sounds like a fun game. How do you play?"
"Well, you have monsters, spells, and traps, you see. You play a monster in attack or defense position. If the attack is higher than the defense or attack points, depending on its position, the monster is killed and sent to the graveyard. The goal is to get to the opponent's life points until it reaches 0. You must use your monsters with your spells and traps to get to their life points, or defend yours. The winner is the person who can decrease his opponent's life points down to 0."
"Wow. It must be fun. Does Joey play?"
"Yeah, but he still needs help," Atem replied while rolling his eyes as Serenity chuckled in response.
"Maybe you should help him."
"I'll think about it. So far he hasn't asked for it," Atem shrugged. His eyebrows furrowed while staring at the foot of the bed. "If I win at Duelist Kingdom, the host Maxamillion Pegasus promises a large sum of money. It'll be enough for your operation."
"Are you depending on winning a competition for my operation?" Serenity asked confounded.
"Sort've, but it's not just the money I'm after. There... are other things I'm after," Atem admitted while messing with the millennium puzzle with his right hand. His mouth held a firm line while saying this.
"Like what?"
"Well..." Atem said, not sure how he was going to explain to Serenity about Yugi and his grandfather's soul being trapped in his computer. It wasn't like there was actual proof and Serenity was nearly blind, so it wasn't like she could see Yugi being picked up a foot in the air or being given him a piggy back ride by an invisible Atem. He decided that it was safe to not tell Serenity right now. "There's a dear friend of mine in the hospital who was supposed to play in that competition. Since he can't be there, I'm taking his place."
"Oh... I see," Serenity understood, nodding her head. "For a second, I thought you were just gambling your way into getting the money."
Atem gawked up laughing before replying, "actually, I got there free. There's no wagering anything."
"Ohhhhhh," Serenity nodded, before giving off a chuckle. "Well then, you should've mentioned that."
"Do you expect me to be a mind reader?" Atem asked smirkingly.
"No, but you still should've mentioned that," Serenity smirked before the two started laughing. The door opened and Joey came out with food.
"Please tell me you didn't eat our food," Atem teased as Joey shot a death glare.
"You are so insulting, you know that?" Joey glared as Serenity and Atem laughed in response.
The three teenagers ate their lunch and talked about random things that happened in life. Serenity held stories about things that happened in the hospital. She even told a story about how a patient once ran across the hall while spilling poo on the floor. Joey had to cover his mouth to keep himself from using bad language in front of his sister. Atem just gawked up laughing, so hard that he was coughing several times. The teenagers even watched some episodes on TV like Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Ramon. They all laughed at every single episode.
While watching comedy shows, Serenity began leaning closer to Atem. Serenity was so close her head was leaning against Atem's shoulder. She never thought she'd ever be this close with Atem again. They only shared puppy love as kids after all. Serenity was starting to believe she was falling in love with Atem again, in fact she knew she was, she was already showing romantic affections. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that.
A knock was heard at the door and a nurse entered into the room. Atem sighed in disappointment, fearing that he would be kicked out of the room.
"Hello! Hello!" The nurse greeted who was perhaps in her mid twenties. She smiled happily at Serenity and the boys. "Don't worry, hon, I'm just here to check for blood and temperature."
"Oh, ok," Atem nodded, happy that he wasn't kicked out.
The nurse rolled some sort of machine with thermometers of red and blue and another machine that checked for blood pressure. The nurse took out the small thermometer and carefully stuck it in Serenity's mouth.
"Now, it shouldn't take long," the nurse promised before hearing a small beeping sound. She took the thermometer out, then took some sort of weird wrapping and wrapped it around Serenity's upper arm. The wrapping swelled up larger and larger before shrinking in an instant. A small beep was heard, and then the nurse removed the wrapping. "Looks normal. That will be all."
"Thank you!" Serenity thanked the nurse before she left.
"Eh, wasn't too bad," Joey shrugged before peering at his watch. "SHOOT! Atem, we have to get back or we'll be late for work!"
"Shi... ooot!" Atem responded as Serenity chuckled in response.
"You know I'm not gonna cut you off for cursing right?" Serenity asked in a slight chuckle.
"Yeah, but..." Atem replied before taking his left arm that was around Serenity and used the hand connected to it to hold Serenity's soft cheek. "I don't want you picking up our bad habits."
Serenity rolled her eyes before giving Atem a tight hug. Atem held Serenity tightly close to his chest. Despite knowing the logic that Serenity wore no perfume, Atem never held back from his nose getting a big whiff on Serenity's neck. When they partially parted, Serenity held her two hands against the boy's cheeks while Atem held loosely on her arms.
"It was really nice seeing you again, Serenity," Joey said as Serenity smiled in response. She ran up and held her brother tightly before placing a kiss on his neck. After they parted, Joey looked toward Atem's direction. "I'll be in the car. I'll let you say your goodbyes."
Joey left out the room as Atem and Serenity faced each other, and then laced their fingers together. They stared at each others' faces, even Serenity, despite her near blindness. Atem wanted to do something before leaving to Duelist Kingdom. It had just occurred to him on his mind at this particular moment.
"Serena, I'll see you again," Atem promised before Serenity placed a kiss on his cheek. He smiled at that, then cupped that gentle face. "This time it won't be five or six years."
Serenity giggled before feeling soft lips against hers. What she wasn't prepared for was that tongue licking her lips like a Popsicle. She felt a tingling feeling inside her vagina that felt like a tickle. Serenity couldn't figure out why, but she was wanting more. Her hands grabbed a hold of Atem's shoulder blades to bring herself closer and try this new type of kiss. Serenity gaped her mouth to taste those beautiful lips. She was chuckling slightly while they were kissing oh so deeply. They were both giggling during their kiss and after.
Atem felt embarrassed about kissing Serenity without even teaching her how to kiss. She was probably startled and confused with her hormones. At least she wasn't freaking out or anything.
"I guess I should've warned ya," Atem said, giggling with red cheeks. "That must've been entertaining."
"Don't worry about a thing," Serenity assured while still chuckling. She and Atem hugged again before using one hand to lace their fingers once more. As Atem slowly was walking away from Serenity, their fingers slowly unlaced until they were barely touching, and then were far apart. Serenity smiled softly while watching Atem walk away toward the elevator to head for home. Serenity then whispered, "if only I can see your face."