Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh
Chapter 8
Yami sped down the road towards Domino City. He smirked slightly when he passed the welcome to Domino sign and realized only 3 minutes had passed…as far as he knew that was a new speed record.
He turned off the main road and onto one of less traveled road which led to what Yami knew to be the bad side of town…though why Atemu would have been walking through this area of town Yami had no idea. Usually if Atemu decided to walk somewhere he was normally very careful to stay on the main roads…and far from the bad side of town.
A couple of minutes had passed before Yami spotted Akefia's favorite bar up ahead. He pulled over to the side of the road, parked and locked Atemu's car before he took off towards the closest alley…he'd check all of them if he had to.
However, fortunately for Yami he spotted his friend lying on the ground in the first alley he checked. The one right next to the bar itself. Yami ran over and knelt down beside his friend. He could tell that Atemu was unconscious. Atemu had a black eye, a fat lip…a nasty bruise on the side of his head and the way his clothes were ruffled you could tell he'd been hit other places as well. Yami saw on the ground lying just beside Atemu was his cell phone and wallet. Yami growled slightly before he picked both objects up and shoved them into his coat pocket. Akefia had left Atemu's wallet out in the open to draw attention to his unconscious friend.
After he'd picked up Atemu's stuff Yami carefully wrapped his arm around his friend and hoisted him up before he slowly made his way back towards Atemu's car.
Yami then opened the car and carefully situated his friend in the passenger seat, making sure Atemu was buckled up before he closed the door and headed back over to the drivers side.
The two had been driving for about five minutes when Atemu began to stir.
"Ugh my head." Atemu mumbled brining his hand up to rest it on his head.
"You have a nasty bump on the side of your head Até so it doesn't really surprise me you have a headache. Then again you were hit hard enough to knock you out." Yami said.
"Yami? What are you doing here?" Atemu asked turning towards his friend in surprise. The last thing he remembered was Akefia cornering him in that alley when he'd been walking home…demanding to know where Atemu was keeping Yami. Needless to say Atemu refused to say anything and Akefia tried to beat the information out of him.
"When Prince Charming came back without you I was worried. So, I texted you asking where you were. A few minutes later I got a call back from your cell phone. It was Akefia. He told me you were unconscious in an alley near his favorite bar. So, I came and found you." Yami said.
"Oh." Atemu said. "Well, thanks."
"No problem." Yami said before the two fell silent.
A few minutes later Yami spoke up, "Mind telling me what it is that Prince Charming did to piss you off so much?"
"He was just being an asshole like he always is." Atemu mumbled.
Yami glanced over at his friend before he pulled over to the side of the road. "That's not what has you so upset. So talk to me Atemu." Yami said.
Atemu sighed, "I'm an idiot Yami. A gullible idiot." Atemu mumbled.
"And why do you think that?" Yami asked.
"Because this evening started off great. I really thought he was trying. We had a great dinner together. At the museum we were talking…I even decided to give a little and started calling him Seto and I held his hand…because that was what I wanted to do. Then after what had started out wonderful he up and asks me if I'm still a gamer. I told him I was and he drove me down to one of Kaiba Corp's labs where Kaiba said they store prototypes of games they're developing. He said that he wanted to try one of the virtual reality ones with me. I agreed and it turns out that it was an adult game which Kaiba had designed using fantasies he had of me and him. In the virtual world he had me as a Harem…and I was supposed to entertain him. It really pissed me off. And Kaiba didn't think there was anything wrong with that. Said it wasn't really our bodies just avatars created by the computer that we controlled with our minds." Atemu said before he trailed off.
"You know what that bothered you so much don't you Atemu?" Yami asked, though he knew the answer to that already.
Atemu nodded, "Yeah, because before he pulled that stunt…I don't know. Before that he seemed like someone that I would like to be around. Someone…"
"Someone who you could easily fall for." Yami finished.
"Yeah. Pretty dumb huh." Atemu said.
"Atemu it's not dumb for you to want to be happy. And it's not dumb for you when you're dating someone look for qualities you like in that person. It's not dumb for you to open yourself up to the possibility of falling for them. THAT isn't dumb." Yami said.
"Sure seems like it though considering the person I was opening myself up to. I mean lets face it Kaiba doesn't love me…at least not like I want to be no matter what he says. Nor do I ever see him loving me that way. Kaiba obesses. He controls. And he always gets what he wants…and right now he wants me sexually. He thinks he loves me so he spits out all this crap he thinks I want to hear so he can wear me down until I give him what he wants." Atemu said he sighed before adding, "Makes me wonder why I even bother trying. Maybe I should just give him what it is he wants so much. It'd make him happy, make my father happy. Everyone'd be happy."
"But you wouldn't be." Yami pointed out.
Atemu laughed a bittersweet laugh, "Yeah, but since when does my happiness matter to anyone? And who knows maybe if I make everyone else happy I'll grow to be happy."
Yami glared at Atemu for a moment. "You shouldn't have to grow to be happy or grow to love him." Yami spat.
"Yami, it's what everyone is expecting me to do. My stupid ideals about love and happiness are just that stupid…belonging in only fairy tales. This is REALITY Yami and in reality there isn't such a thing as a happily ever after. In reality sometimes you aren't going to be happy so you just have to suck it up and deal with it." Atemu said.
"And you don't think I know that Atemu? I spent the last nine months of my life going through pure hell because that's what I needed to do. Not for one second was I happy. Did I complain and whine and go 'oh woe is me'? Hell no. But just because I had to go through that shit doesn't mean I'm going to continue to go through it. It doesn't mean I still won't look for happiness. Doesn't mean I've given up hope of one day being happy. And you shouldn't either. So stop the pity party Atemu." Yami snapped.
"Then what exactly do you think I should do Yami?" Atemu asked.
"I think you should go back to the Condo and rip Prince Charming a new one. And, since I know you deep down want this to work out. I want you to tell him that you will give him one last chance to not screw this up. And if he does then you are going to your father and you will tell him to call off the fucking engagement because no matter what it is he expects of you you won't do it." Yami said.
"But…" Atemu started to object.
"And if he continues to try and force you to marry him I'll make sure to object to it." Yami said.
Atemu smiled slightly and nodded, "Thanks Yami."
"Anytime." Yami said before he started back up the car and the two once again headed towards the Condo.
Kaiba glanced up from his spot on the couch when he heard the door of the Condo open. He bit back a gasp of shock when he saw that state Atemu was in. He looked horrible and Kaiba couldn't exactly say that wasn't his fault because if he'd followed Atemu and convinced him to ride back then it wouldn't have happened.
Yami glared at him before he turned to look at Atemu and said, "I'll be in the other room. You two need to talk. Holler if you need me." Yami glared at Kaiba one more time before he walked out of the room and into the bedroom closing the door behind him.
Kaiba slowly got up and asked, "Are you okay Atemu?"
Atemu shrugged, "It's nothing for you to worry about Kaiba. Now sit down you and I need to talk."
Kaiba glared at Atemu before he crossed his arms and said, "No. I'm perfectly fine standing up."
Atemu glared at him before he said, "Fine whatever. It doesn't change the fact that we're going to talk."
"Then talk." Kaiba said.
"You really pissed me off tonight." Atemu said.
Kaiba rolled his eyes, "Obviously." He muttered.
"Cut the sarcasm." Atemu spat.
"Then quit stating the obvious and get to the point already." Kaiba snapped back.
Atemu fought the urge just to shout in pure frustration. He and Kaiba weren't getting anywhere and the sad thing is they hadn't even started discussing what had happened. "Like I said we need to talk about what happened tonight." Atemu said in a forced calm.
"And like I said earlier. Talk." Kaiba said with a roll of his eyes. This was really getting pretty ridiculous.
"You really pissed me off with that stunt you decided to pull." Atemu said.
"Get over Atemu. It isn't the big deal you're making it out to be. It was just a stupid game." Kaiba said.
"Do you even care what that felt like or seemed like to me? Do you Kaiba?" Atemu snapped.
"Never figured you to be into that touchy feely crap but fine if you want us to sit down and talk about how everything makes us feel we certainly can. Would you like me to call a psychiatrist to help?" Kaiba said.
"You know what I don't know why I even bother trying to talk to you." Atemu shouted.
And it was then the that door to the bedroom opened and Yami marched out of the room. "I've been sitting in there listening to you two argue about nonsense for the last ten minutes and I'm getting pretty sick of. You're both nearly adults so sit down and we're going to discuss this like adults." Yami snapped.
"This isn't any of your damn business Motou." Kaiba spat.
Atemu sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it Yami, Kaiba's right this is between the two of us." Atemu said.
"I know that but you two just keep arguing over nothing to the point that you can't even discuss what it is that happened. It's ridiculous." Yami said. Yami then glared at Kaiba, "Though that is more so your fault then Atemu's since you are purposely trying to fire him up."
Kaiba just rolled his eyes but otherwise did not comment.
Yami then turned to Atemu and said, "Tell Prince Charming here why exactly this bothers you so much Atemu."
Yami then turned to Kaiba and said, "And you are going to stand there and listen to what he has to say if you want to keep the ability to create children."
Kaiba glared at Yami before he sat down on the couch, which he only did because Yami had told him to stand before he turned to Atemu and said, "Well, what are you waiting for? Talk."
"Fine. The reason the stunt you pulled bothered me so much is because earlier this evening you gave me some hope that this could really work…and then you had to go and blow it." Atemu said.
Seto rolled his eyes, "What are you some sort of PMSing girl. So the date didn't turn out the way you wanted. Get over it. I'll do better next time."
Atemu narrowed his eyes, "You automatically assume that I'm going to give you another chance. I never said that I was. You told the one thing you wanted from me was for me to give you a genuine shot at this and I did that. I never said you would have an unlimited supply of chances." Atemu said.
"Oh, so what are you going to do Atemu? Break up with me?" Kaiba said with a snort.
"I'm tempted to do just that to hell with what my father wants." Atemu shouted.
"Oh yes, use the fact that I didn't do exactly what you wanted on our date as an excuse to go running back to Yami." Kaiba shouted.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Atemu shouted.
"It's always Yami this Yami that. I'm sick and tired of hearing you talk about him so much, you spend all day today with him, you sleep with him at night and even when you aren't with him you have to constantly talk about him." Kaiba snapped.
"Wait are you jealous?" Atemu asked shocked.
"No I'm not jealous of Yami. I just would like it if my fiancé would quit cuddling up with other guys." Kaiba spat. "You spend all your time with Yami, Jou, Malik and Marik."
"The way you're talking Kaiba you make it sound like I'm sleeping with them." Atemu shouted.
"Well we all know that ain't true since you're Mr. Chastity." Kaiba snapped right back.
Atemu rolled his eyes, "I've told you this many times Kaiba, nothing is happening between Yami and me nor is there anything happening between me and any of my other friends." Atemu said.
"Oh sure. You and Yami go down to the police station to get Yami away from his bastard of a husband so now you and Yami are free to be back together again." Kaiba pointed out.
"Yami and I did not go down to the police station just so we would be able to get back together. Yami is free from that bastard because he needs to be. I am with you whether I like it or not." Atemu said.
"Oh yes, that sounds like a perfect reason for you not to be cheating on me. Your with me whether you like it or not." Kaiba shouted.
"And what would you have me do Kaiba to prove that I'm not going to betray you? Huh?" Atemu shouted.
"Treat me like I'm your damn fiancé." Kaiba shouted.
"I already said I wasn't going to sleep with you Kaiba." Atemu shouted right back.
"I know that, but that doesn't mean I don't want you to at least give me something." Kaiba shouted back.
"Oh and my holding your hand and calling you 'Seto' earlier wasn't good enough." Atemu snapped back.
"That's not the point Atemu." Kaiba shouted.
"Then enlighten me Kaiba." Atemu snapped.
"Question!" Yami suddenly shouted after listening to the two bicker back and forth.
"What?" Both shouted.
"Kaiba why did you decide to pull the crap you did tonight with that stupid game?" Yami asked. That was the one thing Yami couldn't figure out. Kaiba had to have had a reason for pulling something like that. And for some reason Yami felt that whatever Kaiba's reasoning was Atemu needed to know.
"It's none of your damn business Yami." Kaiba snapped.
"No, Yami has a point why the hell did you do that Kaiba?" Atemu asked.
"Because I thought that maybe if you were able to experience stuff like that without actually being the one to do it you might lighten up a bit more." Kaiba said.
"Wait, so let me get this straight. You tricked me into playing an adult game because you wanted to loosen me up a bit." Atemu said slowly.
Yami suddenly snorted in laughter which had Atemu glare at him. "This isn't funny Yami so quit laughing."
"I know its not funny Atemu." Yami said, mentally berating himself for laughing at Atemu's unintentional innuendo. Yeah, Kaiba wanted to loosen him up alright in more ways than one.
"Yes, I thought that if you'd done something like that with me in the game then you would have been more comfortable with some of the other stuff like kissing." Kaiba said.
"And you also wanted to get laid and you knew that that was probably the closest you could hope to get." Atemu pointed out.
Kaiba opened his mouth to object but Atemu cut him off, "Don't try and say that wasn't on your mind because it was."
Kaiba's mouth snapped shut.
Atemu sighed but decided that he didn't really care anymore. He turned to Yami and said, "Alright we talked, now if you don't mind I'm going to go to bed."
Yami nodded. At least the two had talked, they may not have made much progress but at least they had talked.
"Wait, Atemu before you go to bed." Kaiba said.
Atemu sighed and turned back to face Kaiba, "What is it?"
"You never said if you were giving me another chance or not." Kaiba said.
Atemu sighed, "I'll think about it. I'll let you know in the morning what I've decided." Atemu said before he turned back towards the bedroom.
Once Yami had seen Atemu disappear into the room he turned his attention onto Kaiba, "You really screwed up tonight." Yami said, "More than you even realize." Yami added before he to turned and walked into the bedroom closing the door behind him leaving Kaiba alone in the living room.
Yami noticed that Atemu was lying face down on the bed still dressed in his clothes.
"You know you'll sleep more comfortably if you get changed first." Yami commented.
"I know Yami, but right now I just want to lay here and think." Atemu said.
"About whether or not you'll give Kaiba another chance." Yami guessed.
Atemu nodded. "Yeah. I mean part of me really wants to give him another shot since I know that deep inside him there's a person who I really like. But then another part of me loves to point out that despite there being a great person on the inside Kaiba won't let that person out unless he really wants something. And that the more chances I keep giving him the more he'll keep letting me down."
"Well, Atemu you'll just have to decide what it is you really want to do." Yami said.
"I know, but that's just it. I don't even know if this is a decision I have the right to be making." Atemu said.
"Of course you have the right to make this decision Atemu. It's your life." Yami said.
Atemu nodded. He laid there for a few more minutes before he got up and stripped down to his boxers.
Yami immediately got up to look at the bruises on Atemu's chest but Atemu pushed his hands away, "Don't worry about it Yami. I'm fine. They don't even really hurt." Atemu said.
Yami sighed but decided not to push the issue. Atemu, like Yami hated showing weakness and admitting to being in pain was something both considered a bit of a weakness. That was something both their parents had taught them when they were growing up. But that didn't mean either boy wouldn't ask for help when they needed it.
Yami plopped down on the bed beside Atemu and glanced briefly over at his friend who was starring at the ceiling. Yami sighed before he rolled over and tried to go to sleep. He knew that no matter how much he wanted to help, this was one time where Atemu didn't need him interfering. But, that didn't mean that if Atemu wanted his advice he wouldn't be there at a seconds notice to help because he would no questions asked.
A/N: Please review