A/N: I still don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Otherwise, there would be some MASSIVE YugixYami/Atem going on up in those episodes… :D I guess I own the idea of this fanfic though...?
Oh FYI- italicized words mean it's a different language and Yugi/Atem are not meant to understand it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't! Learn their struggles!
Again sorry for the major major major lag! I just finished this chapter and I wanted to upload it ASAP.
I DON'T HAVE A BETA. So 95% of it you can figure out and make sense of it on your own. :D
I do skim through it once or twice, but that's about it. Sorry about all the mistakes.
REMEMBER! I do First POV! There will be FRAGMENTS! People's thoughts are never formed like a novel where everything is jumbled up in complete sentences. I like to make this more fun than typical First POVs. I'm still getting some practice in. :D
Hope you enjoy and review at the end. No flames, but constructive feedback is fine as always. Just don't tell me about corrections. As stated, I do not have a beta. Let me know though if you do have questions/comments about the plot, flow of the story, etc. I'll try to answer the best I can without spoilers.
/Atem/ and \\Yugi\\ mind link.
I'll do my best to keep updating.
Oh and again, please review! :D
Evening-ish…
Mmmmmm…
Smells so fresh…
So minty…
I feel so good here…
Unnnnn…don't move me around… I feel a little sore…
Mmmm… Such soothing hands and man my shoulders are feeling good…and now my back…
I move my legs to adjust my bottom… but I feel something weird… not regular movement…
A splash?
I quickly open my eyes and I look around. I'm panicking, my breathing rate is increasing and sharper… Oh God where am I?
"Shhh… it's okay young one. You are safe. Mana will return soon. She had gone to get you a fresh pair of clothes." Mana? Where's Mana!?
"AHHHHH!" I unleash this wrath of movement using my limbs and I'm splashing everywhere. I was able to quickly stand up from wherever I was and I was in immediate flight mode.
I'm running across this shallow pool and causing what I believe is panic and fear through of what I think was a woman.
"No wait! It's alright! I'm here to help you!" I look back and God damn it, I still can't understand people!
"Get away from me! Weirdo!" I turn forward again and I enter a room full of beds. "Oh crap. Is this like a whore house? Did I just dream that I was in Atem's arms?" I put my hands on my head and I shag up my hair a bit. "No no no! I knew this crap was real, but not… real real!" Whore houses of innocent young looking kids… but I'm an adult! I'm nineteen years old… ugh…
I notice a draft in my groin area and I looked down and my wang is just hanging out there.
"She saw my man hose…" I quickly place my hand over carrying my junk and ding! I could just use a bed sheet! I swipe it off a bed really quickly and fold it and wrap it around myself. I hear footsteps and I start to just run again. Seriously… it's a handy reflex!
I whip open the doors and I look to my left and my right. Screw it just pick a side.
I run left…
I'm breathing, but I feel weak already. I breathe deeper and I'm sweating pretty quickly. I think I'm still sick.
I look around again and I notice the interior design. Gold, smooth rock, hieroglyphics, and some deep pits in the walls to hold some pottery that I'm not too familiar with… and the paintings… I go up to the wall and place my hand…
"I'm really at the palace. He really did hold me…" I slightly blushed… Maybe that tanned lady back there was actually just helping me while I've been passed out… I guess I should go back.
"You there! Who are you?!"
I whip my head back and I turn to see the oh-so familiar kinds of faces. "Aw man… guys I'm cool." I raise my hands in a sort of surrender, but they charge at me…
I start to walk backwards and I whirl around and begin in a sprint.
"Doppelganger! You are to cease this instant! In the name of the Pharaoh, we will hold you under our authority and bring you to punishment! Guards! The Doppelganger is in the palace! He needs to be captured at once and bound!"
Blah blah blah! Run run run! No one is friendly looking and those guys don't seem to know that I'm the pharaoh's special friend…
Hmm… special friend…
Snap out of it Yugi! Does this seem to be the time to be thinking about our relationship?
"OOFF!" I bumped into something warm and sweating and I land on my ass. "Oww…Ssssss." I rub my butt and I get up quickly, but I'm too slow for this guy. I'm grabbed by the shoulders and I just glare at him. I'm defeated! I looked straight into the eyes of the heavy eyeliner buff motherfu-
"I have captured him! Quickly! Bring the bindings and we shall present him inside the throne room where shall meet, Great Pharaoh." Great. More foreign language talk… is this how some interracial couples feel if they don't know the other's language?
First three guards and another pops out of the corner with some rope. The guard that is holding me up has put me down and I just roll my eyes as they put my hands behind my back.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, Ow!" I felt a strong tug and rope burn on my wrists. "I guess American Miranda rights don't apply here huh? Jerks." I scoff at them. I blink just for a moment and I see a rope loop in my eye sight and it lands on my shoulders and it tightens around my neck!
I coughed at the reaction of my throat constricting, "What the Hell?!" The guards that were first chasing were now in front of my "custody officer" and he was violently shoving me forward.
"Great Pharaoh will present judgment on this imposter. Let us see to Son of Ra now. He will be most pleased that we have captured the doppelganger." And now we're walking.
I'm looking around and I'm getting the oddest looks from the people we pass. A woman even had her mouth agape and ran into a room. I know I'm not that ugly… I thought these guys would think I looked like Atem?
Oh wait… I think that's what's freaking them out…
We approached some giant set of golden doors. I was overwhelmed…
"Ra…" I'd recognize that golden god from anywhere. I guess I was too sick to notice it when I first came in here. I was looking around and then right away, things went black!
"Hey! What the Hell you guys! This is BS!" It was a bag over my head! They should've done this sooner! It's so hot in here…
I'm violently shoved into the room and we walked about forty paces. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I was pushed down.
"Guards. What have you brought to present to me on time of judgment?" Atem? I perk up my head and I look around and a tug on my neck and a shove on my head to point down stopped me from continuing. I probably shouldn't talk right now… not when my vocal chords are on the line.
"Great Pharaoh, Son of Ra, we have captured the doppelganger as you have requested!"
"Doppelganger!?" A sense of surprise? Anxiety?
"Yes Sire! We present to you, The Doppelganger!" The darkness has now been lifted as the straw, stuffy bag has been removed from my head. I breathed in the fresh air and I looked straight ahead and I locked onto the most gorgeous blood red ruby eyes I have ever seen and he was sitting right in front of me…
He looks really surprised. I study his face… his eyes are so wide and I can tell that he said my name with no sound coming out.
Well of course he is! I put my head back in the game.
I was too panicky and I was about to get up and do the same mistake that brought me here.
"At-"
As if it was a reflex, I see him immediately bring his index finger to his mouth and he gave me a firm stare.
I shut my mouth in an instant. I looked around and there were people dressed so elegantly, and some of them had their hands over their mouths and looked extremely surprised.
"He is evil!"
"He wants to take the place of Great Pharaoh!"
"Do away with him!"
"Why is he wearing only his loins?"
"Up you filthy peasant!" I was tugged on my neck rope and I coughed. That really choked me.
I coughed and stood up. "I can't understand any of you!" I said in frustration and I stomped my foot. This is so aggravating! I can't stand this! I looked to my beautiful Pharaoh once again and had to give him my most worried eyes.
"Do not present yourself to the Pharaoh like this! Receive your punishment!" It all happened too quickly. I guess for my rash outburst, I felt a forceful pull on my neck which brought me down to the floor and I choked and I gripped the rope on my neck. I can't breathe! I can't breathe!
"Enough! Cease your insolence Guard or I shall have that very same punishment bestowed upon you tenfold!" After the vocal aggression, I immediately felt relief. I coughed and took deep, sharp breaths and I rubbed my neck with both hands. I turn to those gorgeous eyes again, but then I see a figure off to one side…
"Yugi!"
"Mana?" I look toward to the right where the sound of my name came from and I see her poke her head out and ran to me from behind the throne. She brought me a bigger blanket. She glared at the guard that had his rope power over me and yanked his end of the rope away from his hand. She placed it in my palm and enclosed it with my fingers.
"Oh my God! Did you want to kill me!? Are you serious?!" I said wide eyed, as I took the blanket from Mana and smiled at her and I wrapped it around me to cover me from shoulders to my knees. She places her hands on my arms and guides me to stand next to my secret crush.
Wait Mana, why are you bowing next to me? I looked toward Atem.
"Thank you Mana". I heard a whisper from Atem. He turns to look at me and once again I am locking eyes with him. He doesn't look too happy…
Is he mad at me?
Oh my Ra! Yugi! You just almost forced me to drive you out of court if you said my name. I guess he's still really rash right now. He has been through so much. I turned to him and I had such a worried face. I better attend to my people. I was so scared Yugi, and your neck is now injured. My guards certainly need to go through… a re-training.
"We must not punish this boy! He is the one who has saved your Son of Ra! Treat him as though he were Great Pharaoh. He is the one who has saved the world and assisted me into returning to be your pharaoh once more! You all should owe him your allegiance. Bow before him like you would for your pharaoh!" I hailed in my most regal voice. People should be respecting him!
I see before everyone bowing including my surviving Millennium Court. The Court knew of the legend of the one in who would solve my puzzle, that would be the person who would help me stop Zorc and able to send me back here.
I turned to Yugi who had a worried look on his face and was staring at the floor. He may be feeling out of place and I have barely acknowledged him. This is the first time that we have seen each other and fully aware of the fact that he is seeing me in my pharaoh status and the fact he is here when he is not supposed to be.
You have quite the story to share with me Little One, and I dearly need to know what brought you here.
"Mana, take him to my room and get him some clothes and any medicinal herbs he needs." I see her nod to me and give a slight bow for show. Yugi looks up and stares at me and raises a worried eyebrow at me and doesn't break eye contact until he walks behind my throne and faces forward.
"This ends my judgment agenda and I will continue again after Ra has fallen seven times. In the mean time, Priest Seth and Priestess Isis shall resume the judgments until then. That is your pharaoh's wish!" I better tell the priestess she needs to be out of her study more during the next seven days.
"Yes Great Pharaoh! May you continually be blessed, Son of Ra!" My subjects and guards quickly bowed and dismissed themselves and I see them scurry away through the halls or through the giant doors that lead outside.
After all things were quiet, I see from the corner of my eye that my cousin is walking towards me. "Pharaoh, I must ask. Was that the one whom you described as Yugi?"
There is no fooling him. "Very observant, Seth. Yes, that was Yugi. I must say, it was very hard not to revert back to my adapted personality of when I was spending all my days with him back when we were living in the future."
"You personality, Pharaoh?" He had raised an eyebrow at me.
"Yes Seth. I was not a pharaoh to him at all. The little information I can say to you is that there are no pharaohs in the future. And before you ask, no I am not the last one and that is all the information of the future that you will be getting out of me." I smirked. "Anyway," I began to walk towards my chambers and Seth quickly walks next to me, "I was never a pharaoh to him. I was lost when he first unleashed me as I told you before. No memories of family, friends, nor my reign. I just knew I was trapped in the darkness of that golden prison that was in for five thousand years and when I first became a spirit to Yugi, I was taking the role of being his guardian. He had a very troubling life and I had rescued him from anything or anyone that harms him. I have given him reassuring words, words of comfort, words to motivate him, and we had a valuable partnership. I was the one who was free in a way. My title of Pharaoh was barely brought up, only to solve the clues to my past, but I was able to be the one to go directly to him. Now, "I stood still for a moment and pondered, "I now must be careful of what and how my kingdom will think of me in my reactions of Yugi being here." Seth has seen a little vulnerability from me, but he seems to be at an understanding. "I have to think about my kingdom since no harm should come to your pharaoh. I can't just do things myself like I use to anymore."
"I do know what you mean, Atem as you remember my time with Kisara." He looked somber for a moment and continued to walk ahead of me. I sped up and we were beside each other once more.
"Yes I do remember, and I am sorry for your loss. I know you don't know what kind of a loss she was to you, but she was someone to you and that's all that matters. We were the ones to go directly towards the one person who affected our lives, rushing in as if we were those knights in shining armor!" I was so passionate about this because when Yugi was calling me Yami, I was no pharaoh. I was his guardian. His sole protector, partner, and friend and he's even rescued multiple times risking his own life. To me, he became something more.
"Knights?" Seth looked at me puzzled. Oh, I guess in my passionate speech, I let more future information slip out of my mouth.
"Hm, I'll use the word trained soldiers wearing armor to protect kingdoms and royalty from any evil. Anyway, I was his guardian. No pharaoh to him. But now, I am pharaoh and it is good to be back with everyone, but now. He's here, and that puts me in a very conflictive role in this matter. Do you understand?" I was raising my hands up and down to represent one of them being Yugi's guardian and friend, and the other was to be my kingdom's ruler again.
"This is a difficult situation. I do see that if you are kind to the boy, people may be afraid that you may put this boy before the kingdom since you hold very special feelings." Seth grinned and brought his finger under his chin…
My feelings?
"Slow down there Seth. What are you saying…" I'm glaring at him. Did he just figure me out?
Seth was somehow chuckling in a dark way. "Oh come now Pharaoh. The way you spoke of him when you first woke from your coma that night and you spoke of your adventures, you had such a doting and admiring tone whenever you spoke of Yugi. Even a blind man would see how smitten you are of this boy!" Seth can really say what's on his mind when it comes to the long-run of things.
I blink and sigh. "Just don't tell anyone or say anything. Yugi has only just returned. Let's just, oh, 'wing it' for a change. In the meantime, I will not confirm or deny my feelings." I walked towards the end of my chambers and I see Mana standing outside of the door. She smiles, so I'm taking this as a good sign.
"Wing it, Atem?" Oh, another expression which diverted his attention away from talking of my feelings about Yugi. Maybe if I say an expression in an emergency to throw him off of a subject, it would definitely be to my advantage from time to time. "Sorry Seth, it means let's just take on things as they happen. I can at least teach you a few expressions from the future." I chuckle and he just shrugs and rolls his eyes.
"Very well, if I may at least have that. I still consider you very lucky though to see so much into the future. In the mean time, I will let you have your alone time with your ex-host. You must tell me more of what it is like to be two souls in one body." He walks away down the hall. I just sigh and I walk up to Mana.
"How is he?" I put on my worried face.
She only smiles and shakes her head. "He seems very nervous and still has a slight fever, but otherwise he's fine. He does have some rope burn on his neck and some on his wrists, but otherwise, he seems very eager to see you. While we were leaving the throne room, he kept looking back from time. I have brought him some herbal tea and some salve for you to put on his rope burns to help it smooth away. It's on the table on your right of your bed along with bandages and a knife to cut it. Take good care of him." She smiles and winks at me and walks away.
"Thank you, Mana." I sigh. She is trying too hard for me. I don't even know if he feels the same. I turn to face my door and swallow pretty hard because I'm so nervous. But why am I nervous? I thought I wasn't going to see him again, but this will be only the second time that I will really see him other than the supposed final duel…
There is still the fact that he may not understand me. I have to prepare myself for that.
I push open the door.
I heard conversations outside and now I don't hear anything anymore. Footsteps are leaving.
I'm sitting on his bed and now I'm clothed. Mana even fixed my hair. I'm wearing a long white tunic with a purple sash around my waste. I have white slip on shoes and even some gold armbands. Just one each. Keep it simple is good I guess. I'm so tired of running, I'm just glad I'm safe and We're going to see each other now. Like really see him. In front of me. IN FRONT OF ME!
I ran to the mirror that's in another room that also has a giant pool. Man, I should've been here. Atem coulda been scubbing me down pretty good, and putting creams on my little scratches and asking me. 'Yugi, you're here. I'll make you feel better.' And then I just nod and his face leans closer and closer and I just start to rub my arms pretending we're making out.
"Yugi!" Oh that deep handsome voice just snapped me out of my daydream! I looked toward the mirror again fixing my clothes and trying to hid some imperfections. After a few seconds, I walk fast back to the doorway of the poolroom and the bedroom and I take a deep breath. And I walk.
Oh God, I hope I understand him.
And there he is. Standing in his all pharaoh glory. In his pharaoh clothes, jewelry, and the puzzle. I almost reached for my imaginative puzzle, but of course, he has it.
He's really here. I'm really here.
"Hi Atem." I wave at him shyly.
"Yugi. I never thought I would see you again. How did you get here?" He walked closer to me and we're only at arm's length from each other.
"Wait." I look to my left and my right and behind him. No one is here. Good. "Atem? I don't understand you."
"Yugi. I don't understand you. What's going on?" I still don't understand him. I see him trying to show his worry with his hand gestures and that he has no clue what is going on either.
"No. This cannot be happening! I went through a few days of this and I cannot go through this again with you…" I looked at him. "I love you too much, and if I have to learn this language, the Hell yes I will." I fake cried and smiled at him. Just taking advantage of the language barrier. At least it's practice for when I really do want to say it to you.
I think he's just laughing with me now because we're both a little overwhelmed.
"I have no idea what you said, but you looked funny, Yugi." He's shaking his head, but only smiles a smile reserved for me. He walks over to his nightstand that's next to his bed and grabs a tiny jar. Next to it was a mug of herbal tea that I finished drinking that helped me feel better and let me have the energy I so amazingly have right now.
I see him sit on the bed and he pats a spot next to him gesturing me to come. I walk over to him with ease and I sit, turning to him. I eye him carefully as I see his stand hands and fingers with gold and black rings open the tiny jar to reveal a salve. He brings his wrist together and uses his chin to point at me. I took it as a sign to bring them forward to show him.
"Oh wow! I didn't even know I had gotten hurt from those ropes. There's even some redness and light scratches. Well, those ropes were rough I guess." Atem just shakes his head. "I still wish I knew what you were saying. You're voice is lovely though." He looks at me and we smile.
We've been doing that a lot in this room. Smiling. I wish I knew what he's saying!
He starts to put a light layer of the cool soothing cream on my wrists. Using a finger to signal me to turn my wrists over. He reaches over to his nightstand again to grab a roll of cloth and a knife and wraps my wrists individually.
He should've put it together and raise them over my head and tie me to one his bed posts and-
SNAP OUT OF IT YUGI! When did I get to be such a perv! It's like, I'm hungry for sex from him. This is what I get for reading a lot of Joey's magazines…
I wiggled my wrists and they feel so cool cause of the creamy salve and snug with the bandages. I nodded to him in thanks. He was about to put his hand on my neck.
I just sat there frozen, watching his regal movements. So elegant, graceful, everything was in slow motion. My eyes looked away from him and I was blushing. I felt a slight stinging again but quickly cooled. I at least knew I had more rope burn on my neck, but I guess it was in worse condition compared to my wrists. It was quite soothing actually. I took a deep breath and just felt his touch. It was Heaven on Earth. Feeling him rubbing my neck, I closed my eyes daydreaming of the day we could share a kiss.
I feel the bandage wrapping around my neck, but in my current mind state, I dropped my guard.
"Atem. I've missed you." I opened my eyes and I locked onto his again. I don't know each other's language. He stares back me with question and wonder, to probably to what I was saying, but I just didn't care anymore.
I wrapped my hands and arms around his neck slowly, asking for permission. He snuggled closer to me and he wrapped his around my waist slowly and I felt him bring me closer to him.
We just didn't need words for this moment.
No words were needed.
Only action.
But after this.
How am I going to understand him?
We let go from our silent warm embrace and our foreheads touched. I saw the puzzle dangling from his neck and I picked it up. I laughed how this all started, how I fought of the forces of evil, winning tournaments, meeting a cyber child, getting sucked into virtual worlds; all those quests were brought into my life because of this gold trinket. A gold trinket that brought me this out of this world… or out of this timeline amazing pharaoh into my life.
I wish we could have our connection again.
My goodness he smells devine…
I never thought in the four years that we have been together as spirit and host, would I be able to hold him like this.
Oh Yugi. Do you feel the same way about me? Your embrace is so warm, inviting, feeling as if you will never hold someone else this same way that this is just for me. There's only the two of us in this world.
We've stayed that way to what seemed like hours, but it was only seconds. We let go slowly and I rested my forehead on his. He looked into my eyes while I stared back at jeweled amethyst ones. He looked down and picked up the Millennium Puzzle that was hanging around my neck and giggled lightly. I sighed a laughter out of my breath and laughed lightly with him.
This puzzle is what made everything happen. This puzzle that my father sacrificed Akefia's entire village to make along with the other items. Sacrificing and entire village to make things that will help save the world.
Is it bad that I want to more of this puzzle.
I want to have that connection with him. I put my hand on a vacant spot of the puzzle.
I wish we could have our connection again.
And the puzzle glowed.
The light is becoming brighter that I need to close my eyes to shield them.
"What's happening!?" I yelled out.
"I don't know! The light is so bright!"
Wait a minute!
"Yugi?!"
"Atem?!"
The light dimmed and faded. The room has returned to its normal illumination.
"Can you understand me?" I asked
"I do. I DO!" He smiles and embraces me once more and I return the gesture. We pull apart and this time with more excitement are in his eyes.
"Atem, I don't believe this. This is amazing! Did the puzzle do this?" He was in awe and anxious at the same time.
"I believe so. My Ra, it has done this favor to us. Now we can talk to each other again like before."
"This so amazing! I thought we would be in so much trouble and it would take forever for me to learn your language, Atem. I'm happy that the puzzle let us have it the easy way this time." He giggles.
"Yes, this is true. I'm glad it helped us save so much time." I see him looking around and closing his eyes.
"I do know what you're saying. I know every single word of Egyptian and yet, oh I don't know, but I'm not complaining!"
"This is a real miracle. Thank Ra." I place my hands as a symbol of thanks to the god, but something is missing. I look down and the puzzle was gone!
"Where is it!? Where is it?!" I began to panic. It was around my neck. I swear. I was rubbing my neck searching for the rope it was tied around with and rubbing my chest looking for it has always rested. I stood up and I don't see it.
"Wait what's wrong?" Yugi had a look of panic seeing my behavior.
"The puzzle is gone! I'm not wearing it!" I was flipping my cotton bedsheets and removing them from my bed. No sign of them!
"No way it just disappeared like that! No way!" Yugi got up and began to go to my relaxation room, but I caught a glimpse of a shiny glare from the evening sun.
"Yugi wait a moment." I walked towards him and he turned around.
"What is it?" He faced me but I turned him around so that the back of his neck is facing me. "Atem, what in the world?"
"Just hang on a moment." It just can't be. I brought my hand to his neck and I moved some of his loose long longs of hair that have fallen.
"It cannot be.." This cannot be real. I was touching it and it is its smooth gold, and then it's his soft skin.
"What is it?!" Yugi turned around and looked at me in the eyes waiting for some answers.
"That was… a piece of the puzzle… its embedded on the back of your neck…"
"You're joking." He snapped his hands to rub the back of his neck. His eyebrows are scrunched up and he started shaking his head. "No… no. You cannot be serious. Atem, tell me this isn't real." Yugi then started to have a look over his body bending over checking his legs and arms. "There's more. I see more…" There were more, on his calves, upper arms, and wrists. He stretched out the collar of his tunic and searched. "There is a couple on my abdomen… That makes eleven pieces that I counted and I haven't checked my back yet…" I never knew his face could get any paler…
"Oh Yugi, this is all my fault." Was it because of my wish? I sat back down on the bed and buried my face in my hands.
"How could this be your fault? This was the puzzle's doing! I don't know why it would do this?" he looked upon me with worries, but I just spoke into my hands enough so he could hear me clearly.
"I made a wish that we could have our connection again. Like we used to. The puzzle went a too far." I sat up straight and slid my hands off my face in frustration and worry.
"Atem, I made that same wish. I made it too." He did?
"The stupid thing is, We've only been apart for what? Only days? And I missed you like crazy!" He seems passionate.
He turned red and fixed his composure. "I mean, after four years of being absolutely connected to someone and sharing a body, never being along, only three days without you, I was pretty lonely… I made that wish too." He said in his timid voice.
"You did?" My voice cracked as if I was coming of age again, "You did?" That sounds better, more masculine.
Yugi giggled, but then he suddenly paused. "I made that wish too…" He took my hand and brought me to my bed and pushed me down. "Whoa Yugi! What are you doing?" What is he doing? He started to check my legs and I heard him count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,…
He's checking my arms, and sat me back up. "You have gold pieces yourself… I've counted 12 so far on you. I haven't checked your chest or back yet…" He's right! Of course I'd have them too. We'd made the same wish. I outstretched my tunic to look down and I have the Eye of Horus on my chest and one more on my abdemon. That's thirteen without seeing my back.
\\Do we really have our connection back?\\ I look back to Yugi's face and I stared at him wide eyed. He is very focused on me right now wanting an answer, even though the answer is given once he saw my face.
I nodded back to him. /Yes Yugi. We really do./
"We better go see Priest Seth and Priestess Isis."