Chapter Five- Asked Out

Atem slowly exhaled as she saw that Kaiba Corp was open. She smoothed down her sapphire blue dress before entering. She had spent last night learning to shave and only nicked herself a few times in places that weren't noticeable. She found shaving to be time-consuming but the end result was worth it. It had felt strange when her new pajama pants brushed against her bare legs, but she told herself that it was a new sensation and that she would get used to it.

Atem crossed the lobby and rode the elevator, wondering how she would get past the secretary. When the doors opened, she saw an empty desk. Perfect. She went up to the doors and knocked. "Enter," came Kaiba's voice. She opened the door and came in to see Kaiba looking up as she closed the door. His head tilted with the air that he thought she looked familiar. Then his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped.

Atem giggled at his reaction. "Surprise."

"Atem!? How…? When…?"

"Bakura spiked my tea with a gender formula. It apparently took overnight to work because I went to sleep as a guy and woke up yesterday like this."

Kaiba regained his composure. "I take it there's no cure?"

"There may be but I don't want one. I like being female. Admit it, Kaiba. You like me this way, too."

"Yes. I do. I will need to draw up some new papers, though."

"I thought as much." Atem watched Kaiba get up and come over to her. She saw his eyes taking in her face and body before a small smile appeared.

"Oh, you are just lovely," he said. He then took a hand. "I'm not very busy the next two days starting Tuesday. Would you like to have dinner with me Tuesday night?"

"Kaiba. I'd love to."

"Then, I'll pick you up at six." He gave her hand a squeeze before returning to his desk. Atem headed back to the door and glanced back to see a big smile on the brunette's face before she left.

I did it! Atem cheered as she left Kaiba Corp. Kaiba asked me out! I think I know what to wear too. She smiled to herself as she headed to her next destination. She knew Bakura would not be surprised by her gender, but certainly by her looks. She had no doubt that Bakura would ask her out too. This directed her thoughts to yesterday.

Her date with Yugi was friendly and innocent, even the kiss on the lips. They had sat down and talked at one point in the park but she wasn't feeling any chemistry. Well, I did just become a girl that day. I need time to become accustomed to my body and gender. I'll give Yugi another chance for a date.

The door opened and Bakura blinked before a grin appeared. "Aren't you a cute girl?" he quipped as he let Atem in.

"It didn't take me long to figure out how I changed and it was certainly a surprise when I woke up yesterday."

Bakura's eyes widened. "Gods, even your voice is cute."

Atem smiled in amusement. "You probably already figured out that I like being female."

"I did and that's good as it is irreversible. So, you are clearly embracing the female life. I mean, you're wearing a dress."

Atem rolled her eyes. "Of course I am. When I go to school, I'll be wearing a skirt so I have to adjust to that, not fight it."

"Oh, I would fight it. Actually…I did once."

Atem blinked. "You did? When was that?"

"It was one of Ryou's old schools. His first day, one of the teachers thought he was a girl and was telling him to change uniforms. Ryou was trying to insist he was a boy and you know how quiet and shy he is so of course the teacher wasn't listening. I then took over and my voice and attitude convinced him I was a boy."

"I'm surprised you didn't send him to the Shadow Realm."

"I wasn't strong enough then. Ryou wasn't aware of my existence at that point, either."

"I know about that last part. Yugi didn't know I existed at first."

"Speaking of Yugi, how did he and your grandpa take it?"

"Well, I had spoken to Grandpa about my encounters with Kaiba and you, particularly the female statement, so he wasn't entirely surprised. Yugi, however, was just stunned. He couldn't stop staring."

"Have you shown Kaiba?"

"Before I came here. He didn't recognize me for a moment but then he did and he was shocked. I had also went to tell him that he'll have to re-do the papers."

"Did he…ask you out?"

"Yes. We're having dinner Tuesday night."

"I see. Well, how about dinner with me Friday night?"

"Sure. You've got a date, Bakura."

"Wonderful. Oh, wait here a moment." Bakura entered his room and came out with a long rectangular box. "I got this after our tea. No, I didn't steal it," he said, seeing the suspicious look in Atem's eyes. "I really did buy it."

Atem accepted the box and opened it to see a beautiful gold locket. She was almost speechless. "Bakura, it's beautiful."

"You are worth it." Bakura picked it up and put it around her neck when she turned around. She faced him again and Bakura smiled. "Perfect fit."

It is a perfect fit, she thought as she walked home, admiring the locket. Bakura might just be nicer than I had thought. He's attentive, easy to talk to, and he truly loves me as this locket will attest. I doubt Yugi will be surprised when I tell him I have two dates.

"So, Atem's a girl now?" Joey asked Yugi while they, along with Tristan and Tea, had lunch at Yugi's favorite restaurant.

Yugi nodded with a kind of dreamy smile. "Yeah and she's pretty."

"And she's okay with it?"

"Yeah. She has no intention of undoing it, if it can."

"It can't. Bakura told me."

The gang turned to see Atem there with the confident look they were used to seeing on her male face.

"Hi," Yugi said, amused by the looks on his friends' faces. He slid over and patted the spot. "Was Kaiba working?" he asked as Atem sat.

"He was. He was shocked when he recognized me. I explained what happened, pointed out that the papers needed to be changed, and then he asked me to dinner Tuesday night."

"That's great," Yugi said.

"Did he give you that?" Tea asked, pointing at the locket.

"No, it's from Bakura. I went to see him after Kaiba. Naturally, he wasn't surprised but said I was cute. I told him about my visit with Kaiba and he asked me out to dinner Friday night. He presented me with the locket after I accepted his invitation."

"You've got two dates?" Joey gasped.

Atem shrugged casually. "I like them both. It makes sense to date them.

Tea nodded. "Makes sense to me. These dates will likely help you find out who you like more."

"That's the general idea. Uh, Yugi? I'm willing to give you another chance at an actual date. I feel yesterday was unfair to both of us."

"Thanks. I felt it was unfair too." Yugi ignored his friends' confused expressions, save for Tea, as he put a hand on Atem's. He felt great that he had another chance to date his crush.