Valkyria : Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a nice and peaceful Wednesday. I come bearing good news my wonderful readers!
Griever : The outline for our new story : Emperor's Prophecy is nice and shiny and best of all completed! That's right you heard us, completed, finalized -
Valkyria : I think they get the point Griever, I swear you go a little overboard sometimes… anyhow our favorite couple is in a difficult position so let's get them to kiss and make up shall we?
Disclaimer : We claim no rights to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh nor any of it wonderful characters.
Current Song : River Lullaby by Amy Grants [Prince of Egypt Soundtrack]
Chapter Sixteen : Forgive and Forget.
Jouonchi stared down at his assignment in resignation, he tried to avoid it by helping Seto out earlier today with handing out duel disks only to come back home and see it sitting idly on his desk unfinished.
Running into Ryou and Bakura had been a definite surprise, he had not seen the albino men since they married a year ago and moved to Egypt.
He still felt weary of Bakura's rough persona, but he couldn't deny that the older man was extremely intelligent in the business field and treated Ryou like a Prince.
When he had explained the entire situation about Atemu and Yugi to them. He wasn't in the least surprised at the panicked look that Ryou sported and the roguish smirk that Bakura had given him over Ryou's shoulder.
Ryou had went to "mother-hen." mode -dubbed by Bakura- and had asked multiple questions about Yugi's welfare. Was he getting enough to eat? -he knew that Atemu couldn't cook to save his own life- how was he taking the death of Solomon? Atemu wasn't molesting Yugi in his spare time was he?
Jou and Bakura howled with laughter at that last one.
Bakura had smoothly stepped in after and reassured Ryou that despite Atemu's playboy lifestyle, Yugi would be well taken care of.
Jou had watched in amazement as Ryou's previous panicked expression slid off and be replaced with a calm and serene one. He had to hand it to Bakura; the man knew how to calm his more tender husband down in a instant. Something that no one had the talent to do previously.
"Still doesn't excuse the fact that he's a total asshole sometimes-"
Jou's rambling was cut off by a insistent knocking at his front door, who in the hell came by at this hour?
"Hold your horses! I'm coming." quickly placing the papers out of the way, Jou sprinted to the door and tore it open to see a disheveled Honda standing behind it.
"H-Honda? What the hell happened to you- never mind get in here!" grabbing his friends wrists he gently but firmly pulled the brunette into the warmth of his apartment.
"What are you doing here so late?" Jou asked with concern. "The last time I talked to you, you were being dropped off by Otogi-"
"Don't. don't say his name."
Jou fully took a look at Honda, the brunettes clothes where wrinkled which was strange because his friend was usually well-kept.
"Honda?" Jou began cautiously, placing a hand on the other mans shoulders. "What. Happened?"
When Honda finally raised his eyes to his; Jou felt his heart literally break at the sight of pain in his friends usually playful and mischievous hazel eyes.
"I-I can't do this anymore Jou."
Yugi shut the blinds and pulled the heavy navy curtains shut blocking the moonlight from entering the mostly empty living room. It had been hours since Atemu had last came down; he had to carry the mans dinner up to him and merely received a flat thank you and a door slamming in his face.
Yugi wanted to break down that office door and slap the man across his face for the rude action, but realized that he had in some part deserved it for his reaction earlier.
I-I didn't know that he felt that way about me, he never said anything and how was I supposed to tell how sincere he was from all that flirting he did all of the time?
He was knocked out of his thoughts by the doorbell ringing, glancing down at his watch that read 9:20 p.m, he was surprised that someone here this late.
When did the doorbell was being rung multiple times, Yugi forced his legs into a light jog, he didn't want Atemu to come down and answer it.
He wasn't ready to face the man just yet.
Ripping the door open, he blinked at rapidly at the two behind the door. He must be dreaming; wasn't these two supposed to be in-
"Well!" the rougher looking barked out. "Aren't you going to let us in or stare at us like we're a couple of circus freaks?"
"Hush!" the shorter one snapped out quickly. "You've been nothing but rude all day! And I've let it slide but not here, not now, do you hear me?"
Yugi reached up and pinched his cheek just in case he was hallucinating; when Yugi looked up again, he blushed heavily when he saw the two men giving him bemused looks.
"Please, come in Ryou, Bakura. It's so good to see the both of you again."
"Same to you Yugi." Ryou's replied softly giving him a odd look. "I'm sorry about the loss of Grandfather Solomon."
Yugi gave both albino men a weak smile. "Thank you, would you like something to eat? I have leftovers-"
"No thank you Yugi, you look tired. Are you sleeping well?"
"Where the hell is Atemu? Not making you pull your hair out is he?"
How does Bakura..? That's right! Bakura runs the Egyptian division of Ishigami Corp!
Yugi looked down at his feet, avoiding Ryou and Bakura's inquisitive gazes. He didn't want to tell them what happened but he knew that he wouldn't be able to resist Ryou's prodding questioning.
"Atemu is upstairs in his office if you want to visit him Bakura."
Bakura gave him a leering grin before making his way towards the stairway. "I think I will."
Yugi looked up when he felt Ryou's hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we sit down-"
Both of them jumped when Atemu's office door banged against the wall and Bakura's rough voice echoing throughout the house.
"Atemu! You've been here all damn day? I've been looking for your sorry ass!"
"What the- how in the hell did you get in here? Why aren't you in Egypt! Where I don't have to deal with you!"
"That's so damn sweet Atemu, thinking that you could rid of me. Ryou thought the same thing before we starting dating."
"Get out! I don't want to see your damn ugly face right now!"
"Not now, we have to talk what the hell are you doing with that bottle of vodka!-."
Ryou sighed heavily as the door slammed shut and they could no longer hear the older men argue.
"Honestly." Ryou began exasperated. "I don't know how I deal with that man on a daily basis…"
"Because you love him to death." Yugi countered with a cheeky grin that didn't reach his eyes. "When did you get in Ryou?"
"Just this morning actually." Ryou replied guiding Yugi to the couch and sitting him down. "Jou explained everything when I saw him at Kaiba Corp earlier. How is everything? Honestly."
Seeing the sincerity in Ryou's eyes caused something in Yugi to break. He finally let the tears he had been holding for so long fall down his face.
"Everything was rocky between us at the beginning." Yugi started wiping his tears. "But we started to get along and before we knew it, we grew attracted to each other."
"And that big jerk had to go and confess that he's falling in love me!" Yugi finished with a broken sob. "I-I didn't know Ryou! I thought it was just attraction. Why didn't he-"
Ryou smiled weakly and pulled the smaller man into his arms and held onto him tightly.
"Because Atemu is afraid just like you are ." Ryou whispered over Yugi's broken sobs. "But you needn't worry; the both of you will work this out."
Bakura lifted the half-empty bottle of vodka and snorted before pouring himself a shot and tossing it back. How could a simple trip turn into a such a damn drama fest?
"How's the married life?" Atemu murmured holding his own shot glass. "Showing Ryou the world I hope?"
"And more." Bakura added staring down at his silver wedding ring. "But we're not here to discuss my marriage Pharaoh. Why are you holed up in your office getting pissed drunk?"
"Don't call me that." Atemu snapped quietly pouring another shot. "I get enough of it from Marik and Malik."
"Marik calls you that just to piss you off like me." Bakura chuckled. "Malik does it out of it respect. You know he's a descendant of tomb-keepers and they were in charged of your ancestors tombs."
"I am aware of that, and to answer your previous question can't I just get drunk every once in awhile?"
"No." Bakura snapped viciously ripping the shot glass out of Atemu's hands and threw against the wall causing it shatter into a thousand glittering shards. "I'm sick of fucking around here Atemu. I had to drag my ass all the way out of Egypt-"
"No one told you to come here." Atemu cut in ruthlessly. "You owe my three thousand yen for that shot glass by the way."
"Fuck you." Bakura snarled sitting back down in the chair. "Ryou was worried about Yugi and I wouldn't let him come here on his own."
"Your private jet would have gotten him here fine."
"Doesn't matter. I'm not letting him travel alone, there's all kinds of freaks out there. Stop avoiding the subject Atemu."
"Yugi."
Bakura raised a eyebrow. "What about him? You didn't sleep with him did you?"
"Of course not!" Atemu snapped grabbing the bottle vodka and throwing it in the trash bin. "We had a slight disagreement and Vivian came by again."
Bakura frowned at Atemu. "Vivian Wong? She's a nuisance but not worse enough to take you to the bottle. What else happened between you and Yugi."
Atemu released a hollow laugh that sent a shiver down Bakura's spine. "Vivian invited herself in along with her little sidekick Rebecca Hawkins. She took it upon herself to confess how I felt about Yugi."
"You've been screwing around about how you felt towards Yugi and turned into a damned flirt, which confused Yugi and caused your relationship to turn to big pile of crap. Am I right?"
"Hit the nail on the head."
Bakura cursed under his breath. "You know you're not supposed to be drinking Atemu. You've been clean for three years now."
"Oh yes." Atemu drawled sarcastically. "Do tell me of how I turned into a short-term alcoholic after Mana passed away. I would love to hear it!"
"Silence!"
Bakura reached forward and grabbed a fistful of Atemu's shirt. "I didn't come here to see you lying in a pile of self-pity. Yugi didn't know how you felt you damned idiot! That doesn't mean you don't have a chance."
Atemu shoved the pale-haired man away. "What does it matter to you Bakura? You have someone! You have Ryou-"
"Just because I act like a asshole the majority of the time doesn't mean I do not care for your well-being Atemu. We grew up together; you, me and Marik and Seto."
Atemu slowly sat back down in the leather chair and buried his face into his hands. "How do I fix this then? How do I get Yugi to believe that I love him?"
Atemu was expecting something crude from his business partner and childhood friend, but what he said next were words that Atemu carried for the rest of his life.
"To win someone's heart all you need is time, patience and love."
"You're falling in love with him? Ryuuji Otogi?" skepticism was loud and clear in Jou's voice and he received a withering glare for it.
"Sorry." Jou raised his hands in a surrendering gesture. "I thought that is was going to be a purely sexual relationship though?"
"It was." Honda dragged his hair through his drying hair. "I-I mean it was supposed to, but he kept doing these small whimsical things that made me…"
"Melt?" Jou tried softly. "Sigh all dreamy like? Believe me I know the feeling; Seto makes me feel that way all of that time."
"Seto doesn't want a purely sexual relationship with you." Honda bit out.
Jou sighed heavily and reached for his tea. "This was a mistake Honda, I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
Honda shook his head and buried his face in his hands. "Don't worry about it. I agreed to do this, how did this turn into such a mess?"
Jou chuckled bitterly. "Haven't you heard Honda? Love can turn everything into a mess sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Honda snorted. "You mean all of time."
Jou stared at his friend, his friends tan skin had grown pale and once luminous hazel eyes were now dull and had bags under them. He didn't want Honda to suffer over this, he wanted him to be to happy and carefree.
"Tell him." Jou blurted out suddenly.
"What?" Honda blinked. "Tell who what?"
Jou reached forward and laid both of his hands on Honda's shoulders. "Tell Otogi how you feel-"
"Are you insane?" Honda snapped brushing Jou's hands away. "I can't tell that playboy that he'll.."
"Reject you? Return your feelings? You'll never know if you don't say something."
"You don't understand! If I tell him and he'll reject me and leave. I can't lose him."
Jou ran his hands through his hair in frustration, he wanted to help Honda so badly, but the only way was for Honda to tell Otogi how he felt.
"Just…" Jou sighed heavily. "Just tell him alright? See how it goes, you never know. You said that he was getting upset that you were possibly cheating on him right? If he wanted a purely sexual relationship with you then he wouldn't have cared who you were with. To me that means he feels something for you."
"But Jou-"
"No buts!" Jou cut in sharply. "Take a break from him, give him some excuse -I don't care what it is- then when you ready, and you will be ready, tell him how you feel."
"This isn't going to-"
"It will! Now, you can sleep here for the night, because you look like shit Hiroto Honda."
"Gee." Honda drawled sarcastically. "Thank for the compliment Jou."
"No problem buddy."
"I'm sorry about your shirt."
Ryou smiled and handed Yugi a handkerchief. "It's quite alright. Do you feel better?"
"Yeah." Yugi sniffed wiping the remaining tears away. "Don't know where the waterworks came from though."
"You hold things in for too long and the dam will break eventually. Your problem with Atemu was that final crack."
Yugi chuckled and handed the handkerchief back to Ryou. "I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with that problem."
"Talking helps." Ryou put in gently. "Atemu…he's had a hard life for the past three years, you have spoken to him about Mana correct?"
Yugi nodded. "Yes."
Ryou sighed heavily. "Bakura told me that Atemu took her passing very hard. Disappeared for days on end only to show up reeking of alcohol."
"You mean he…"
"That's right." Ryou said. "He grieved for a long time, he still is in some ways."
Hearing this made Yugi feel even worse, and it also made him realize that he knew nothing about Atemu, sure he knew about his previous marriage and some of his likes, but that was it.
He had told Atemu that he would show him that life was worth living and he had done the exact opposite. It was time that actually begin doing that.
Yugi stared up at Ryou and smiled sadly. "Love is troublesome sometimes isn't it Ryou?"
Ryou released a sad chuckle. "Yes, yes it is Yugi."
- End Chapter Sixteen.
A/N : Atemu's alcoholism. I know what some of you are thinking. Wasn't he drinking wine on the dinner date previously? No he wasn't. I know I should've used another glass to describe what he was drinking, but I didn't. I was really debating on whether to put this in the story and in the end I decided too. People grieve in many different ways and unfortunately they take to the bottle sometimes. But don't worry this is the only chapter where it will be mentioned. Atemu's problems are deep and rooted and it will be a very long journey for him and Yugi. I hope you'll stay with me XD
As for Vivian and Rebecca : They will be back -unfortunately- they still have a role in the story.
Next Update : Friday 13th *cough*