Ello ladies and gentlemen! I'm guilty of all charges for making a shadowshipping fan fiction here lol. I'd do vaseshipping or survantshipping, except Mana's not in this particular time line and Dark Magician Girl is used as a Duel Monster Card. So yeah, shadowshipping all the way in this story. Review please!
Atem made it home to the game shop after his visit with Serenity. He parked his motorcycle before entering into the house. Uka was sitting on the couch, staring at Atem's laptop. Atem sighed deeply, knowing it was time for explanations. He couldn't explain before, because his mother slept throughout the whole night, not that Atem blamed her.
Atem sat next to his mother and connected a connector to his iPhone on one end and to his computer on the other end. His grandfather was looking at his grandson curiously since he could only see Atem through the web cam on his lap top. It was hard to tell what he was doing or trying to do.
"I'm gonna download you into my iPhone, so I can communicate to you while at Duelist Kingdom. Nobody will notice anything strange about me talking to you on the screen since it is an iPhone," Atem explained before clicking on the information bar, and then on "download". A screen popped up and it was showing several hard drives to download the video into. Atem clicked on MotoiPhone, which was located under hard drive.
"I see," Solomon nodded, thinking that it was a smart idea. "I explained to your mother what's been going on with you since you solved the millennium puzzle. At least ones I know of."
"Ah."
"She wants to have a talk with you."
"I know," Atem replied without emotion. He was waiting for the download to be complete. After a while, his grandfather disappeared from the laptop and shown onto Atem's iPhone. "How you feeling there?"
"As fine as usual," Solomon grinned in reply, which made Atem chuckle slightly. "How was your visit with Serenity."
"Great. She was really happy to see me. I just hope I win this game and just not to get your soul back, which is my main priority. If I win, I also get a large sum of money, which will be enough for Serena's operation."
"Serena? you haven't called her that in ages. Don't tell me you're falling for her again," Solomon smirked teasingly as a faint shade of pink was shown on Atem's cheeks. The grandfather chuckled for a long while. "I guess when I get out of this thing, I'll have to go buy some condoms."
"Shut up!" Atem smirked while hearing his grandfather laughing carefree.
"What? You expect me to be stuck here without having just a little fun."
Atem rolled his eyes, giving off a slight chuckle. He noticed his mother still sitting on the couch with so much to take in on her shoulders. Atem sighed deeply while putting his two front fingers on the corners of his forehead.
"Hey, you should talk to your mother. You can turn me off and it'll be like going to sleep and waking up," Solomon suggested as Atem nodded and turned his phone off. He placed the device on the coffee table before leaning back against the couch.
Uka stared at the upside down pyramid around Atem's neck. Atem cradled the object with his right hand as if it was an antique, and it actually was an antique. Uka placed her hand against Atem's cheek as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
"Atem, I feel so helpless. I've tried so hard to protect you from so much harsh cruelties the world has to offer. Time after time, I see you with worse heartache. Now, you're carrying the life of your grandpa, a company, a small boy, and an ancient spirit I know nothing about," Uka admitted before embracing her son in a tight hug.
"Mom, I'm sorry I never told you. I... I knew you wouldn't be able to believe all of this, let alone take it in," Atem admitted.
"I know, I wouldn't have believed this. Who would?" Uka asked rhetorically with a soft smile. She pushed herself from Atem, still holding his two shoulder blades. "But are you sure you want to carry out all these responsibilities?"
"I want to, Ma," Atem said with determination in his voice. "Just... promise me you'll treat Yugi as if he was your own son." Uka raised her eyebrows as if she was being asked a stupid question. "Yugi... he has no memories of his past, where he came from, how he got here. All he remembers was being in a dark empty tomb for 3000 years and the rest with my grandpa in a dark shelf or in my room, trying to communicate with me, but can't because I had not yet solved the puzzle." Atem noticed his mother was showing a face of pity. "He couldn't even touch me. Mom, I want you to treat him like he was my twin brother... your son."
"Of course I will! Why wouldn't I?" Uka replied before noticing a glowing tent in the puzzle and the face she cupped shown childish features. The face she beheld was softer and not firm and narrow. Crystal tears slowly rolled down those soft cheeks and a joyful smile appeared on this face.
"Really?" Yugi asked with joy in his heart before glomping Uka, arms around her neck. She held the boy in her arms, grasping memories of when she used to hold Atem like this.
"I said yes didn't I... Yugi right?" Uka asked as Yugi wiped his tears and nodded. The mother kissed this small boy on his forehead and he gave a small childish smile. "Then don't worry about a thing."
"Ok!" Yugi replied with a huge grin. Mokuba came from the kitchen with a small smile.
"How 'bout I get Atem prepared for the duel? I may not be as good at Duel Monsters as my brother, but I still got skills," Mokuba offered.
"Brother and I will have to prepare for when facing Pegasus," Yugi said, taking out his brother's deck and staring at it. "We'll have to come up with a new strategy, different from last time. Something Pegasus won't expect. Most importantly, we have to fight fairly with the other players. We agreed to take turns in dueling the other players, depending on whom we want to fight."
"What if you both want to fight?" Mokuba asked.
"We'll play Rock, Paper, Scissors," Yugi replied with a grin. "But most likely, we won't have to do that. We usually decide already on which one of us will duel whom."
"Like Death-T?"
"And the Shadow Games," Yugi added. Uka raised her eyebrows at this point, knowing what shadow games were by Solomon.
"Atem plays Shadow Games too?" Uka asked baffled.
"Yep," Yugi replied, nodding his head. "He can give timeouts as well. Though, he's still working on controlling the dark powers. I think Brother is starting to get the hang of it."
"What kind of powers?"
"Shadow powers. They're originated from the Shadow Realm. Like a second prison for criminals, you know? They were used alot back in my day, but unfortunately, we don't have anyone familiar with the Shadows, so Brother has to teach himself."
"What happens if he doesn't learn to control them?"
"Uh..." Yugi replied, trying to find the right answer for Uka. "Well... Brother might kill someone accidentally. Though, that's only a relief if that is the worst."
"What do you mean?" Mokuba asked curiously.
"If Brother doesn't learn to control his powers, they will control him. In other words, he'll be just as bad, if not worse, as Bakura," Yugi explained.
"DANG!" Mokuba responded with widened eyes. "You mean like sealing souls into dolls?"
Yugi shook his head before saying, "it's best if you didn't know the worst. It's really bad. Only those with kind souls with hardly any evil thoughts can use millennium items for good. Brother's soul room maybe filled with darkness, but he can use it for good and not evil."
"That's kinda somethin'," Mokuba thought as Yugi nodded. "Well, are we gonna stand here or are we gonna play?"
Yugi grinned before him and Mokuba ran to the kitchen table to warm up for the competition. They had played Duel Monsters for a while, while Uka was thinking over about what just happened though the past twenty-four hours. Atem and Yugi prepared themselves for a week before the ship arrived. Atem would play with Joey, Tristan, Hanaski, Ryan, or Tea. Yugi would play along once and a while, since he also needed to prepare.
After a week, Atem decided to open the package to prepare himself. It would be only several hours before the ship arrived. He found four cards identical to Duel Monsters Cards. There was also a blue glove with ten crests that were shaped like stars, circling the bottom part of the glove. Two star chips were also found in the box. Everyone: Uka, Mokuba, Joey, Tristan, Tea, Hanaski, and Ryan cocked their eyebrows curiously at the items.
"This card shows Duelist Kingdom, I'm guessing," Atem said, before glancing at the next card. "This one tells the time and date of the ship's arrival."
"Nine-o-clock at night?" Uka glared with her arms crossed.
"Now why do I get the feeling we're riding 'Party and Rape me' ship?" Tristan asked sarcastically.
"I think Pegasus is preparing us for when he molests us. I mean he already stole Grandpa's soul, if he steals any of ours, that just proves my point," Atem thought as his friends chuckled at the thought.
"Just steal my soul and rape me. I suppose he can get away with that kind of shit," Ryan smirked before Uka shot him a glare. "I'm just saying."
"Anyhow, we have to take the ship to Duelist Kingdom or we'll never free Grandpa's soul," Atem declared as everyone nodded in agreement.
"Just be careful when you go on that ship okay," Uka warned her son as he nodded. "And you better not be messing around like when you with that awful gang."
"Mom, I'm not gonna f*** with any whores on the ship," Atem promised with a glaring face. "Besides, Yugi's a virgin and I'm not gonna f*** up his mind with that kind of crap, excuse my french."
Uka glared with folded up arms. She knew her son wasn't like that anymore, but she still couldn't trust her son's temptations. He may've left the gang, but Atem still held trials of thinking horny thoughts. Though, there was no denying that he was keeping them to a minimum for Yugi's sake. Uka was starting to pity Yugi for having to put up with Atem's nasty thoughts.
When nine-o-clock came, Atem and his friends waited by the pier. Mokuba stood by Atem's side, holding his hand. Atem didn't let that kid out of his sight, especially when it was late at night. There were a bunch of teenagers gathering around. Most with their parents, thank goodness. The rest were with their friends or were loners. Most of them were also male, so Atem didn't have to worry about slutty women on the ship, or so he thought.
The ship finally arrived and the walkway was set up for the cruisers to go onto the ship. At the end of the entrance to the ship, was Kimo, though his hair was redone, and the very front of it was pointier than the tip of a pencil.
"Is it just me, or does his his hairdo look more retarded than Joey's?" Ryan asked Atem in a whisper.
"HEY! I HEARD THAT!" Joey glared at the white-haired boy.
"Attention Duelists! Industrial Illusions welcomes you to the grand tournament Duelist Kingdom!" Kimo announced as everyone cheered. AN: Not a littlekuriboh joke, he really does say this in the manga! Lol freaky huh? "Through research of records from tournaments and unofficial duels, we have chosen the best duelists that Japan has to offer! Each of you has a chance to win the one, and only, chance to duel the creator, Maxamillion Pegasus! Now, is the time to cross overseas and win that chance! ARE YOU READY, DUELISTS?"
Everyone cheered loudly while Atem and his friends just stood there without emotion. They happened to hear a mocking laughter coming from behind. Atem eyed behind him and noted a tall, curly-haired blond chick who could be mistaken as one of Atem's ex girlfriends or whom he called his "sex partners." She wore a sleeveless and shoulder-seen shirt that seemed laced from the front. Her cleavage was easily shown to where any guy could peer what was under that. A jacket was worn over her to cover the arms and shoulders, leaving only her cleavage to show. The woman had a mini skirt that was shorter than Tea's with high-hosed high-heeled boots that reached almost to her knees. Red lipstick was painted on her smirking lips.
"It's like a Pep Rally for little brats, but I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise," the woman smirked smugly. "There doesn't seem to be real competition yet."
"You're a duelist?" Atem asked in shock, glancing at Mai's huge breasts. "Dang!"
Atem's friends, Joey, Tristan, and Ryan turned around and turned bug-eyed. Mostly eying on Mai's breasts. They were having a googly-eyed moment. Mai smirked widely while walking to Atem. She noted on his muscle tone that would make very fine abs in her book. Her eyelids were half closed as she snapped her fingers in front of Atem's eyes that were directed at her cleavage.
"You're Atem right?" Mai asked with a half smile with one hand on her hip. Atem was able to focus on the woman's face.
"Yes," Atem replied plainly.
"Wow, she's hot!" Yugi said.
'Hot? Yugi, her breasts are bigger than you,' Atem noted, then asided his horny thoughts.
"What a surprise! I heard you beat Kaiba. Veeeeery impressive," Mai winked flirtatiously.
"Great, so what's your name?"
"Mai Valentine. Top notch duelist. I'm only here for five things: in it to win it," Mai smirked with her hand opened wide while snapping her fingers down while saying 'in it to win it' like counting those words. The three other boys continually drooled over the woman.
"Excuse me, Maim! My name is Tristan, best friend of the famous Atem," Tristan grinned.
"I'm Joey!" Joey introduced himself.
Mai flipped her hair at the two boys and said, "whatever. In a duel, it doesn't matter who my opponent is, they will be crushed. Especially, if they look at my breasts on a regular basis."
"If you didn't want guys lookin at ya, then why implant them in the first place?" Atem smirked as Mai's face turned red.
"MY BREASTS ARE NOT FAKE!"
"By the way, nice perfume. Though, it's kinda strong from where I'm standing," Atem said, fanning his hand in front of his nose, crinkling it. Mai rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"You're hilarious," Mai replied grimly. She walked off to the ship while holding out a wave. "See ya later, boys!"
"Damn, she's hot!" Ryan said. A smirk appeared on his lips. "Even Ryou was staring at those hulking things."
"YOU BOYS ARE SUCH IDIOTS!" Tea yelled at the four boys as Atem rolled his eyes.
"Geez Tea, take a breather will ya? It's not like your so called boyfriend was staring," Atem smirked as Tea kept her facial expression. "Though, he agrees that she looks like a slut. I think we're gonna find ourselves a couple of horny guys out here tonight."
"A couple?" Joey smirked sarcastically with his arms crossed. The guys started laughing.
"Why do I bother hanging out with a couple of idiots for brains?" Tea started asking herself.
Everyone gathered aboard onto the ship and it sailed off, after the blow of the loud horn that could blow off any eardrums. Kimo and other men showed the duelists where they would all be rooming. While following the men, Atem happened to have two boys bump into him. Atem looked from behind and noticed the two boys. One had blue hair, glasses, a coat, with a sneaky look to him. The other had long hair, a snow cap, and a vest over a long sleeved shirt. He also had sneakiness on his face.
"Excuse me, are you Atem?" the blue-haired boy asked.
"Yes?" Atem replied.
"I'm Weevil," the blue-haired kid introduced.
"And I'm Rex," the long haired kid introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you," Atem replied.
"Did you watch the Grand Tournament a week ago?" Weevil asked with bragginess in his tone.
"Not really," Atem replied with a shrug. "I hold down two jobs, so I don't get time to watch tournaments. I think I've heard of you on the radio though. You hold an insect deck while your friend holds a dinosaur deck. Am I right?"
"That's right!" Rex smirked widely.
"I won the Grand Tournament last week," Weevil bragged with a smirk.
"Congrats. I'm looking forward to dueling you," Atem smirked.
"Same here," Weevil replied with his eyes casually close. He opened them before continuing his talk. "So, did you hear about the new rules introduced in Duel Monsters, that are being played in this tournament?"
"New rules?" Atem asked cock-eyed.
"Yep. Not sure on the details, but from what I hear, this tournament will require more strategy than before," Weevil smirked as Atem rose his eyebrows.
"Who cares!" Rex smirked aloud with excitement in his voice. "There's only one rule I follow: kill or be killed."
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE F***ING KIDDING ME!" Joey glared bug-eyed while pointing to a large room with boxed-like shelves on the very left. "WE HAVE TO SLEEP THERE?"
"Yep. It's official: this definitely cries 'rape me babe, I'm ready to be striped down!'" Atem smirked dryly as his friends gawked up laughing. Tea turned cherry red.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE F***ING KIDDING ME! I AIN'T GONNA SLEEP BY A BUNCH OF IDIOT HORNY GUYS! WHERE THE HELL AM I GONNA CHANGE AT?" Tea complained as the guards raised their eyebrows with sweat on their faces.
"Don't know, but something tells me these guys got the job as child molesters," Atem smirked as the guards' heads started boiling.
"THIS HAS GOT TO BE A F***ING JOKE!" Mai complained with her face boiling hot. "You expect me to spend the night with a bunch of losers?"
"Well, I'm sure you're pretty used to it by now, are ya honey?" Atem smirked mockingly.
"SHUT THE F*** UP YOU F***ING PERVERT!" Mai yelled in Atem's face as Atem crossed his arms with a smudgy smirk and a dark chuckle.
"Sucks to be you, we get to have our own luxury rooms since we're already competitors," Rex bragged, then his eyes turned to Mai flirtatiously. "Of course, you can come check out my room, if ya want to."
Mai smirked deviously, then walked up in front of Rex with her perky smirk and flirted, "Aw, how sweet. I'd love to check out your room."
"Sweet," Rex grinned with raised eyebrows like he was going to get lucky tonight. Mai and Rex left to the location of the luxerious room where Rex was staying.
"Lucky!" Tristan growled.
"Not really. I've been in her shoes before. She's planning on using her flirtation skills to kick the guy out and take his room," Atem explained before showing a smirk. "Good riddance for him then."
"Whatever. This room might be better for you than our rooms anyways," Weevil explained while pointing his face at the duelists who were trading cards.
"I see, everyone's trading cards to improve their deck," Atem realized before showing a smirk. "Still cries out 'rape,' especially with a female on board."
"Look, we'll get a room for the young lady if you promise to shut the hell up!" One of the guards, with a boiled hot face, shouted in embarrassment.
"Fair enough," Atem shrugged as Tea walked with the two guards, but not before waving goodbye.
"Looks like your friends are fitting themselves in very well," Weevil smirked, pointing his finger at Joey, Tristan, and Hanaski, who were trading cards. "Nice group by the way." With that, Weevil left to his room.
After the three friends traded their Duel Monster Cards, all the friends gathered around in a circle. The only person missing was Tea, since the guards decided to give the girl a room to herself to prevent anyone from suing them. The room was filled with nothing, but males, so they were more comfortable in changing into their nightgowns. The friends were talking and telling scary stories like they were around the campfire.
After a while, Atem walked to the front of the ship with the wind blowing against his hair. Hanaski walked up next to his friend with a bright smile on his face. Atem immediately changed into Yugi and the friends stood side by side.
"I've always wanted to be on a ship like this," Hanaski said.
"Me too!" Yugi grinned, sniffing in the fresh ocean air.
"I noticed you or Atem didn't trade with anyone, why is that?"
"Brother and I agree that our deck is perfect just the way it is. It's one that we've built together," Yugi explained with a soft smile. "You know, it feels like yesterday we first met and became friends."
"Same here. I've always wanted a best friend and one just happened to have appeared."
"I'm glad you're my friend, Hanaski. You're the bestest friend a kid could have," Yugi grinned as Hanaski returned one and they hugged each other like toddlers before laughing.
"Hey Atem!" Weevil called from the far side of the ship. Yugi ran to Weevil, trying to keep his brother's appearance. He was getting better at pretending to be Atem.
"Need anything?" Yugi asked.
"I was just hoping maybe we could trade," Weevil invited as Yugi grinned.
'You think we can trade? I mean he did ask,' Yugi asked his brother from their mind link.
"I suppose," Atem allowed, while shrugging his shoulders.
Yugi and Weevil peered at their decks. Weevil's eyes widened when he saw the five cards of Exodia. Nobody had ever collected the five pieces of Exodia before. Weevil had remembered that these were the cards Atem used to beat Seto Kaiba on TV. Apparently, Seto had recorded the whole duel with him and Atem. That duel was made known throughout the whole country of Japan.
Weevil took out the five Exodia cards, wondering what he could trade for these. All of a sudden, Joey came running like a banshee toward Yugi's and Weevil's direction.
"ATEM!" Joey called. Yugi quickly changed into Atem, unknowingly to Weevil, and his friend smashed right into him, knocking him against Weevil, who held the five Exodia cards in his right had. The cards slipped right out of Weevil's hands and fell off the ship.
"YOU IDIOT SON OF A BITCH! YOU MADE ME DROP THOSE EXODIA CARDS!" Weevil shouted at Joey.
"F***!" Atem shouted while watching his five Exodia cards slowly fall toward the sea. "At least it wasn't Dark Magician." While saying this, Joey immediately dived right into the sea to retrieve the cards that slipped out of Weevil's hands. "JOOOOOEEEEEY!"
"That son of a bitch!" Weevil glared at the diving blond. "Your friend is f***ing crazy!"
"JOEY!" Hanaski cried with worry in his eyes. He turned to Atem. "We have to get a life preserver!"
"THEN DON'T JUST STAND THERE LIKE AN IDIOT!" Atem shouted at his friend as he quickly nodded and ran out to get a floating ring.
Atem, Hanaski, and Weevil worked together into pulling Joey out of the sea, who only retrieved only two of the Exodia cards that were soggy anyways. Joey was wrapped in a warm towel, shivering and feeling extremely guilty for having to throw away the Exodia cards, even if it was by accident.
"Sorry about letting the cards slip. I suppose it's partially my fault," Weevil smirked as Atem gave a nod.
"Well, I thank you for helping me rescue my friend. You will be the first I'll duel," Atem promised with a slight smirk.
"Then it's a done deal. In return, if you win, I'll give up my position in this tournament. I feel if I can't beat you or Kaiba, than I'm not qualified to be a true duelist. Heck, you can even have the cards and glove Pegasus sent to me through the mail!" Weevil shrugged with a slight and crook chuckle.
"If you are willing to gamble at those stakes, than I accept," Atem nodded before Weevil left back to his private room. Atem glared at his blond friend before punching him in the gut. "YOU IDIOT! DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN! YOU ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!"
"Neh!" Joey cringed from his friend's gut-punch. "I wanted to help retrieve those cards. I know they mean alot to you."
"Not as much as the life of a dear friend," Atem said while putting two hands on Joey's shoulder blades. The friends than embraced for a hug. "Don't EVER do that again. If I have to choke you to death, I will, just don't do that again!"
"Ok man, gee. You're pretty feisty."
"Gee, I wonder why," Atem said sarcastically while rolling his eyes.
The next day, the kids made it to Duelist Kingdom, waiting for the greatest adventure of their lives. Everyone slept in the trading card room inside their sleeping bags. Even though they were scrunched in a room with other duelists, they were prepared for camping. They brought a tent and everything. However, on the ship, they just slept in their sleeping bags. Ryan and Atem had to not have their brothers snuggle as much, so they wouldn't have the other kids give them blank stares.
While everyone got ready for bed, Atem and his friends noticed Rex entering inside the Trading Card room, cursing about some bitch kicking him out of his own room. Atem guessed it was Mai Valentine. He had to chuckle over that one. Normally, Atem would've gone to the room to retrieve it back for Rex, but Mai was a girl and she needed closed doors more than Rex did.
Mokuba was still having nightmares, even during the trip. Atem scooted his sleeping bag right next to Mokuba's to sooth the kid back to sleep. There was a long day ahead of them and Atem knew this was only the beginning.