I'm sorry I haven't updated this for a bit. I was busy updating my other ones (weird because they're not written out) and I was debating a bit in my head over the sequel (because there will be one). I must say thank you to CrimsonStrawberry17 who was the only one to review AGAIN but so far, that's not bothering me beause no one really reviews my Yugioh fics. It's all my Merlin ones that people tend to review so, not bothered. Much.
Anyway, here I am rabbiting on again like the Mad Hatter (which I probably am considering how much I talk to myself) and you probs don't care what I have to say. All I'm going to say is that I have a long car journey tomorrow because I'm going to Hickstead tomorrow for my mother's birthday which will give me plenty of time to think of ideas for where this story is going to go next and exactly what will be in the sequel. I think I know what it will be, but we'll see where we get to with this story first.
I may just like to add that this may take some time. I've only just finished up one story that 've been working on for three years, so if you want to back out now, I'll understand.
Anyway, I'll stop talking now.
Atemu woke the next morning, irritated, tired and very confused. It took a few moments to realise that the shouting coming from outside his room wasn't the guards that his father kept posted there every night and that it wasn't even in his home language. As the Japanese words slurred together in his head he realised that it was actually his grandfather shouting up the stairs for Yugi.
"You're going to be late for school again! No, there's no time for breakfast here, you'll have to get some at school!" There was the sound of whining, which Atemu took to be his brother complaining about the fact that he was being forced to skip breakfast. Atemu yawned and sat up, feeling strangely cold, only to realise that his pet leopard, Hotep, wasn't actually sleeping on the bed. In fact, Hotep was miles away in Egypt with his father, probably protecting an empty room. The leopard wouldn't know that Atemu wouldn't be home for a long time.
The sound of the front door slamming pushed the last dregs of sleep from Atemu's mind. He sighed and pushed the bedcovers away, knowing that any renewed attempt at sleep would only end in failure. At least Bakura would have to follow the laws of this country and actually turn up for school today and not bug him about what exactly was going on back at home and whether the thief court had been discovered. Considering the thief court was able to just about get by without their illustrious leader and that they had yet to be discovered, Atemu was fairly sure that even the idiots among them would be fine. That, and the fact that the thief court had bigger things to worry about than just the stuff they could steal from the local tourists. Atemu shook his head, wishing he could think about other things than his father's supposed impending doom.
The smell of cooking compelled Atemu to wander downstairs, thanking the gods that there was someone else in the house to distract him from the bitter thoughts in his head. His grandfather was making breakfast and smiled when he realised that Atemu was in the room.
"I would have thought that you would get up later than this," Solomon said, smiling at his eldest grandson. Atemu may not look like Yugi, but he certainly had the same sleepy look that Yugi usually had when he was roused from sleep early. However, Yugi would usually then complain bitterly at having been woken up. Atemu just looked used to having been forced to get up early.
"I was woken up by all the shouting," he murmured, flopping into a chair with hardly any notice at how graceful the move was. Then again, Solomon had the feeling that Atemu was used to sitting in hard, uncomfortable chairs and was more amazed by the comfort of the sofa than the plastic kitchen chairs.
"Sorry about that. Your brother has a lack of inner body clock. If you don't get him up he would sleep the day away." Atemu's mouth twitched at what would have been a smile if he hadn't been taught for years that outer emotions were dangerous. Solomon felt a stab of pity, knowing that any innocence that Atemu may have retained from childhood would be hidden from the world. However Solomon also knew that Atemu didn't want pity. He wasn't like that. He would much rather you tried to kill him than tell him that you felt sorry for him. That was how Atemu's world worked, because he already knew that he had lost out on this world and would rather focus on whatever life threw at him next than what could have been.
"Then he wouldn't like home," Atemu said quietly. Solomon found himself thinking of that sandy place that Atemu had come from, the gleaming walls of gold leaf and the streets filled with people who knew so little and yet so much about the world.
"I don't think Yugi would understand," Solomon said quietly. "Everything would be alien to him." Atemu shot him a sharp look as he tucked into the plate of eggs and bacon his grandfather had put in front of him.
"You mean like how everything here is practically alien to me?" There was a challenge in Atemu's voice and Solomon cursed his bad phrasing. Atemu was used to double meanings, not realising that he had meant nothing of the sort.
"No. Everything would be alien to Yugi because he doesn't make the effort to understand," Solomon said patiently, hoping that Atemu would at least understand that. It was horrible to have to teach your own grandson to trust you but when even your own uncle tried to kill you… well, Solomon could understand why Atemu was at least a little wary. He wasn't a fool to think that Egypt's troubles stayed in Egypt.
Atemu looked a little confused so Solomon decided to change tack. "What are you going to be dong today?" Atemu blinked at the change of topic and then shrugged.
"I don't know," he said honestly. Well, at least that was one problem that Solomon was able to sort out without introducing too much too quickly. The outside world may still be a mystery to Atemu but if he was going to be living with them, Solomon figured that he could get Atemu used to life inside for a while. Especially as this would help him outside as well.
"Well, I'm going to need some help with the shop later on today. I've got to go and pick up some groceries since we're nearly out and I can pick Yugi up from school on the way home. I can teach you all you need to know before I leave." A sort of spark lit in Atemu's eyes and Solomon smiled. If there was one thing that Atemu didn't lack it was fighting spirit.
Yugi glared at the clock on the wall and wished it would move faster. He hated the last class of the day, especially when it was Japanese* and the teacher would drone on for ages about one text or another. Yugi wasn't really all that bothered about Japanese- he was planning on running the family business not writing the next classic novel. He was also looking forward to games night with Joey and Tristan.
This would happen every Friday night. He, Joey and Tristan would crash at his place and Grandpa would let them have a game each from the store which they would then use in the ultimate gaming competition. This meant that the person who won the most games would get to pick a dare that the person who lost the most games would then have to complete (although this was only limited to the house and the entertainment of those inside - Grandpa forbid the use of blackmail and rude dares). It was actually the best part of the week and Yugi hoped that his twin would not ruin the fun for them this afternoon.
As the clock began to tick closer to the end of the day, restless whispers rose around the class and people began to fidget. Yugi hated this class for many reasons although the fact that he was forced to sit behind Cindy Jamieson and Kew Yen was probably the worst thing. Both girls were notorious gossips and had no heart about whether or not they ruined someone's social life with it. They were also both well off and were able to spend lunchtimes outside the school, where they would gossip with other off-campers and find out what was really going on in some places (this usually made Yugi's life worse). However today, neither of them was talking about juicy goings-on in school.
"Oh my god, did you walk past the Game shop today?" Kew was whispering to Cindy, making Yugi wish he could sink lower in his chair. It was no secret that the Game shop was where he lived and both girls were fully aware of this and therefore Yugi put this conversation down to public humiliation for the next day.
"No. Only lame kids go there," Cindy shot back, her head jerking behind her a little towards where Yugi was sitting. Yugi wondered if she actually realised that he could hear her loud and clear.
"Not anymore. The hottest guy I've ever seen was working in there today!" Kew squealed under her breath. Yugi blinked wondering who she was talking about. Cindy just looked shocked.
"No way! What was he like? Who was he?" she whispered frantically, the gossip inside her clearly showing.
"I don't know but he was all tan and lean and buff! And he had the most gorgeous eyes! They were all crimson but not like blood, like satin! Like the satin dress I wore last year to the school dance!" Kew gabbled her eyes wide and bright with something akin to lust. Yugi sank down lower in his seat. Of course. They would be talking about Atemu. After all, everything seemed to be about Atemu now.
"Ok, I have to see him now!" Cindy whispered and Yugi contemplated warning his brother that he had a fan-club. He also contemplated asking the girls over to his house just to see Atemu's face and then decided he wasn't that cruel. He might not like his brother but no one deserved a night with those two.
Kew was about to answer when the bell cut her off and Yugi gathered up his things and dashed away before the squealing could start up in full force. He hated sitting near the back as, because he was so small, he was always crushed into the doorway since people didn't see him until the last minute. Thankfully, he practically skipped this and managed to make it to the front of the school without being crushed by the crowd for once. Joey and Tristan were waiting, surprisingly, by his grandfather's car with Grandpa sitting in the front seat.
"Hello Yugi! Nice day at school?" Grandpa asked as they piled in.
"Uh, fine but shouldn't you be watching the shop?" Yugi asked, nearly shouting over Joey and Tristan's arguments over who would win today's competition.
"Oh, I left Atemu in charge of the shop. He did so well this morning I thought that he could handle it and I wasn't gone for long. Only to get some groceries from the shop considering your friends were coming over tonight!" There was a gleam in Grandpa's eyes when he said 'friends' and Yugi cringed. Neither Joey nor Tristan seemed to have a bottom to the endless pits of their stomachs and were constantly eating them out of food. What worried Yugi now was that Cindy and Kew would get back to the shop before they did.
"I don't know whether that's a good idea. There were some girls in English who seemed pretty keen to meet him…"
"What'cha talking 'bout Yug'?" Joey suddenly said, butting into their conversation. Yugi felt himself flush wondering if he should really be sharing this information.
"Oh, nothing. I just heard Cindy and Kew talking about how they had seen this guy in the Game shop that they thought was, err, good-looking and were planning to drop by," Yugi said, noting the growing looks of horror on Joey and Tristan's faces.
"Ok, I might not like your brother but no one deserves the horror of those two!" Joey shouted. "Step on it Gramps!" Grandpa just laughed at their antics, shaking his head.
"I'm sure Atemu can handle himself around teenage girls. It's not like he hasn't met any before," Grandpa said, still chuckling.
After what seemed like an age they pulled up outside the Game shop, which was surprisingly quiet. It wasn't until Yugi noticed a flash of white hair leaning against a counter that he realised why. Bakura had dropped by for another visit and had somehow managed to beat them on foot than in the car. On foot, the journey took about twenty minutes, ten minutes by car, so how he had beaten them was anyone's guess. Tristan looked a little shocked at finding Bakura in the shop.
"Um, maybe we should come back later," he said, his eyes flicking towards Bakura through the shop window. Yugi shook his head.
"He'll still be here later. He and Atemu are best friends apparently," Yugi said, trying not to sound edgy. Bakura hadn't exactly been welcoming the last time he had been at the shop and Atemu had left dinner early in a bad mood. Yugi was also not sure how he felt about some of Bakura's other comments as well.
Grandpa just looked at them for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside. Yugi heard him greet the two boys and watched as Atemu came round from behind the counter. And Yugi had to get used to the sight of his brother all over again. Today, he was wearing jeans and a green t-shirt, his long hair pulled back out of his face by an elastic band. Some wild blonde bangs fell into his face giving him a dark, almost dangerous look despite the casual clothes. Yugi also noticed the golden bands around his brother's neck for the first time, and the glint of more gold under the t-shirt's sleeves around his muscled arms. Yugi wondered why he hadn't taken them off but figured that he would ask that later. Pushing ahead of Joey and Tristan, he stepped into the shop after his grandfather.
"Hey pipsqueak! Survived another day of school?" Bakura was lounging against the cash desk, fiddling with a bunch of keys which looked suspiciously like the main keys to the entire building. He was fairly certain that Grandpa kept them in a secure place, where thieves couldn't get at them so how had Bakura gotten them? Grandpa seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Bakura, while you are in my house you will not steal. This is my home, not Egypt. The keys, if you will." Grandpa held out a hand which Bakura sneered at. However, Atemu suddenly swiped at Bakura's hands, causing him to drop the keys into Grandpa's outstretched ones.
"Watch what you're doing!" Bakura growled, rubbing his hands together. "I've got to use these later. There're some bottles of whisky with my name on for later."
"You're not drinking here either," Atemu said with a note of finality. Bakura muttered under his breath in his native tongue which Yugi took to be swearing. Not that Atemu seemed phased by it.
"Hello Yugi. How was school?" Atemu asked, almost mildly, ignoring Bakura's death glare.
"Fine," Yugi muttered. He turned to Grandpa. "Can we go upstairs now? We've still got games night." Grandpa blinked as if he had forgotten that Joey and Tristan were in the room with them. Well, they were both being uncharacteristically quiet, Tristan standing there with his mouth open like a fish. Atemu was looking at him, one eyebrow raised.
"Is there a reason why you look like a fish or do you normally walk around with a gormless expression on your face?" Atemu smirked as Tristan closed his mouth with a snap.
"Of course. Which games do you want?" Grandpa asked his eyes bright. Yugi knew that his grandfather loved games just as much as he did, and happened to be even better than Yugi. However Grandpa refrained from being a part of games night due to his 'old-age' he had stated although Yugi imagined that he just liked to watch his grandson have fun.
It wasn't until they were well into the evening (on the third game of Dual Monsters in fact) that Yugi noticed that Atemu was nowhere in sight. In fact, Yugi hadn't seen him since they had picked out their games. He turned to Grandpa to find that for once, Grandpa was not watching them play. Instead he was sitting in the kitchen, his chin resting on his interlaced hands, looking thoughtfully into the middle distance. Yugi quietly left Joey and Tristan to battle it out, knowing that Joey had already won the game anyway.
"Grandpa?" Yugi asked. His grandfather looked up, blinking, as if he hadn't realised that Yugi was there. Yugi frowned. That was unusual in itself. Solomon Motou had lost none of his hearing, or near perfect eyesight, in his old age. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine Yugi. I'm just worried about Atemu is all," Grandpa said, sending Yugi a reassuring smile. But Yugi felt anything but reassured.
"What do you need to be worried about Atemu for? Doesn't he have people who are paid for that?" Grandpa's face hardened as he looked at Yugi. There was something almost angry about that look which shocked Yugi. His grandfather rarely got angry and he didn't attempt to anger him either. Grandpa had a mean temper.
"Yes, your brother might be used to a totally different lifestyle to this, Yugi, but what you have to understand is that a lot of this is almost overwhelming for your brother. He has come from a very different world and much of Japan is almost alien to him and he won't admit that he's afraid. And I don't blame him for being afraid for us all." There was a deep finality to Grandpa's voice, something that Yugi had never heard before. Yugi felt his stomach drop at the thought that there was something dangerous to them all that had followed Atemu.
"What do you mean?" Yugi asked quietly, fear coursing through his veins. Never in all his life had he ever been in danger, not even when he was around Bakura. "Where's Atemu?"
"Atemu went out with Bakura. Mentioned something about meeting Seto in the park." At Yugi's surprised look his grandfather raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you think that Atemu couldn't possibly know anyone famous? Your father is a very powerful and influential man. Even Seto has a great sense of respect for him and, therefore, to us. He and Atemu have been friends for a while."
"So, are there any other people that we don't like that Atemu is friends with?" Yugi asked, sarcasm colouring his tone. He liked this conversation a lot better than the one about being under threat.
"Seto Kaiba has left us alone for five years. You would know this if you had paid attention." Yugi frowned. Five years… that was about the time that Kaiba had started to run the company his own way as well as starting to disappear to Egypt for the holidays.
"I didn't know," was all Yugi was able to say however. Everything else made no sense anymore and suddenly games night felt silly and childish. Here they were, having a conversation about Yugi's father, who hadn't talked to Yugi in ten years, and they were playing card games to see who would get the dare for the night? What was his life turning into?
* For everyone who lives in England, America or anywhere else this is English. I didn't think that people in Japan would use the word 'English' to describe literacy lessons so I called it Japanese instead, working on the theory that my German teacher uses 'German' to describe their lessons of English. I don't know if this is the same world over. Just in case anyone got confused with the novel references.
Ok, this was more of a filler chapter if I'm to be honest but the next one is more interesting, I promise considering Yugi and Atemu get arrested.