New Life Under The Sea
Chapter 3: He's Awake

Atem was brushing his fingers throug Yugi's hair softly when he felt him sirring awake. His eyelids futter open and Atem is met with the most beautiful set of eyes he's ever met.

Wide amytherst eyes look around the room in confusion, then settle on Atem. He squeeks in surprise, not expecting to find a guy sitting next to him. " Where am I why am I not dead? and who are you?" Yugi asks.

Atem smiled at him and Yugi felt his heart skip a beat and his face heat up. "Hello little one, you are in the city of Luxor. You are alive becasue me and my friend got you to the healer on time. I was afraid you weren't going to make it."

"Well thank you for saving me. How far away from Domino am I? Ive never heard of Luxor before."

"Well as for how far I realy don't know as we are pretty far under the ocean."

"Wait the ocean?" Yugi excalimed

Yes, me and my friend Mana were plaing a game when I felt something hit my back. I realised it was you when I turned around.

Ok I am realy confused how are we talking like we are if we are under the sea? Yugi asked him.

"Oh RA I'm an idot, father would be very upset with me for not properly introduce myself. I am Prince Atem of Luxor my Father is King Aankmonkonon and my mother Queen Amara are the leaders of the merpeople. Atem said.

Yugi's eyes went wide. Merpeople actuly exist?"

Atem looked confused. "Yes why wouldent we?"

Yugi's eyes went wide thining that he just offened the person who saved "I'm sorry your higness it's just that on the surface wehre I'm from they say merfolk are just fairytails you know made up."

I see and there's nothing to be sorry about little one you did nothing wrong, and please none of this your higness. You my call me Atem" he said kindly.

"Ok." Yugi smiled.

"What's your name little one?"

"Oh! I'm sorry how rude of me. My name is Yugi." he smiled.

Atem felt his heart speed up when Yugi smiled.

Yugi, that means game and japneese rihgt?" Atem asked him.

Yea that's right. I love games. Yugi said exciteedly.

Since you aren't allowed to leave till Isis deems you healthy, would you like to play a game with me ? Atem asks him.

Yugi's smile brighened. I'd love to!

"Do you know how to play senet?"

Yugi smiled widly. Yes I love that game.

While we are playing we can ask eachother questions if thars alright with you Atem said to Yugi as he set up thier game.

Yea thats fine with me." Yugi said smiling.

Atem smiled back. "You can go first you are my guest."

"Ok um, did u mean with the questions or the game?" Yugi asked him.

"Oh hehe, uhh both I guess." Atem siad sheepishly.

Yugi thougt for a moment. "How old are you?"

"I'm 17 soon to be 18. Once I turn 21 I will take the throne from n]my father. I hope to be a good leader like he is someday." Atem said.

"I'm sure you will be. You saved me. A perfect stranger after all. I think you will be a great leader. Yugi said with a small smile.

Atem smiled brightly, "Thank you little one. So what about you ? How old are you? You look young but I don't want to offend you by assuming.

Thank you, most people just assume im some little kid. I am currently 16 going on 17 next month.

Atem smiled happily at the fact that Yugi is only a year younger then he is.

Thry sat there playing the game asking each other qyestions some serious some not.

"What do you like to do for fun?" Yugi asked Atem.

I like to play games with my friends, like sennnet and chess well all games in genearl I guess. But if I have to pick I would have to say Duel Monsters is my favorite."

Yugi almost fell off the bed in shock. You play duel monsters why didnt you say so I love duel monsters! The smaller male exlcamimed excidly.

Atem chuckeled warmly. "Really now little one? What would you say to a duel? I noticed you have your deck with you. So i thought you would liek to play."

"I'd love to." Yugi smiled brightly

So how did you wind up in the ocean in the frist palce?

Yugi smile dissapeared and he sighed.

Atem noticed this. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I don't want to make you uncomfortabel" The tanned teen said as he gently took Yugi's hand and rubbed his thumb over the back of it. "What ever it is you can tell me. You are safe here. Nobody is going to hurt you I promise."

Yugi took a deep breath and began to speak. "Well I was thrown in the water by two guys who beat me up on a constant basis."

"What why would anyone do such a thing?" Atem asked him.

Yugi shruged they say I was eveves dropping on his private business earlier today, when I saw him buy some type of brown paper package. I dont know what was in that package. But they always beat me they never tired to kill me before. It's nothing new I should be use to it." He said sadly

"I saw how many bruieses you have. Isis also told me that you have had a few fractures that werent healed right so she had to re break them and heal them properly. How did you get so many untreated injuries little one. Who hurt you?"

Yugi looked away and would not answer. Atem was paient though he took Yugi's smaller hand into his own and rubbed the back of it gently.

"You know my father came by while Isis was fixing you up. He said you could stay here if you wanted to and become a merman. I told him I would mention it to you but I didn't think you would want to stay here you probaly have a family and friends that are looking for you"

Yugi's eyes went wide, "you- you mean I-I don't have to go back there ever again?" Yugi looked so happy.

Atem looked confused. Y-yea nobody here will force you to go back if you don't want to."

Yugi suddnely sprung up from the bed and flung his arms around the taller merman's neck hugging him tightyly as he started sobbing.

Atem was shocked but he quickly recovered. He settled the small teen in his lap and just held him, rocking him back and forth as he rubbed his back gently. Atem knew something bad must have happend to him up on the surface for him to react this way. He didnt want to spook the little one in his lap so he just contiuned to hold him.

Yugi head rested on Atem's shoulder. "I haven't been hugged in years. D-Do you mind if we stay like this for a little while? I haven't felt this safe in a long time."

Atem wrapped his arms around Yugi's petit waist holding him tight. He kissed the top of the smaller teen's head. "I don't mind. Take as long as you need. You are safe here no one will hurt you ."

"Thank you. I just want to be held for a little while." After a few minuts Yugi took a deep breath. "I lost my family to a car accident when I was 10. I had no other family left. So they placed me in foster care. At first I was placed with realy good friends of my parents they were going to adopt me. But the system said they had to wait at least two years before they could. But that never came. "

"My foster mother Lydia got sick and she died. My foster father Dave tried to keep me but social services wouldn't let him. Then I got placed with a new family right before I turned 12. They are horrible pople. Them and the two guys who threw me into the ocean are the reason why I have so many bruises and fractures that haven't healed right."

"They beat me pretty much whenever they feel like. I tried to complain once but when the social worker showed up at the house, they told them that I was lying and that I was jellous of thier new baby. That wasn't true. They have other kids. They never beat them though. That night was the worse beating I've ever recived up untill today. They are all younger then me and were the only ones nice to me in that house. I have no friends at school. I had some at my old school before. I was palced with those horrible people. But once I was placed with them we moved to domino and I never saw them again. I wasn't even allowed to call or write to them." Yugi said tears still falling down his face.

"I am so sorry that happened to you. I can't begin to immagin the pain and suffering you went though. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like, but we would have to turn you into a merman." Atem explained to the little human on his lap.

He wiped away the little one's tears with his thumbs and he placed a kiss on his forehead causing Yugi's face to light up in a bright red blush that had Atem chuckling.

He noticed that Yugi apeared to be distraced by Atem's tail.

"You can touch it if you want." Atem said softly.

"Your scales are beautiful. They are smooth and silky I thought they would be slimy or someting. Yugi said running his delicate hand up Atem's tail. I like how the gold flecks in your tail shines in the sunlight. "

Atem smiled and was about to thank him before Yugi's finger slid into the dip in his tail where his member was hidng and he moand loudly to his embarsment.

"Ohhhh."

Yugi looked confued as he felt soemtihng hard "Atem what-what is that?"

"Umm you umm touched my umm member." Atem said a small blush apearing on his face.

Yugi's eyes went wide and he withdrew his hand. "I'm so sorry I didn't know."

Atem placed his hand on top of Yugi's to keep him from taking off. "Please don't leave, it was an accident."

"Ra you must think I'm such a freak. I hope you aren't grossed out by me now. You are the fisrt perosn to be so nice to me in so long. I just hope your girlfriend wont be too mad at me for touching you."

Atem looked very confuesed. I don't have a girlfriend. Why would you think that I did?"

"But your friend Mana. Isn't she your girlfriend?"

Atem smiled, "no she is just a very good friend."

"But you're a prince. When you become king won't you have to have a queen who can bare your childern?"

"No, My Mother and Father know I have no intrest in women."

Yugi's eyes went wide, "You're gay?"

"Yes...I undersatand if you no longer want to be friends I will still turn you if that is what you wish." Atem said sadly.

"What? No! that's not it at all. I always thoght a prince had to have an heir so they can have children to take over the throne. I'm gay too. I'm sorry if you thought I was judguing you."

"Well I do, but father says that we can find a diffrent way to have an heir since I have no intrest to bed some woman I could never love. It's ok you were just shocked right?"

Yugi smiled brightly. "Yea, I'm sorry about that. Hey Tem?"

"Yes little one?"

"Did you mean what you said about me becoming a merman?"

"Yes, alotho you would have to become my personal servant. It's just for apearances you would only have to follow me around and lay my clothes out for me. Nobody but me and my parents are allowed to tell you what to do. Are you ok with this Yugi?"

"Yea, you said nobody would be able to tell me what to do apart from you and your parents right?"

Atem smiled, "yes little one that's right. You are safe here I promise and if anyone tried to hurt you, they would have to answer to me. He said cuping Yugi's soft cheek with his hand.

Yugi leaned into the touch. I can't rember the last time someone other than my foster siblings, was nice to me just becasue. I haven't been toutched like this in so long. I almost forgot waht it feels like." Yugi said quietly.

Atem pulled Yugi into his lap gipped his chin gently. "Yugi listen to me you never ever have to go back there, and I will never ever lay a hand on you like that you have my word and my word is my bond."

"Thank you Atem that realy means alot to me." Yugi said with tears in his eyes.

Atem smiled, "rest little one you are still healing from your injuries."

"But I thought you said Isis healed me?"

"She did but it also lost alot of blood and energy too."

"That makes sense. Hey Tem?" Yugi asked squeriming on the bed trying to work out how he wanted to ask his next question.

"Yes little one?"

"Would you think I'm wiered if I asked you to lay here with me? I don't want to be alone right now."

Atem smiled sweetly, "no I wouldn't. Scootch over little one."

Yugi moved over on the bed to make room for Atem. He smiled when he felt Atem wrap his strong arms and tail around him.

"I want you to feel as safe as possible. So I wrapped both my arms and tail around you. Its a sighn of protection. Tomorrow I will talk to father about turning you into a merman."

"Mmm thank you Tem." Yugi whispers sleepily as he snuggles closser, laying his head on Atem's chest.

Goodnight little one I will be here when you wake up in teh morning." Atem whispered kissing Yugi's foread gently.