I realise this is probably too sad for the festive time of year, but I probably won't have time to post a chapter over the Christmas weekend and I didn't want to miss a week and end up going three weeks without posting anything. I haven't managed to write a Christmas story this year, despite my good intentions, either.

Warning: Discussion of death, and an extra marital affair.

As always, I do not own Yugioh.

Chapter 10.

Facing The Truth.

With so much on his mind Yugi did not think he would be able to get back to sleep, but surprisingly he realised that he must have at least dozed, because he was startled from fragmented dreams by a phone ringing.

It took him a few moments to realise that it was the phone on the hall wall, and by the time he managed to wriggle out of his sleeping bag and stagger downstairs, it rang off.

It was fairly bright outside for early November, so he checked the time. Dam! It was gone eight o'clock; he had overslept and would be late for work.

Assuming that it was Anzu calling him, he rang the Mazaki's number. Mrs Mazaki answered and handed the phone to her anxious daughter.

"Where have you been Yugi?! I've been worried sick! I was about to get my mum to drive me over."

"I'm fine," he replied casually. "I was zonked after yesterday and was asleep."

Anzu let out a sigh, that was a mixture of relief and exasperation. "How did it go last night?" she asked pointedly. "Did you manage to talk to him?" Her frustration with him did not go unnoticed, but he chose to ignore it.

"Yep! I did talk to him," he said, unintentionally sounding smug. "We had an interesting discussion. But.…" He hesitated. Anzu thought it was because he was worried her mother might hear.

"It's okay to tell me, my mum's gone upstairs," she told him.

Yugi sucked on his bottom lip. "It's not that..." He did not want to tell her about Grandpa, at least not until he had talked to him first. "I know this probably sounds creepy, but I dozed off and Atem covered me with blankets to stop me getting cold. When I woke up in the early hours he was keeping watch. We talked for a while; I think he's struggling after seeing Marik again."

Anzu's interest was piqued. "Did he tell you much about his past?"

"Not really," he said, being economical with the truth. "Just that he came to Japan after his mother died. He's… a work in progress." Leave it at that, for now.

"Oh, okay," she said, a bit disappointed that he had not found out more about their resident ghost. But she supposed it was still early days. "Oh! Before I forget. Bakura called. He's been trying to ring you on your mobile, but keeps getting your voicemail. He said he's got some news about Atem. I've given him the number for the house phone."

"Oh! Okay." He was intrigued as to what the news was. "Did he tell you anything?"

"Just that they've contacted the Egyptian police. Anyway. What are your plans for today? Don't forget the new bed is arriving today. Did you want me to come over?"

"I might go to work for a few hours," he said, knowing she would prefer him to stay and rest. "So it would be helpful if you're here." As he predicted, Anzu started fretting.

"Is that a good idea? You had a pretty tough day yesterday." She frowned. "Is Kaiba's being a jerk about you being off yesterday?" She knew that Yugi was too nice to say he was taking today off to recover.

"It's got nothing to do with Kaiba," Yugi said defensively. "I haven't even spoken to him! I've actually got a couple of urgent things I want to do. It'll only be for a few hours.

"Well, I know what you're like Yugi. Please don't overdo it and make yourself feel ill," Anzu said sternly.

"I won't! Love you," he said teasingly, trying to humour her.

Anzu tutted. "Flattery doesn't work on me," she said, rolling her eyes. "What time are you going to work?"

"I only just woke up, so I'm not ready yet. I'll wait until you to get here."

"Okay. I'll pop over now."

They said goodbye and ended the call.

Yugi went into the kitchen to put the heating back on and then turned the coffee machine on and popped his cup under. While it was making his coffee, he retrieved his phone from his jacket pocket, which the medic had hung over the back of a dining chair when he took it off yesterday. He grimaced when he saw the cut from the dagger in the back of the ruined jacket. It ran from the shoulder to just below the armpit. His blood, had soaked through the cloth and dried in to form a dark, crusty, stain. He realised how lucky he was that the cut he received wasn't worse.

The sound on his phone was on mute, which was why he had not heard it ringing. The battery was also getting low, so he grabbed a spare charger from the draw and put it on charge. He then returned Bakura's call. It went to voicemail.

Yugi left a message and then sat down to drink his coffee.

Gazing around the room, he listening for Atem, but there was no sign of him. He jumped when his phone started ringing. He went over to the counter and snatched it up. "Hey, Bakura."

"How are you feeling today Yugi?" asked Ryou politely.

"A bit sore, but I'm okay, thanks." He had yet to look in a mirror this morning, but he suspected he might have quite a shiner. "Anzu said you had some news for me?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes. Is Atem with you? I was a bit concerned when Anzu told me that you stayed in the house last night, to try and communicate with him."

"And I was successful," Yugi replied, sounding pleased with himself. "We have a lot in common. I think we can be good friends," he added.

Despite Yugi's confidence in his relationship with his new 'friend' Ryou was sceptical. "Just be careful Yugi. Remember, he's not a friend, he's a spirit trapped in a world in which he no longer belongs. Do not become complacent around him."

Yugi would beg to differ, but didn't argue. "What was it you wanted to tell me Kura?" he asked instead. Ryou sighed – Yugi clearly wasn't listening, so he got to the point of the call.

"I wanted to let you know that we've taken DNA samples from his body and should get the results in a few days. In the meantime, the police have contacted the authorities in Egypt. He was apparently reported missing in December of nineteen eighty, by a young woman called Mana Hussein. Nothing was ever followed up and the case was filed away. The police are contacting Mana, and also checking to see if he has any living relatives in Egypt. As soon as they know anything more I'll let you know."

Yugi thanked him and they ended the call.

Deep in thought, Yugi reached for his coffee and picked it up to take a sip. If they needed to match his DNA to family, once Yugi was sure they were related..…..

"Arghh!" He jumped, spilling his coffee over himself, when Atem suddenly appeared in the doorway. His arms were folded over his chest and he appeared to be leaning casually against the door frame, but on closer inspection Yugi could see where his shoulder hovered, rather than touched, the frame. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" he scolded, grabbing a tissue and wiping his chest and chin. Atem just smirked in amusement.

"You are too easily spooked, Aibou," he teased. Yugi scowled at him.

"Not funny, Other Me," he said. "Anyway. That was Bakura on the phone."

"I know, I was listening."

"Did you hear what he said?" asked Yugi. Atem nodded and looked down at the floor. The irritation that Yugi felt towards him a moment ago instantly evaporated; he looked so sad. "I know, it must be hard for you? Were you close to Mana?"

"Yes. She was my girlfriend, but I let her down. I promised I would only be in Japan for a month, but after my visa expired I stayed. I should have let her know, but I didn't want anyone to know I was remaining here illegally. She must have been very worried when she tried to contact me and I didn't respond."

Yugi smiled sympathetically. "Worried enough to report you missing," he said.

Their attention was distracted when the front door opened.

"Yoo-hoo! It's meeee!" Anzu called out, letting herself in. She let out a squeal when she saw Atem peering at her from the kitchen door.

"Nice to meed you properly, Anzu," he said, giving her a disarming smile.

Composing herself, Anzu smiled back at him nervously. "Likewise. Erm… can I go in there, please?" she said, wary about walking into the kitchen with him standing in the doorway.

"Of course," he said, drifting aside to let her pass. Anzu cast a wary eye over her shoulder at him as she entered the room, and made a point of getting as close to Yugi as she could.

"Hey!" Yugi placed an arm around her. "No need to be nervous. Atem's our friend," he said reassuringly. Anzu was still not quite convinced, but felt safer with Yugi here.

"How are you?" she said, tenderly touching Yugi's cheek. She frowned. "Oh, Yugi." At such close proximity, she could see how the bruising had blossomed during the night; his eyelid and brow were puffy and a deep shade of purple, extending outwards and underneath his eye. A thin dark scab clung to the underside of his eyebrow.

"It looks worse than it feels," he said. "At least I can see out of it." Thankfully the hospital had confirmed that there was no damage to his eye itself. "I spoke to Bakura," he said, changing the subject away from his eye.

"What did he say?" she asked. Yugi recounted their conversation, Anzu went over to the machine to make herself a coffee.

"I'll leave you to drink your coffee while I go and get dressed," Yugi told her, "You can chat to Atem, and get to know him a bit better."

Anzu was not keen on that idea "Wait! I'll come with you," she blurted, still uneasy about being left alone with the spirit.

Shrugging, Yugi waited for her to finish making her coffee and then went upstairs, followed closely by Anzu, with Atem not far behind.

Anzu shivered and turned to look over her shoulder. "Is there any chance you can be a bit warmer?" Atem was following too closely for her liking.

"Apologies. Unfortunately I can do nothing about my temperature," he replied snarkily, but drifting back a bit anyway. Anzu rolled her eyes.

"I guess I'll just have to get used to wearing warm clothes then," she said, trying to make a joke out of it.

By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Atem had vanished, and Anzu suddenly felt guilty for giving him a hard time.

"I hope it isn't my fault he's gone," she said. "I think he senses my anxiety around him."

"It's okay. It's not your fault. He'll reappear when he wants to," Yugi reassured her.

Anzu sat on the edge of the bath while Yugi brushed his teeth and carefully washed his face, avoiding his poorly eye.

::::::::::::

Yugi did not think Anzu would let him leave the house for work, but surprisingly she told him she was okay being left here with Atem. She shrugged when he asked if she was absolutely sure? "You're right, it will give me chance to get to know him better," she said.

Yugi looked around for him. "Atem, are you here?" They had not sensed him since Anzu had scolded him on the stairs for being too cold.

A small bouquet of plastic flowers floated into the room and stopped in front of Anzu. "A peace offering," said Atem, materialising behind the flowers with a wry smile upon his face. It was the first time Anzu had noticed how young and handsome he was. She blushed.

"T..thank you," she said, plucking them from the air. They were covered in dust and were a bit faded. Grimacing, she blew the dust off and promptly sneezed. Yugi laughed, while Atem tried not to look offended.

"Where did you get them from?" Yugi asked him.

"They were in the attic. There's some interesting stuff up there, you should take a look," Atem suggested.

"Thanks," said Anzu. "We will. As long as you promise not to attack us with a swarm of bees," she added dryly.

"If you don't send your loud, blonde friend to surprise me, I won't have just cause" he replied, smirking.

Anzu rolled her eyes. "Jonouchi's a nice guy if you give him a chance. Anyway. Thank you again for the peace offering. I will cherish them," she said, going over to the sink to wash the dirt and dust off the plastic flowers.

"Well," said Yugi, clearing his throat. "I think I'll head off to work and leave you two to get to know each other." Rubbing his hands together, he levelled his look at Atem. "Try not to do that thing you do with shadows. And no throwing stuff around, is that clear?"

"Crystal." The more he got to know them, the better control his control over his darkness was becoming anyway. He wondered if having them as his friends was helping him rediscover his humanity.

He watched, as Yugi kissed Anzu on the cheek and then leave. He hovered behind Anzu, as she stood on the doorstep and waved goodbye, and watched him drive away.

Sighing, Anzu went back inside, giving Atem a wide berth. She was still nervous around him, but was doing this for Yugi.

Atem hung back as she looked around the messy house. Fitters had been in and out doing work, and the place had not been cleaned since she went to stay with her parents. "Ugh! What happened in here?!" The sitting room looked like a mini tornado had torn through it.

"Sorry. That might have been my fault," Atem said sheepishly, floating behind her.

She gave him a puzzled look. "I'm not even gonna ask," she said, shaking her head. "Would you like to help me clear up? Only…" she held up her left arm "..I'm a bit encumbered."

Atem nodded. "I will do my best to help," he said. "About your arm… I'm very sorry. I did not mean to…" Anzu interrupted him.

"Why were you even in the bathroom with me?!" she said incredulously.

Out of sheer embarrassment, Atem blanched, and shrank back into his shadow form, disappearing into the wall.

"Great!" Anzu rolled her eyes. Now she had an embarrassed ghost on her hands and was going to have to do all the cleaning on her own.

This was going to be a fun afternoon.

::::::::::::

It was not easy trying to concentrate on work with so much on his mind, but somehow Yugi was getting through the day. Although, he would be the first to admit that he was not being very productive.

But at least he did not need to worry about leaving Anzu alone in the house with Atem – apparently, everything was going smoothly, according to Anzu.

However, he was nervous about how he was going to broach the subject of Atem with his grandfather.

He was about to ring Anzu when his secretary knocked. "Yugi, Sir, there's a Ryou Bakura in reception to see you. He says it's important."

Yugi stood up so fast he saw stars. "Tell reception to send him to meeting room three," he replied. "I'll meet him there." He shared an office with the three members of his software and development team, and did not want Bakura to come to the office.

::::::::::::

Sugoroku Muto was seventy eight years old now, but was still full of energy and refused to retire. Whenever retirement was mentioned, he would always say, "The day I retire is the day I die." No one really knew how to respond to that.

He was in the back of the store, sitting shuffling a pack of cards nostalgically. He missed having Yugi to sit and play cards with. When Yugi was living here the shop had been a focal meeting point for him and his friends to hang out and play games. Now it felt empty. But his grandson was a married man now, and had his own life to lead so he shouldn't interfere.

He startled when the bell above the shop door chimed – he could have sworn he locked the door!

Pushing the door to the shop open, Yugi smiled when the familiar sound of the old fashioned bell above the door jingled to signal someone had entered. His smile fell away when he remembered why he was here.

Sugoroku called out from the back of the store, "I'm afraid we're closed!"

"It's okay Grandpa! It's me!" Yugi shouted back, flipping the closed sign and locking the door, before making his way to the private area at the back of the store. "I flipped the closed sign and locked the door for you." He did not question why his grandfather had forgotten to do it.

Placing his cards down, Sugoroku Muto smiled and looked up "I wasn't expecting to see you todayYugi!" His smile turned to a concerned frown when he spotted Yugi's swollen eye. "What happened to your eye?"

Yugi grimaced. "It's a long story, you really don't want to know," he said mirthlessly, knowing that he would have to explain at some point.

"Oh! Okay! Sit down. I'll make some tea, and perhaps you'll indulge your old grandfather in game of cards, Sugoroku said, going to the small stove in the corner.

"Ha ha.. I promise to go easy on you Grandpa," Yugi teased, sitting down at the low table and, rather than fidget with his hands, picked up the pack of cards, fidgeting with those instead.

Sugoroku chuckled. "Now, don't be too cocky Yugi. I'm not that past it you know," he said, winking. Yugi smiled awkwardly and put the pack of cards down.

"I actually need to talk to you about something, Grandpa..."

"Oh! I hope you don't need marital advice!" Sugoroku teased. Thankfully, Yugi was well past being embarrassed by his grandfather's teasing.

"Married life is fine. I actually wanted to ask you about your time in Egypt."

At the mention of Egypt, Sugoroku's eyes lit up. He always loved recounting his many tales of tombs, treasures and adventures. "Of course!" he said gleefully. "What would you like to know?"

"Were you in Egypt in the late fifties?" Yugi was certain that he was.

Sugoroku scratched his chin. That was a strange question for Yugi to ask! "Gosh! That's just over forty five years ago!" Yugi could see him counting back the years in his head. "Hmm.. The first time I went was in fifty two…" They were interrupted by the kettle on the stove whistling to indicate it was boiling.

"What about fifty nine? That's the time I'm specifically interested in," Yugi said, watching his grandfather pour the boiling water into the teapot. His grandfather stirred the pot and then continued talking.

"I got married in the spring of fifty three –your father was born a year later, so I missed a few years." He paused, "I think… Yes. I definitely there in fifty eight and fifty nine."

Trying to keep his face impassive, Yugi nodded. The year fitted. If his grandfather was there in October fifty nine, that would be nine months before Atem was born. The next question was one he was really dreading having to ask. "Did you, erm… I'm not judging you, and I'm not angry if you did, but did you have an affair while you were there? Perhaps in October fifty nine?"

His grandfather folded his arms defensively and fixed him with a mortified glare. "What are you accusing me of, Yugi? I was always faithful to your grandmother," he said sternly. Yugi flinched.

"Sorry. I didn't mean…" He scratched his head. "It's just… Sit down Grandpa, I've got something to show you."

Bringing the tray over, Sugoroku placed it on the table and then sat down, his expression not giving away any potential guilt. If anything he looked confused.

Meanwhile, Yugi pulled an A4 sized manilla envelope out of his briefcase. The envelope and its contents was the reason Ryou had come into the office to see him this afternoon. He took out a photocopy of photograph of a young man. It was grainy and in black and white, but was clear to see that the young man in the picture could easily be him as a teenager.

"Is that one of your old school photos?" Sugoroku asked.

"No." Yugi shook his head. "This is Atem Sennen. It was taken in nineteen seventy six, when he was sixteen."

Sugoroku looked at his grandson with wide eyes. "Now I'm even more confused! He looks just like you?!"

"Sorry, Grandpa, I don't mean to confuse you, but I think he might be your son. Take a look at this, see if it jogs your memory." He took a birth certificate from the envelope. "This shows that Atem was born in Luxor, in June, nineteen sixty. His mother was a maid at the Winter Palace."

"Oh!" Putting on his reading glasses, Sugoroku took the birth certificate from Yugi.

"This is why I wondered if you were his father," said Yugi. "Especially since he looks so much like me," he explained.

Sugoroku's eyes scanned the birth certificate, in particular, the mother's name Farida Sennen.

"Where… Where you get this?" he asked, clearly shaken.

"From a friend," said Yugi, not knowing quite how to explain that it had been obtained as part of an historical murder investigation. He waited patiently for his grandfather to speak.

When he did, his voice was full of guilt and regret. "You deserve to hear the truth, from me: I do remember Farida Sennen. I know it was wrong, but we had a brief… affair, if that's what you wish to call it." He faltered slightly, as he remembered back to that time.

Yugi reached out and gave his grandfather's hand a comforting squeeze. "It's okay, Grandpa. I'm not judging you," he said gently.

"I know you wouldn't, Yugi. Thank you." Grateful for his grandsons good nature, he continued, "After your father was born, your grandmother and I went through a very difficult time. I was not a reliable husband or father. I loved to live my life on the edge. Your grandma thought I would change with fatherhood, but sadly I became even more of an adventurer. Looking back, I'm not proud of the man I was; I was wilful, arrogant, a risk taking gambler, and a womaniser. But I swear to you, Yugi, I had no idea I had fathered a son." Silence.

Although he had confirmation of what he suspected, Yugi still did not know how to respond. After a few agonising moments, he managed to speak.

"Are you okay Grandpa?" Sugoroku looked up at him and nodded.

"How did you find out about it?" he asked anxiously.

"By a sad twist of fate." Yugi swallowed down the lump in his throat. "My neighbour told me that Atem once rented a room in our new house. I had to try and find out who he was and why we looked so alike."

"Have you found him? What about Farida?" Sugoroku asked eagerly. Yugi's expression turned sad.

"I'm afraid Farida passed away many years ago. After she died, Atem came to Japan hoping to find his father. Unfortunately, he had very few leads. All he had was a nickname, Tux." He noticed his grandfather blush.

"I was a coward," Sugotoku interjected. "I gave Farida a made-up name. Atem must hate me," he said sadly.

"He doesn't hate you. All he ever wanted was for you to know he existed," said Yugi. Sugoroku did not pick up on the past-tense.

"Where is he now? I would like to meet him, if he still wants to meet me?" He could not help the slight pang of excitement at the prospect of having more grandchildren. His excitement faltered when he saw Yugi bite his lip and look away. "What's wrong Yugi?"

Yugi took a deep breath. "Atem died twenty five years ago," he said sadly. Sugoroku's jaw fell open. Atem would have barely been out of his teens!

"N..No?!" he muttered, shaking his head, unable to stop a tear forming for the son he never knew, and now never will. "It must be a mistake! H..how…" Choked, he trailed off.

"He was murdered, in the house I now own, by a man named Marik Ishtar. Ishtar came to the house yesterday, to try and stop me from finding out the truth, and we fought, which is how I got my black eye," said Yugi. "Lucky for me… I had help. From… Atem – his spirit is still in the house."

So, Grandpa has admitted to an affair, and it looks like he is definitely Atem's father. But how will Atem take the news?

Thank you for reading. I would love to know what you think, so please leave a review.