Originally, when this chapter happened, it was Hanaski's first appearance. The first thing he was described as was a shy, timid boy who was in the same classes as Yugi. They apparently rode the bus together, but only in that particular chapter does Yugi realize this. This will be different. Review please!
Joey and Tristan were waiting at the bus stop for the bus to drop them off to school. They were also waiting for someone else. It had been a week since Atem and Hanaski became official friends. Joey still had some jealousy inside him, but was able to control it a little better. Atem came up with plans to hang out with both his best friends. Joey knew he wasn't Atem's only best friend anymore and was able to live with that.
Atem ran down the sidewalk along with Hanaski. They weren't holding hands or running like two little kindergarteners. Atem was acting his usual self around Hanaski for the first time ever.
"Hey guys," Atem greeted.
"Surprised you guys aren't holding hands and running like banshees. I thought you said you were different around Hanaski," Tristan mentioned.
"We do?" Atem asked. 'Yugi, you're so lucky you're a ghost.' "Never noticed."
Hanaski smiled and said, "I'm glad you invited all of us to ride the bus to school together. I know I haven't done this since you and I became friends, but knowing we can all hangout together makes me feel good."
"Of coarse," Atem agreed. "After all, there's always room for more than one friend right."
Hanaski nodded. Atem and Hanaski were considered close friends now. Atem and Yugi were in better terms too. Yugi still annoyed Atem, especially at night, but he was through with complaining. Atem couldn't argue with the fact that he did care about Yugi, even if it was a little bit. Actually, Atem cared about Yugi ALOT. He never liked admitting it, but Yugi was more dear to him than even his friends.
Joey smiled while staring at the street where their bus would pick them up. Atem gave Hanaski a friendly smile that gave the kid a warm welcome. Not only were Hanaski and Yugi best friends, but Hanaski was very close with Atem as well. Hanaski had grown a huge circle of friends now and he was no longer alone like only two weeks ago.
"Hanaski!" A voice called. Hanaski turned to his right and saw Tea running down the sidewalk. It dawned on him that him and Tea used to ride the bus together until Yugi became his best and closest friend.
"Tea!" Hanaski smiled.
"Oh great, if it isn't Miss Attitude," Atem glared with his arms across his chest.
"Who's that?" Yugi asked in his transcended figure.
'Tea Gardner. She's Hanaski's childhood friend. She was his only friend until... you know,' Atem replied to Yugi.
"She's beautiful! Is she Hanaski's girlfriend or is she available?" Yugi asked.
Atem's head started to boil in his head. 'You have got to be freakin kidding me! Yugi, if you appear in front of this woman, I am tearing your head off and sending you to hell!'
"Well, is she single or not?"
'NO AND DON'T YOU DARE BE HANGING AROUND WITH HER LOVERBOY!'
"Why? I know you don't like her. In fact, you seem to hate her."
'Because if she dates you, she dates ME!'
"Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Oh well, at least she's pretty to look at," Yugi grinned while gazing lovingly at Tea who seemed very angry.
"What are you guys doing here anyways?" Tea asked rudely.
"We decided to take the bus together from now on," Hanaski replied. "I know you don't like Atem very much, but I really want to hang out with him, Tristan, and Joey. They're not so bad."
"They're the ones that almost threw your comic books out the window!"
"I was only trying to get him to go outside," Atem glared. "You just have a thing for being overactive."
"Listen, I don't know what type of trick you're trying to pull here with Hanaski, but if you do anything, ANYTHING to hurt him, I'll make your life a living hell!" Tea threatened.
"Too late, I'm already living it."
"Stop fighting, please," Hanaski begged.
"He's right. Besides, if Tea is Hanaski's friend, she's my friend too," Yugi glared with his arms crossed.
"Fine," Atem finally said before the bus pulled up. The five kids climbed into the bus. It seemed crowded, too crowded. The friends had to stand up since all the seats were filled except for two empty ones in the back. Nobody bothered sitting there.
"Hey Atem," Yugi called. "Can I talk to Hanaski? He's been acting strange lately and I'd like to know what's bothering him."
'Seems fine to me,' Atem said unconcernedly.
"Please?"
'Fine, but hit on Tea or do anything perverted and I'll stick your head on my wall.'
Atem let Yugi take over with his eye on the look-alike. Yugi tapped Hanaski on the shoulder. He turned around and noticed, by the expression, that this was Yugi. He looked concerned.
"Hanaski, what's wrong? You hadn't called me yesterday and you seemed frantic this morning," Yugi asked concernedly.
"I'm fine," Hanaski assured with a soft smile. Tea turned her head and saw Atem in his usual act when around Hanaski. It made her blood boil that Atem would make an act like this just to butter up her friend.
"Are you sure? We're best friends, we're supposed to tell each other everything. If something's on your mind, you're supposed to tell me right?"
"Yes. I promise you, it's nothing."
Hanaski made a reassuring smile as Yugi smiled back. He looked up and noticed Tea's death glare. He smiled big and wide and gave a small wave. Tea wanted to take Atem and shove him against the wall just to wipe that fake smile off his face.
"Ok, times up!" Atem called out from behind Yugi.
'I didn't say anything!'
"I said no flirting!"
'I wasn't flirting. I was just being nice.'
"How about I shove your ass in hell? How 'bout that?"
Yugi sighed and pouted before letting Atem take over. What freaked Tea out was that Atem's expression changed faster than someone who was bipolar. She continued with her death glare. Atem smirked and stuck his middle finger in Tea's face. Tea's head boiled like hot lava. If the girl wasn't in a public bus, she'd slap Atem across the face for that insulting action. Though, Tea didn't have to do that.
Atem smirked before feeling a painful slap made by Yugi. He glared angrily.
"That was so uncalled for!" Yugi yelled.
'She's an ass, Yugi. She asked the hell for it. In fact, she was glaring at you if I'm not mistaken,' Atem defended.
"And it's no wonder. You're a bigger ass! You know, you're such a jerk sometimes and I find it annoying."
'Me ANNOYING? You're always on my ass and you call me annoying?'
"YES! You're bossy, pushing me off, an acting like an asshole! Now you're acting like one toward Tea. At least apologize."
'Or what?'
"Or I'll do it!"
'Like hell!' Atem yelled inside his head before yanking the puzzle from around his neck and shoved it in Hanaski's hand. 'You can kiss my ass.'
Yugi glared with his arms crossed. Hanaski didn't know why Atem gave him his puzzle, but figured they were having a feud or something. It was best not to get involved. Hanaski put the puzzle around his neck to keep from losing Yugi until Atem wanted it back. It felt weird having the gold object. Hanaski started wondering how Atem could talk to Yugi with this thing. As far as Hanaski could tell, he couldn't see or hear Yugi. It must have something to do with Atem solving the puzzle. That was what brought them together.
The bus stopped and more people walked into the bus. This pushed people back into the back of the bus. In the process of this happening, Atem slipped and fell right into the very back where a Souzouji was sitting. He was known for his loud and off-tuned voice that gave people migraines. Atem got up on his feet and noticed Souzouji was next to him. His eyes furrowed.
"Atem," Souzouji said with a casual smile and folded arms.
"Great, another headache. I already got over one from two months ago," Atem insulted.
"You're not talking about my last concert you went to are you?"
"No, it was the tour of Abraham Lincoln," Atem said sarcastically. "What do ya think it is, moron?"
"How 'bout you take that back?"
"Take it up on my ass, bitch."
Souzouji snatched Atem by the back of his collar and pushed him into the seat beside him. Atem glared deeply as Souzouji shoved ten tickets in the boy's face. Atem didn't seem fazed by the intimidating threat that Souzouji would give him.
"I need you to sell these tickets. If you don't, I'll give you hell for that mouth of yours," Souzouji glared before shoving the tickets in Atem's pocket and throwing the boy onto the floor.
Atem got up on his feet just when the bus came to a stop at the school. The five teenagers walked off the bus before it left and they walked toward the school. Hanaski grabbed Atem's wrist and showed the irritated boy the puzzle. Atem snatched the puzzle and hung it about his neck. Yugi had seen what happened at the bus. He didn't want to involve Hanaski in what Atem was going to do, so Yugi didn't bother changing.
Hanaski quietly walked with Atem into the school building. Atem was angry by Tea, by Yugi, and by Souzouji. He didn't even bother letting Yugi take over. Because of this, most of in-between periods were just Atem, Triston, and Joey walking to class. Hanaski was off to himself strangely. Yugi was the only one to pick this up.
"I'm really worried about Hanaski," Yugi admitted. Atem ignored him. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said at the bus, but I'd like to at least know what's up with Hanaski!"
'Yugi, I've got a lot on my mind right now. If those tickets aren't sold...'
"FORGET ABOUT THE DAMN TICKETS! HANASKI'S IN TROUBLE AND IF YOU DON'T LET ME TAKE OVER I'LL MAKE YOU!"
'Hanaski's fine, Yugi. He's probably busy.'
Yugi pouted and stared at the ground. Atem felt Yugi's anxiety to check up on Hanaski. This made Atem stop in the middle of the hallway. Yugi really cared about Hanaski and what if there really was something bugging the boy? Atem knew that if Hanaski were Joey, he'd want to check on his friend as well. Yugi was just wanting to look out for Hanaski.
'Fine, you can go ask him,' Atem finally gave.
Atem searched in the hallways for Hanaski. He was seen across from Tea. She had her cheery smile that was probably just as annoying as Yugi's smile. Hanaski gave his usual smile before walking away. Even Tea seemed worried about Hanaski's well-being. Yugi was right, something was bothering Hanaski. Atem was on his way toward the troubled boy when Tea snatched Atem by the back of his shirt and dragged him into the broom closet.
"I want you to tell me what you're up to!" Tea glared with her fists on her hips.
"I'm not up to anything! What are you exactly getting?" Atem demanded, arms crossed.
"Don't look at me like I'm stupid! Others may not see it, but I know you've been buttering up Hanaski for the past two weeks. Acting all nice and innocent and running down the halls with him. I know for a fact that you're NEVER like that with Triston and Joey!"
"So what if I act differently toward Hanaski! Is it against the law to be childish?" Atem defended. Even though it was embarrassing for Yugi to act like a moron with Hanaski, that didn't mean he should be ridiculed for it.
"NO! But I know you're buttering up Hanaski to be your friend just to hurt him. You've been teasing him and treating him like shit since middle school. Don't play dumb with me!" Tea shouted pointing her finger at Atem. He smirked and let out a chuckle. "What?"
"You're jealous," Atem replied. "I think it's amusing. Never even knew you had a jealousy bone in ya." He shrugged his shoulders casually. "Learn something new everyday."
"Don't give me that bull! I am not jealous!"
"Then why are you so suspicious of me? You've always believed in friendships and now you're against me and Hanaski's friendship. I can see the green on your face and this is only gonna get worse if you don't do something about it. I can just enjoy seeing you squirm."
"What do you mean worse?"
"Hanaski and I are growing closer in our friendship. The more chummy we get the more jealousy will build up in ya. I should know," Atem smirked before walking passed Tea and touching the doorknob. "Joey tries to hang out with us and you're welcome to it, but if keep getting angry at me for being chummy with Hanaski, you'll find yourself losing him. I'd suggest you try to break up our friendship with a reason why I'd be buttering Hanaski up. I DARE YOU."
Atem left out the door. He decided to leave Tea the option of maybe solving her jealousy issue the way Joey did. Yugi felt pity for Tea. He never meant to hurt her by taking her away from Hanaski. Atem left Yugi a thought that this was Tea's problem and shouldn't be his. The boys decided to focus on Hanaski's problem. The timid boy was more quiet than usual.
Hanaski was putting books in his locker, and then Atem changed to Yugi. Hanaski dug in his pocket and looked at the five tickets, the same tickets stashed in Atem's pocket. Yugi rose his eyebrows and walked in front of his friend. Hanaski gasped before stashing the tickets back in his pocket or was about to. Yugi took the tickets and shoved them in his pocket.
"I'm guessing Souzouji was the reason you've been acting down in the dumps huh?" Yugi asked.
"How did you..." Hanaski asked.
"He did it to Atem too while you held my puzzle. I'll sell them so that both of us don't have to have a bad day," Yugi winked before going on his way out the door. Hanaski grabbed Yugi's wrist to stop the boy.
"No, I can't let you do that, Yugi. You're my best friend. I'll sell the tickets!" Hanaski pleaded.
"We'll be fine. Atem has been to his concert before. If he goes too far, I can always send Souzouji a timeout. Hanaski, I insist to let me handle this," Yugi insisted before embracing Hanaski in a warm hug. "I'll be fine."
"Let's suffer together. I'd rather suffer with a good friend than spending two hours alone," Hanaski said, taking his five tickets back. "In fact, we'll not sell the tickets. We'd be selfish if we let everyone else suffer."
Yugi nodded at that statement, then said, "I also think you should talk to Tea. I think she's jealous, because we're friends and I don't want you two to breakup your friendship over me."
"I know," Hanaski assured. "Tea will be fine. She just doesn't know you. If she knew the Yugi inside Atem, Tea will actually like you alot."
"Really?" Yugi grinned. "She's beautiful."
"You like her don't ya?"
"Alot. She's very sweet. I just wish brother would let me talk to her."
"Maybe soon Atem will. You once told me that he was a softy on the inside and you're right. Tea's the same way. She maybe stern and rough, but she's a softy herself."
Yugi smiled and nodded. The boys walked out of school and made their way to the concert that would be sung by Souzouji himself. The boys knew they were going to be facing deadly waters, but were willing to face it together. They held hands while walking into the building where the concert was held. Souzouji was standing there smirking boldly and proud. His eyebrows were raised when he spotted not only the two boys together, but Atem's change in attitude. It was different from the funky attitude Atem gave to Souzouji.
Souzouji shook it off and kept his smirk.
"It's disappointing you never sold the tickets boys and here I was hoping for a grand audience," Souzouji smirked.
"You can't just force us to sell your stupid tickets. We know how horrible your singing is and are not willing to give away tickets that will cause other people to suffer," Yugi declared bravely.
"Very well," Souzouji replied before placing the earphones on each of the boys' heads. "Then both of you will listen to me."
Souzouji sang as loud as he possibly could with the volume of the headphones to maximum. The boys cringed and held onto each other tightly. Atem was watching from behind. He hated watching Yugi suffer like this. Atem tried to take over and not have Yugi suffer anymore, but he was resistant. He wanted to suffer with Hanaski, so he didn't have to feel alone. It still gave Atem pain.
After the song was over, Yugi was in tears at this point and so was Hanaski. Souzouji smirked while still holding the microphone in his hand. The boys took off their headphones and tears were still leaking out of the boys.
"It is sad really. You boys made a great audience. Unfortunately, that can't go with for your girlfriend, Hanaski," Souzouji stated.
Hanaski gasped and swallowed his throat. Yugi asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I never gave the tickets to Hanaski," Souzouji smirked. "Those were given to his bitch." He walked behind the curtain and threw Tea onto the middle of the floor. She looked beaten and hurt.
"TEA!" Hanaski cried. He ran to his friend's side with tears streaming from his face.
"You never told me that those tickets were from Tea," Yugi said.
"Tea promised me not to reveal it to anyone. She was given the tickets three days ago and I took them yesterday."
Yugi felt tears building up in his eyes. He stared at Souzouji with anger and hatred muttering, "you bastard."
"She should've kept her end of the bargin," Souzouji shrugged before Yugi dug into his backpack and brought out two Sound Pierrots.
"What the hell? Grandpa's gonna kill me if he finds out you... no I stole his stuff!" Atem yelled.
'Grandpa said I could have them if I was careful!' Yugi assured his brother.
"I swear those things are staring at me."
"What are you doing?" Souzouji asked curiously.
"I'm wanting to play a game," Yugi smirked. "A game of silence. When I signal for the game to start, both of us are to remain silent. If one of us makes a sound, our Sound Pierrot will dance."
"What happens if you lose?"
"Then I give my life," Yugi declared. Tea was awake at this point. She heard enough to know Atem was to play some sort of game, a game betting on his own life? Hanaski was by Tea's side protecting her. He knew what Yugi was going to do. Atem trusted Yugi and let him play his games. In fact, this game seemed interesting to him. At least Atem didn't have to hear another off-tune noise. "But if you lose, you get a timeout."
"Timeout?" Tea questioned in a mutter.
"Sh," Hanaski warned Tea. "Trust me, he knows what he's doing."
"Sounds good enough for me," Souzouji smirked. The Sound Pierrots were on each ends of the table. One next to Yugi and the other one next to Souzouji.
"Now," Yugi started. The two boys kept silent with their arms crossed. He had the earphones around his neck from hearing Souzouji's racket of music. The cord end was at the very edge of a glass cup filled with water.
Tea saw this and sweat droplets poured from the side of her forehead. 'What is Atem thinking by playing a game like this? He's even betting his own life! Why is he doing this?' Tea wondered in her mind. She was starting to feel guilty for thinking that Atem was buttering up Hanaski. If Atem was willing to bet his own life, even for her, maybe he wasn't as bad as Tea thought.
Souzouji was counting on the end of the cord to fall into the cup of water. So anxious about it, sweat was pouring and his heart was beating fast. The grip on his microphone clutched tighter, and then his Sound Pierrot danced crazy. Souzouji gasped in shock. He then noticed the sound from the speaker was his heartbeat.
"Looks like I win," Yugi smirked. "In the midst of your trouble, you didn't lay down your mike. Your bad habit has brought you disaster! TIMEOUT!"
Yugi's third eye glowed brightly and Souzouji started hearing his own heartbeat that was louder than his own singing voice. He was screaming bloody murder in agony. Tea gasped before fainting into Hanaski's arms. Yugi rushed over to Tea's side and put his hand on the girl's chest. His third eye appeared again and a third eye appeared on Tea's forehead before disappearing.
"Tea will never remember any of this," Yugi said. "I don't want her first to know yet until she knows the real me. Even you knew brother's soft side before knowing me. Tea has to learn that sometimes a heart of stone can be soft sometimes."
"Yeah, but I'm not sure if Atem will give her a chance," Hanaski said.
'Atem?' Yugi questioned his brother before he sighed.
"Fine, I'll do it," Atem agreed before changing into his own body.
Tea opened her eyes not too long after that. She saw Atem and Hanaski staring at her with anxious eyes. Atem gave Hanaski a nod before he took Souzouji out of the room to make it quieter.
"What happened?" Tea asked.
"Kicked Souzouji's ass. He won't be bothersome anymore. Hanaski told me what happened. I'm sorry you had to go through with this. If it makes you any better, Hanaski and I had to listen to five minutes of his loud screaming," Atem explained before helping Tea up. "I also wanted to apologize for my rude action at the bus. I don't like people looking at me like I'm some sort of criminal. I know I've teased Hanaski in the past and maybe I was harsh, but non of my actions were considered bullying. Bullies torture their victims for money or for their own amusement. My actions were out of encouragement. I wanted Hanaski to play with my friends and am lucky that we finally came to the point of friendship. I would never intend on hurting Hanaski with my own life. This, I promise you."
Tea sighed and gave a nod. She replied, "I should apologize too. I was jealous, but I was also afraid. People in the past have tried to take advantage of Hanaski since elementary school. That's why I was so protective of him."
"I understand."
"But why are you so different around Hanaski if it's not out of taking advantage of him?" Tea asked with her eyebrows still furrowed. Atem smiled and let out a sigh.
"That..." Atem started out while staring into his puzzle. "... is one puzzle you're gonna have to answer yourself."
"What?"
"It's between Hanaski and I. You know well as I do that friends keep secrets to themselves. You can ask Hanaski. There's a side to me that only he can bring out. Others will be able to bring it out if they know how."
With that, Hanaski returned and Yugi instantly took over and went by his friend's side.
"Wanna go to the arcade?" Yugi asked.
"Sure thing!" Hanaski grinned. The boys held each other's hands and were on their way out the door. Yugi stopped and turned his head.
"Hey Tea!" Yugi called. Tea gasped when she saw, for the first time, the eyes of Atem that she never saw before. A side to him that Tea had never been aware of and it was now talking to her. This Atem winked at Tea flirtatiously. "See ya!"
Yugi and Hanaski ran out the door leaving a blushing Tea. She wasn't sure whether she was getting more irritated at Atem or liking him, this other side of him anyways.
Meanwhile, Yugi and Hanaski were running to the arcade. Atem's spirit was behind Yugi with a glaring and irritated look.
"You so owe me for that!" Atem glared.
'At least Tea is starting to like me now,' Yugi gleamed.
"Perhaps, but she's still an ass."
'I'd like to talk with her again.'
"Not in a million years!"