Chapter 2

The warmth of the sun was particularly hot, many students who'd been enjoying their lunchtimes on the roof top found it was just too much for them. Most of the students had retreated back inside the school except for a group of four who were sat in the direct sunlight. They had all taken their school jackets off in an attempt to keep cool. But they couldn't say it was working. Joey wiped his hand across his forehead.

"I feel like I'm baking here, why is it so hot?"

"Well, it is summertime," Tea replied, she was fanning her face with her hand, "Think about it Joey we'll be going to Egypt soon and I can imagine it being hotter out there then it is here."

There was a pause as Joey considered what she'd said before he replied;

"Well, I'm going to fry out there."

"Yeah, you'll come back looking like a tomato." Tristan smirked.

Joey stood up to retaliate but, being too hot, sank back down and merely scowled at Tristan.

"We're all going to be tomatoes." He replied, "Not just me, and even when I am a tomato I'll still be better looking than you."

"Not possible."

Joey groaned, lacking the will to continue arguing. Minutes stretched by with the group discussing their upcoming trip. To say that they were excited about it was an understatement, they were all thoroughly looking forward to it. They'd not been back to Egypt since they'd freed the former Pharaoh from the puzzle but that trip hadn't lasted as long as they'd liked. This time would be different, with the Pharoah knowing about his past they were all itching to discover more about it, a topic which they'd discovered he didn't talk about much. They weren't sure why he'd not opened up about his past but they'd put it down to Atem not being the type of person to talk about himself. As the conversation continued Yugi felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, pulling it out he read the message he'd just received.

"Just to check the plan is that your Grandpa and Atem are heading out in a few days right Yugi?" Tea asked.

But Yugi did not answer her question, he was still staring at his phone. The other three looked at one another. Despite there being no reason for them to be worried about anything given the events of a few months ago they couldn't help but worry. Especially when Yugi went quiet.

"Yugi?"

Yugi jumped and looked up at them, he grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry guys, it's Grandpa. I think there's a slight hiccup in the plans."

His friends all seemed to take a breath, they'd been preparing themselves for the worst.

"What do you mean?" Joey asked, "We're still going, aren't we?"

"Oh yeah, it's just Atem now might be coming with us rather than Grandpa. Gramps thinks he's coming down with something. I did think it was odd when I didn't see him this morning but thought nothing of it."

"Is Atem ok?" Tea asked.

Yugi shrugged, "All Gramps said is that he thinks he's coming down with something. I guess I'll find out when I get back."

"You don't think maybe he's worried about the trip?" Tristan asked, "If we're looking at ruins from his past it must be… I don't know how to describe it."

"I know what you mean Tristan, but I don't think it's that. He's not really that bothered by all that, I think he accepts that there's fascination about his past. He went to that Egyptian exhibit at the museum a while ago and said he found it rather amusing."

Their conversation was cut off suddenly as they heard the loud ringing of the bell, signalling that the lunch break was ending and classes were beginning. The four friends stood, gathering up their belongings, despite heading back into lessons none of them could say they were reluctant to be heading back inside the cooler air of the school. Pulling his jacket back on Yugi went to put his phone back in his pocket but the screen lit up once again. Opening the message, he found it to be not from his grandfather but the former Pharaoh. It simply read;

'Whatever he's told you is not true. I'm fine.'

Yugi smiled before returning his phone to his pocket. He knew it was more than likely that Grandpa was being truthful, but Atem wouldn't be Atem if he wasn't denying it. Hurrying after his friends, who'd already retreated inside, he decided the best thing to do was simply wait until he got home to find out for himself what was going on.

The afternoon lessons dragged. They may have only a week left before the school break but it seemed the teachers had decided that this was no time to slack off. In fact, several teachers told them that in just over a years' time they'd be out in the world for themselves so they needed to be prepared for anything. Whilst they were working hard on their set tasks, they could hear the shouts and laughter of the other classes of the younger students, clearly having a much more chilled lesson then they were. Yugi supposed one day he'd look back on this moment and be grateful, the more prepared for being an adult could only be a good thing. But just at this moment he wasn't grateful, nor did it seem was anyone else. When they were finally released from school all his classmates were muttering similar things, which all centred around how unfair the workload seemed just at that moment. Students swamped the corridors, despite it being the end of the school day there seemed to be no rush to leave the school for the sweltering heat outside. But they could not hide from the heat forever, sadly the only way for any of the students to get to their homes was to venture out into the heat. Yugi was among the first to brave the heat, followed by his friends. He had no wish to stay at school any longer than necessary, and he was rather curious as to the situation at the game shop. As they walked back through Domino they tried to stick to the shade as much as possible but everyone else foolish enough to be out in the heat seemed to have the same idea. What little shade there was had already been occupied but that didn't stop people packing into the shade like sardines. If anything this turned out to be counter productive as being so close to other people just made everyone feel hotter.

As the Game Shop came into view they all paused. Normally Yugi would have invited them in but given the messages he'd received earlier he decided it was better to find out exactly what was going on. His friends seemed to agree with this but made Yugi promise that he'd let them know what was going on. Waving to them he turned and hurried towards the game shop, he was rather keen to be out of this heat. Opening the door of the shop a pleasant wall of cool air hit him. Stepping in he quickly closed the door behind him before taking in the scene. Grandpa was behind the counter talking to a customer. Sitting on the stairs leading up into the main house was the former Pharaoh. He had one of Grandpa's many books open on his lap. Making his way over to the stairs Yugi waved at his grandfather who waved back without interrupting his conversation with the customer. Reaching the stairs, he dropped his bag at the bottom and took a seat on the bottom step. The Pharoah, who was seated a few steps higher then him, looked up and smiled at Yugi in greeting. Upon taking in his appearance Yugi knew that Grandpa hadn't been lying. Atem looked pale, his eyes seemed to hold a certain look which clearly told Yugi that all was not right.

"Before you say anything, I am alright there's no need to worry." Atem said, apparently he'd been anticipating the question, "Solomon is over worrying, I just slept poorly."

"If you say so but you know you can't lie to me, I know you too well."

"That may be so, but I can assure you –"

But Yugi didn't find out the end of that sentence as the former Pharaoh coughed, cutting off anything else he was about to say. It certainly didn't sound like an innocent cough, Yugi noted how Atem put a hand to his chest, his fingers pressing into the skin under his collarbone, as the cough subsided. For a moment they looked at each other before Atem sighed.

"I'm alright Yugi, that just…"

"That just hurt… a little?"

A nod was the response. Yugi smiled sympathetically at him. At the counter the customer, who'd been talking to Grandpa, handed money over before gathering his newly acquired items and left. With no other customers in the shop Grandpa emerged from behind the counter and moved to the door where he flicked the 'Closed' sign on it. Moving to the two look-a-likes he smiled at them just as Atem coughed again. Yugi glanced at the former Pharoah before looking at his grandfather.

"You're definitely coming down with something Atem." Grandpa said.

Atem shook his head, "No, I've told you I am fine."

"Maybe at the moment but that cough doesn't sound good."

The former Pharaoh shut the book, which was still on his lap, and got to his feet. Yugi didn't miss the slight unsteadiness when he stood.

"It's a bad night's sleep, nothing more." He insisted before heading up the stairs.

Yugi, standing also, picked up his school bag but paused watching the once King climb the stairs. Waiting until he'd disappeared upstairs Yugi turned to his grandfather.

"It could just be a bad night's sleep?" He said, although he wasn't too sure he believed that.

"Maybe," Solomon replied, "But you've seen him, he's been quite pale and quieter all day."

"Atem's hardly the most talkative at the best of times."

"I know that Yugi but he's been like this all day and also barely eaten. Does that strike you as something someone would do from just a poor night's sleep?"

Yugi looked back to where Atem had disappeared, Grandpa had a point there. But they were sure to find out soon enough either way. Moving upstairs they found the former Pharaoh settled in the armchair, he was once again looking at the book on his lap. Yugi exchanged a look with his grandfather before dumping his school bag and taking a seat on the sofa. Grandpa moved past the pair of them and into the kitchen, not before casting a concerned eye on the former Pharaoh. Pulling out his phone Yugi read the messages that had come through on the group chat, whilst glancing up at his friend every so often. Atem was still engrossed in the book he was reading or at least he appeared to be.

'I can't figure out what shoes I should bring.' Tea had sent.

'Anything substantial.' Yugi wrote back, 'From what Gramps has said you'd definitely need substantial shoes.'

'You're such a girl Tea' Joey wrote.

'This may have escaped your notice, but I am a girl Joey.'

'Could have fooled me.'

'I need more female friends…..'

Yugi chuckled at his friend's bickering. He looked up from his phone as Atem once again coughed, he didn't miss the look of discomfort that past across the latter's features, but it was gone as quickly as it came. When the cough subsided he turned his attention back to his book, turning to the next page. He watched his friend for a couple of moments. There was no denying that something was wrong, the paleness of his skin and the missing spark in his eye were the most obvious signs. But Yugi also noticed how he seemed to be curling in on himself in the chair, which was definitely not how Atem normally carried himself. Frowning he turned his attention back to his phone.

'Hey Yugi, is Atem ok?' Joey asked. 'Has our famous Pharaoh gone down with the plague?'

Before Yugi could make any sort of response a new message appeared.

'I can assure you Joey the Pharaoh is in fine health.'

But it wasn't Yugi who sent that. Looking up once again he saw Atem had his phone in his hands. The two exchanged a look before Yugi looked back at the screen. There was a slight pause before a response came.

'I'm sure you are my friend, but you know us we worry.'

'And I appreciate the concern, but all is well.'

The irony to that statement came not a moment after Atem had sent it. He coughed once again but it seemed to be much worse this time and for a while it seemed as though it wouldn't subside. Yugi made to stand when his grandfather appeared from the kitchen and held out a glass of water for the once King, who accepted it. It was almost possible to feel the tension in the air as they waited but Atem did manage to stop coughing. He took a small sip of the water before setting the glass down on a nearby table and smiled reassuringly at them. However, neither Grandpa nor Yugi bought that reassurance. The pair exchanged a glance before Grandpa returned to the kitchen and Yugi returned to his phone. Playing for time, Yugi returned to their group chat discussing with the others more details about the upcoming trip. Atem made no other comment in the group, he'd seemingly returned his attention to his book.

Yugi's escape came when their friends disappeared off to deal with respective issues which meant that he could innocently move into the kitchen on the pretext of seeing if Grandpa needed any help. Although despite this he had a suspicion that the former Pharaoh most likely knew what he was up to but he made no remark. In the kitchen he found his grandfather stirring some sort of liquid in a plastic jug whilst reading a piece of paper on the kitchen counter. Moving across the room, he tried to make as much distance between himself and the door into the other room.

"I think you're right Gramps." Yugi said, in a low voice, "He's definitely not right."

"Let's just hope its nothing too bad." Grandpa replied, glancing in the direction of the doorway.

"What shall we do about the trip? You two are meant to be going in a few days."

"We'll just wait and see. It might not be something that will prevent him coming, but if it is then he'll come out when you and your friends come next week."

There was a pause in the conversation as they heard the former Pharaoh cough once again. The pair exchanged a look before Yugi moved back into the other room in an attempt to prevent Atem becoming suspicious. But as he retook his seat in the other room he knew that Atem did indeed have his suspicions, he once again assured him he was alright. Yugi still wasn't convinced but he didn't brooch the subject with him, he knew how much the former Pharaoh hated people worrying about him. In attempt to appear causal Yugi picked up one of the many books on Egypt which were still strewn across the coffee table and began reading. Neither of them spoke for a while until Grandpa called them through for dinner. Whilst Yugi wolfed down his food, the former Pharaoh did not. He tried to pass this off as him being lost in thought about what he'd be reading but the other two could see straight through that but said nothing. When the meal was over he'd barely touch a thing on his plate. Grandpa refused to let him help with the clearing away, insisting that he rest and when Yugi emerged from the kitchen a little while later he found that Atem had retreated upstairs. He sighed as he looked at the stairs for a moment, as if he'd watched the Pharaoh walk up them. There was very little he could do but just wait and see what happened next. But he sincerely hoped that nothing came of this.