Hello! Here's the next chapter of To save myself. Disclaimer: I dunna own a ting. Notta ting, notta ting. ( Something my aunt says. Why, I dun know...)

The Life And Times Of Atemu Sennen

" He knew a trick. He knew how to turn his life in to a movie, and watch things happen. Not to him. Never to him. But to someone who looked just like him. Was he the runaway with everything he owned in a ratty old backpack? Or was he watching a movie about a hitch hiking boy on a lonely highway? A truck slowed until the boy squinted in to the headlights. But one good look at him and the trucker couldn't get out of there fast enough. He didn't even have the strength to curse him as he choked on the dust of his spinning wheels." The young man lowered his paper and looked back at the class with a small, sad smile. " To be continued." He closed the binder that had been housing his latest project as the students smiled and applauded him politely. As he inclined his head in respect a small frown centered to his features. His glasses were slipping. Darn. He reached up and pushed the black square frames back to their proper place on his nose. He was glad that was over. He hated speaking publicly, no matter how required it was.

Standing at 5'7 he wasn't the tallest guy around. But his features certainly made him stand out. A wild halo of black and red hair grew from his head, lined with blonde streaks. Sharp, jagged blonde bangs fell around a perfectly angled face with high cheekbones and hollowed out cheeks. Sharp, crimson eyes alight with a kind of calculating intelligence peered through his reading glasses at his peers. Underneath the school uniform consisting of a white button-down shirt, blue blazer and slacks was a toned and healthy body dusted with a light healthy tan. All in all he was a very attractive young man. He knew this. Still he didn't like to flaunt himself to the masses like so many of the other so-called " Pretty boys" of the college. No, he was reserved for someone special. " Thank you, Mr. Sennen. Well done." His teacher praised. He smiled and murmured a quiet ' thank you' to his teacher, then Atemu Sennen walked back to his seat and then sat down to focus his attention forward. Be it either on another lesson plan or the next poor soul who would have to sell his or her story to the rest of the creative writing class.

Home again. Atemu let the music flow steadily from his fingers as he tapped and caressed each ebony and ivory key with practiced expertise. Chopin Valse Brillante, Op 34, no.2 in A minor. It was the song both he and his music instructor Max Pegasus had chosen. It was a beautiful melody which did indeed reqire a fair ammount of skill to play, yet it wasn't overdone either. Behind him Mr. Pegasus watched on with one dark brown analyzing eye, the other having been lost years ago in an accident. His left missing eye and the whole side of his face was hidden behind a wave of his straight silvery hair while the rest fell down his back. He watched carefully evaluating his student as Atemu sat on the soft leather stool and played. He was doing fine...until his cellphone rang from where it lay on top of the piano. The caller ID screen said ' Yugi.' Atemu let a small smile spread on to his features as he looked at the name of his boyfriend. In that moment when he was unfocused his hand stumbled on the keys. A disappointed sigh behind him reached his ears and Atemu stopped playing, his face properly flushed in embarassment.

" I apologize Mr. Pegasus. I know I should know this well enough by now." He rubbed a tired hand over his eyes and sighed heavily.

" You've been distracted lately, Atemu-boy. And I think I know why." He smiled kindly at his student as his eye darted over to the phone. Atemu followed his gaze then cleared his throat uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his neck.

" Sorry." Pegasus chuckled and moved to his side then sat down beside his pupil.

" Never apologize for being in love. I was young once too, you know. I've been there." Atemu shared a smile with his music teacher as he thought about Yugi. Only a year younger and two inches shorter than himself Yugi Mutou and Atemu had met three years ago in high school. What had struck them both speechless at first sight was how alike they looked. Yugi's hair was exactly like Atemu's, only the blonde streaks were not present in the fray of black and red. Blonde, jagged bangs much like his framed a rounder, younger face. Two bright amethyst jewels stared in to pools of crimson as each young man's surprise was mirrored by the other. They could easily pass for siblings if not twins. However it was confirmed by both sets of parents in later discussion that neither boy was related. It is said that everyone in the world had their own twin somewhere. So it was safe to say they may have found theirs in eachother.

But Yugi was very different from Atemu. Although he had no artistic aptitude Yugi was very familiar to sports such as tennis, ping-pong, soccer and track. Currently he was on the college soccer team, the Domino Raiders. Yugi was shy, kind hearted and generous almost to a fault. And his intellect was nothing to be ashamed of either. He was one of the few people who could match Atemu in a debate or even simple conversation. For two years they secretly admired eachother. Ten months ago they let that secret out, and here they were. Sometimes Atemu wondered if it could be considered a form of narcassism to love someone so similar to himself. Did others see that in them too? He had posed this question to his mother once. She smiled, kissed his forehead and told him: " Baby, don't you mind what other people say. Love is love." So far their relationship had been steady never passing that intimate bar beyond a shared, passionate kiss. At least not yet.

" Atemu-boy, love is wonderful. But it can also become cumbersome if you let it." Mr. Pegasus advised. Atemu didn't really agree, but he would never admit that to his notoriously strict teacher. He honestly wondered at times if the man had a life outside of his music. He knew Pegasus was married. Once upon a time. His wife died of AIDS years ago and many say he drowned himself in work to lessen the pain. If anything like that were to happen to someone he loved he didn't know what he might do. He looked back at his teacher and tapped a finger against the wood of the piano.

" Time and place, yes?" An answer of diplomacy. Max Pegasus nodded.

" The Young Artist's competition is only a month away. If you really want to earn the admiration of one who loves you, win." There was a modicum of truth in that. Yugi knew about the competition and had promised to be there to cheer him on until his voice left. Yes, he did want to make his parents and Yugi proud. What better way than to win? " Watch this hand." Pegasus touched the keys with practiced expertise and let the melody flow, repairing itself where Atemu fumbled and completing the score with practiced perfection. " See how easy that is?" Atemu nodded. It really was easy. But...

" I um... I've been meaning to speak to you for awhile about something." Mr. Pegasus smiled calmly at his subdued student and tilted his head.

" Oh?" Atemu nodded. He took a deep breath then began.

" I know I haven't been committing to the piano as much as I should and...I think I know why. I do love to play, but the passion is lacking somewhat. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this anymore." His teacher smiled and shook his head slowly.

" Atemu-boy, many artists feel this way from time to time. Life gets in the way with responsibilities and necessities and then the artform can become just another obstacle on this list. An artist can then delevop a kind of block and get stuck in a rut of sorts. It's perfectly normal." Atemu shook his head.

" No I... I want to stop. I mean I barely made my midterms and Young Artist's winter preliminaries. I just..." Mr. Pegasus waited patiently for Atemu to find his words. " I want-I need to focus all of my attention on writing." Pegasus sighed heavily and shook his head in a frusterated manner. The boy had so much musical talent. To just let it go...

" But you have such an inate talent. Such a gift. You've won the Young Artist's competition four years in a row. What more validation do you need?" Atemu had no words. They both knew the descision had been made. " Well, should the piano's passion find you again...you know where I am."

" Yes. Thank you." After that he showed his music teacher out and waved by the door as he drove away. A small " Merow" made him turn around. A sandy colored cat with green eyes looked up at him and rubbed against his legs. Smiling softly he picked up the cat and stroked it affectionately as he held the furry animal in his arms. " Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

" Meow."

12:44 AM. He had been typing at his computer for five hours now. He sat at a desk in his room, which was in some respects what one would expect of an artist. The walls were dark blue. His bed was against the left wall neatly made with a silver comforter, black sheets and matching pillows. A desk and lamp sat on the side against the wall which housed one drawer. Inside was a notebook and pen, in case a dream might strike inspiration so he could quickly jot it down. Across the room was a case filled with movies. On top was a television. To the right was a large bookshelf filled with books, folders containing short stories Atemu had compiled, and various pictures of friends and family. One shelf was solely for his awards and achivements including his high school diploma, blue ribbons and four Young Artist's award first place trophies. The bottom shelf housed board games like checkers, sennet, a jigsaw puzzle and a glass chess board and matching glass pieces. And on the south wall was his computer and desk both of which he was currently hunched over typing rapidly. A half-eaten, half-forgotten sandwhich was sitting to the side. His reading glasses were back on his face as he typed rapidly every now and again looking above him. The wall was littered with sticky post-it notes filled with ideas, names and locations and details regarding his latest story.

' He always felt like half a person. Half a person with half a soul. Sometimes if he dreamed hard enough, he could bring the two halves together. But always every bitter morning he would wake up to cold reality and feelings of emptiness and loss. Dreaming he knew, could only last so long. He needed more than dreams. He longed for something real that he could feel with his entire being rather than fooling himself in to feeling or pretending to feel what wasn't there. For once he wanted something real.'

Atemu sat back in his chair and read over the words he had typed so far. It was good, but he could do better. He saved his progress and then removed his glasses, tossing them carelessly on his desk to rub his tired eyes. Sitting too close to the computer again. Or he stared at it for too long. No, a combination of both. A soft knock caught his attention and he swiveled his chair around. " Come in." The door opened quietly and a beautiful woman peeked her head in. She had long black hair with red highlights and soulful brown eyes. Her tan slim body was covered in a white tank top and matching pajama bottoms, a grey cardigan on her shoulders. Atemu smiled warmly at her. Figures she would come in to check on him...and tell him to get to bed already. " Hi, Mom." She leaned against his bedroom door frame with a sigh and crossed her arms.

" Atemu, honey. It's so late. What are you doing still up?" She came in and sat on his bed, and peeked around his shoulder at the computer screen. He turned his chair in her way and smirked. No peeking. She smiled and chuckled quietly. " You and your work. You never let me see." She pouted.

" Not until it's done. I promise you can read it then." She nodded then stood up and pulled back the covers of his bed. She pat the matress twice and gave him a reprimanding look. After all it was a school night. Even if tomorrow was a friday and the beginning of the weekend. He still needed a decent night's sleep.

" Well every creative genius still needs a modicum of sleep. Bed. Now." Atemu nodded tiredly and turned the computer off for the night. He reached for the half-finished peanut butter jelly sandwhich and stood up.

" Okay, just let me take this downstairs." His mother shook her head and took the plate from him, then gently pushed him back down on to the mattress.

" No, that's okay. I'll take it."

" Thanks." She pulled the covers over his body then leaned down and kissed his forhead. Tucking him in and topping it off with a kiss made him feel like such a little kid. But the warm feeling spreading over him was a welcome one. She walked over to the door then placed her hand on the switch and turned the lights off. " Goodnight, Mom." She smiled lovingly at her son, her precious boy and blew him a kiss.

" Goodnight, sweetheart." Then his room was engulfed in welcoming darkness as she closed the door. Atemu closed his eyes and within minutes he was taken away to that strange place where dreams exist.

All done! Next chapter we'll have some puzzleshipping fluff. Yugi comes in to the story! Please R&R and have a nice day!