Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Darkness Before Dawn	By : SangoHuntress1977 Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 3356 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: YuGiOh and the characters thereof are the sole domain of Kazuki Takahashi and all rightsholders. I'm only borrowing them for entertainment purposes and am deriving no profit.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Wednesday, June 8, 2005…

“We’re off,” announced Yugi as he and Jou stepped into their shoes.

“I’ll email you at lunch,” Atem promised as he handed Yugi his bento.

“OK,” chirped Yugi.

“Four extra helpings for you,” said Atem as he handed Jou his bento.

“T’anks, pal!” grinned Jou.

With that, Yugi and Jou were off, shutting the door behind them. They jumped into Jou’s red convertible and headed for the college in high spirits. After two months straight of eating Atem’s wonderful food, both their hair had noticeably more body to it and their eyes were brighter, though neither young man had noticed these changes.

Soon, they arrived at the university and pulled into the student parking lot.

“See you at lunch!” said Yugi.

“Yup. Peace out till den,” returned Jou.

As always, Yugi’s gaze flitted briefly to the seat next to him, which was now occupied by someone else. Hopefully, one day, Akhnadin would be dealt with and Atem would be able to rejoin him in class.

Fingering his cartouche under his shirt, Yugi forced his thoughts into the positive. Atem was waiting for him at home and at lunch, he and Jou would both have a yummy reminder of Atem’s love for them in their bento. After last class, he and Jou would spend a few hours locked in combat with Bakura, reducing each other’s life points to null. In the evening, Atem would be waiting for them at home, with a hot dinner on the table and that warm fire smoldering in his eyes as he welcomed Yugi home.
Lunch…

In the shade of the mighty oak, Yugi and Jou pulled their bento out of their backpacks, mouths watering in anticipation of Atem’s divine food.

“Oooo! Puppy in mah bento!” grinned Jou, holding the box up for Yugi to see.

“Let’s see what mine is,” said Yugi, opening his box up. “Panda bear!”

Yugi held up his bento, with a riceball with black beans for the eye patches, ears, and limbs.

“Ha ha! Dat’s awesome!” laughed Jou.

“Thanks for the food!” Yugi and Jou said together before tucking in.
After classes
Library

“Great games, Bakura. I can’t wait for the convention. We already finished our costumes,” declared Yugi as he slipped his deck into its pocket.

“Yes. It will be quite thrilling. Top duelists from all over Japan will be there, as well as Pegasus J. Crawford,” gushed Bakura.

“And lotsa free grub!” grinned Jou, eyes lighting up.

“He’s rather like a dog when it comes to food, isn’t he?” Bakura remarked aside to Yugi.

“Heh heh! Kinda,” chuckled Yugi.

“See ya next week!” Jou and Yugi called as they set out for the convertible.

“Take care!” Bakura’s voice called from behind them.
Yugi and Jou emerged into the air on which blew a pleasantly warm breeze and made their way through the sparsely populated parking lot.

As they made their way along, Yugi noticed that his heart was beating a bit faster than normal and the hairs on the back of his neck were sticking up, a primal dread, which left him feeling like a gazelle dreading the lions stalking just behind the bushes, ready to pounce. Yugi cast his gaze about them, but there was no one about except other students, coming and going from their cars. Everything was as it should be.

“You OK, man?” Jou asked.

“Huh? Yeah. I think so. Jou, you ever get the feeling you’re being watched?” Yugi asked.

“All da time. I see da way da girls lookit me in da halls, but I jus’ ignore ‘em, cuz Mai’d kick mah ass if I dint,” grinned Jou.

“Ha ha ha! Yeah, totally!” laughed Yugi in an attempt to dissipate the tension in the atmosphere.

Soon they were in Jou’s car and pulling out of the parking lot.

As they drove down the street, Yugi chanced a glance in the sideview mirror. Behind them was a lime green sedan, almost on their rear bumpers! A quick look at the face of the driver filled Yugi with mortal dread as he recognized the full white beard, bronze skin and brown eyepatch of Akhnadin Ishtar!

“Oh, shit!” he yelped.

“Wha’?” asked Jou.

“He’s following us!” yelped Yugi.

“Who is?” asked Jou

“Akhnadin!” cried Yugi, voice rising in volume as panic coursed through his veins.

“Who?” asked Jou.

“Really, Jou?” muttered Yugi as his palm made communication with his face. “Atem’s uncle!”

At this, Jou checked his rearview mirror and surely enough, saw Akhnadin’s distinctive features.

“Shit on me!” yelped the blond.

“We can’t go home! We’ll lead him right to Atem!” cried Yugi.

“Ya t’ink I dunno dat?!” barked Jou. “Hang on! I’ll give ’m da slip!”

Without putting on his blinker, Jou suddenly darted the car to the left, skidding around the corner.

Before Yugi could recover from that, Jou darted the car to the right, causing oncoming drivers to slam on their brakes and lay on their horns. Ignoring them, Jou continued to dodge and weave through traffic.

The light up ahead had been amber for ten seconds and turned red just as they reached it. With a warning honk, Jou gunned it and zoomed on through, much to the ire of the cross traffic. Several angry horn blasts rose in their wake as they continued on.

Yugi chanced a glance in his sideview mirror and saw that the green sedan had been forced to stop by the cross traffic.

“We lost him!” he declared happily.

“Do I rule, or do I rule?!” crowed Jou.

“You rule all!” cheered Yugi. ‘Must be from all the video games we’ve played.’
Only after much turning and doubling back did Yugi and Jou dare head for home, and only with Yugi keeping a sharp eye on his sideview mirror for any trace of a lime green sedan.

“When we get back, park behind the house. It would suck for us to lose Akhnadin only to have him find us cuz we left the car out front,” he piped up.

“Good idea. Yer a bit smahtah ’n ya look, Yuge,” grinned Jou.

“Thanks… I think,” said Yugi as Jou turned them into the drive and parked the car behind the house.

Hearts still pounding like jackhammers, Yugi and Jou exited the car and ran for the house, Yugi stopping only to fumble with the lock to the back door. As soon as they were in, the smell of cooking beef shawarma hit their nostrils, causing their mouths to water.

Standing at the stove, Atem looked curiously up at them.

“Welcome home. Is there a reason you entered through the backdoor?” he asked curiously.

Yugi and Jou looked desperately at each other. In all the excitement of the car chase, they hadn’t thought of what, if anything, to say to Atem.

“I left my front door key in my room,” Yugi tried.

“It’s dangling from your wallet chain,” pointed out Atem.

Yugi looked down.

“Ah! So it is! Shoulda looked closer. That beef shawarma smells awesome!” he said with a big, lame smile.

“It’s almost ready. Go wash up and it’ll be on the table when you return,” replied Atem, noting that Yugi had dodged his question, but choosing to let the matter slide, for now.
Yugi and Jou beat a hasty retreat upstairs to gargle with warm salty water and wash their hands and faces. In the bathroom, with the door shut, they fell into talking in hushed voices.

“What do we do? We can’t tell Atem about Akhnadin! Who knows what that’ll do to him?” Yugi asked, pupils wide with desperation.

“Not much we kin do right now, but keep a shahp eye out fer ’m ‘n keep our phones on all da time. Eithah one a us sees ’m, we text da othah ‘n git togethah so’s we kin deal wit ’m,” replied Jou wisely. “As fer Temu, he should be OK if you ‘n me switch off on goin’ to da school ‘n doin’ our classes online.”

“Yeah,” agreed Yugi. ‘Atem’ll be better off not knowing about this.’

“Yugi! Jou! Dinner’s on the table!” Atem’s voice called from downstairs.

“Coming, Até!” Yugi called.

Yugi went to open the door, but was stayed by Jou’s hand on his shoulder. He looked back into a pair of warm brown eyes.

“We’ll git through this, Yuge. We’ll protect Atem. I swear!” the blond declared solemnly.

“Right!” said Yugi with a quick nod before opening the door.
Yugi and Jou returned to the kitchen, all thoughts of Akhnadin temporarily pushed aside by the sight of a glorious Middle Eastern dinner spread out on the table for them. They promptly sat down and waited with bated breath for Atem to bring the last two dishes over and take his place.

“Thanks for the food!”

Then the three of them sailed in. Oh, glorious wonders that are beef shawarma and hummus! The wonderful meal cheered Yugi up considerably. All was going well until…

“I noticed you parked the car in back. Any particular reason why?” Atem inquired as they ate.

Yugi and Jou exchanged a glance. Did this guy miss anything?

“Cah thieves!” said Jou.

“Vandals!” said Yugi at the same time.

Crimson eyes narrowed as Atem frowned at both his friends.

“Car thieves and vandals!” Yugi quickly amended with his bright, cheesy grin.

“Yeah. Figured outta sight, outta mind,” Jou added with a sly grin.

“Mmmm…” Atem rumbled, brow furrowed as he continued to glare at Yugi and Jou, who smiled too-innocently back at him.
Thursday, June 9, 2005

After dressing for the day, Jou slipped into Yugi’s room to discuss strategy in hushed voices with the as yet PJ clad Yugi.

“I’ll go to school t'day while you stay wit’ Temu,” suggested Jou.

“Cool. Not having to get dressed is always a plus. I’ll just say I’m not feeling good if he asks,” replied Yugi.

“I dunno how long we’re gonna be able to keep dis up, Yuge. Dat Temu’s a shrewd guy,” pointed out the dubious Jou.

“Hopefully, Akhnadin’ll give up after a few days,” replied Yugi.

“Yugi, Jou! Breakfast!” came Atem’s voice from downstairs.

“We’s comin’!” called Jou.

Yugi gulped his apprehension as he and Jou headed downstairs.
“Good mor…” Atem’s words died in his mouth when he saw Yugi, still clad in his blue PJs with the yellow star pattern. “I wasn’t aware going to school in your pajamas was fashionable.”

“It’s not *cough*. I’m sick today,” Yugi replied. “*hack*”

“Ah, my poor habibi,” Atem murmured, much to Jou’s amusement, as he felt Yugis’ forehead with the back of his hand. “You don’t feel feverish.”

“It just started a couple hours ago. Maybe the fever comes later,” suggested Yugi.

“Perhaps. In that case, eat your breakfast, then go back to bed and I’ll bring you some mint tea for your throat,” Atem offered.

“OK,” replied Yugi with a fake sniffle.

The three fell into eating with no further discussion, Yugi sending Jou a worried glance and Jou returning an amused one.
12 o’clock

Feeling the desire for a cold, crunchy apple, Atem opened the fridge door, only to notice, to his consternation, there were none. Apparently, Yugi and Jou had developed quite the taste for fresh fruit! Well, that was no big deal since there was a grocery store within walking distance of the house that Mai and Atem had been to several times over the past few months.

‘I think it’s high time I set foot outdoors on my own. I can’t remain a recluse forever,’ Atem thought determinedly.

“I’m going to the market for some apples,” he announced up the stairwell, so that Yugi, who was doing his online courses in his room, would hear.

Atem turned to head for the door, when the sound of a door slamming closed upstairs and socked feet thumping down the stairs made him pause and turn around. Not a second later, before him stood Yugi, panting to catch his breath as he struggled to pull his jeans up, lilac eyes wide with alarm.

“No!” Yugi managed to get out between gasps.

An elegant eyebrow arched.

“May I ask why not?” Atem inquired. “You and Jou obviously like them.”

“Er, not no! I meant don’t go alone! Lemme go with you!” Yugi quickly amended as he pulled on a t-shirt.

A brow furrowed just a bit.

“Are you not ill, hence why you’re taking classes online today?” his voice rumbled.

“It’s such a beautiful day out! Just looking at that bright sun and huge blue sky makes me feel 100% better. As for my classes, I’m totally on fleek. I can take a break!” Yugi said lamely.

Atem glared mildly at Yugi for a second, but then sighed and turned for the door.

“Do as you wish, but keep up with me,” the Egyptian said.

“Yup. Exercise is good!” Yugi agreed, just a bit too brightly.

“Indeed,” growled Atem as he stepped into his boots.
As Yugi and Atem made their way to the market, Yugi’s eyes darted all over the place, looking warily for any sign of Akhnadin’s black eyepatch, white beard or lime green sedan.

‘Please don’t let him be here! Please, please, please!’

“Yugi?” Atem’s voice cut in on Yugi’s paranoia.

“What?!” Yugi yelped, almost jumping out of his skin.

“Why are you looking about like a paranoiac? Are you expecting to see someone?” Atem asked, voice laced with mild irritation.

“No! I’m just… being aware of my surroundings,” Yugi replied quickly.

“Yugi…”

“Oh, look! There’s the market!” said Yugi, running on ahead of Atem. “C’mon! Before they run outta apples!”

‘Ra, give me patience!’
All throughout their sojourn at the store, Yugi’s paranoid behavior continued, peeking around the corner of every aisle before allowing Atem to walk through it. Atem made no further comments on Yugi’s behavior, but certainly made note of it.
On the walk home, Yugi became even more agitated, entire body quaking as his eyes darted about. Every glimpse of an elderly man with white hair would make his heart slam in his chest and he would stare openly at them until he had assured himself that they were not, in fact, Akhnadin.

Then, Yugi saw one very harmless old man on a park bench, with a full white beard and mustache and an eyepatch over his right eye, reading a newspaper. This was all Yugi registered as he suddenly grabbed Atem’s hand and began pulling him along.

“Yugi, what are you doing?” Atem asked in agitation, quite put off by Yugi’s manhandling and jerky movements.

“C’mon! C’mon!” Yugi yelped as he led poor Atem across the street, looking over his shoulder at the old man sitting on the bench.

Atem shot a gaze over his shoulder at the old man, who was just sitting harmlessly, reading his newspaper.

“Why did we cross the street? What harm could that old man have possibly done us?” he asked in mild irritation.

“He had an eye patch,” Yugi returned quickly.

“Some people have eye patches. That’s no reason to run away from them,” Atem pointed out.

“Yes it is! They might… they might be pirates,” Yugi retorted.

“Pirates?! Really, Yugi! That old man back there was certainly no pirate,” chided Atem.

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” replied Yugi indifferently, only now releasing Atem’s hand and continuing on as if nothing had happened.

‘Ma’at’s feather! The fever must be setting in now.’
Friday, June 10, 2005…

Atem’s eyes narrowed as Jou came down in nothing more than his t-shirt and boxers and plopped down nonchalantly at the table, clearly awaiting breakfast.

“Let me guess, you’ve caught Yugi’s fever?” the Egyptian asked as he ladled the miso into Jou’s bowl.

“Nah. Jus’ dint feel like gittin’ dressed,” Jou shrugged. “I’ll do mah shit online t’day.”

Before Atem could say anything, Yugi came in and plopped down on his chair.

“Hey, Jou. Not feeling good?” he asked, with a bit too much concern in his voice.

“Nah. I’m cool. Jus’ dun feel like botherin’ w’ gittin’ dressed,” said Jou indifferently as he ate.

“That’s cool. Everyone’s entitled to a day off once in awhile,” agreed Yugi as he started in on his miso.

“It’s Friday! You couldn’t have waited one more day?” Atem inquired.

“T’morrow’s too fah off,” remarked Jou.

“Too far,” agreed Yugi.

Atem narrowed his eyes and glared at his two friends. The bullshit was just growing deeper and deeper…
Later that morning…

Atem exited Yugi’s room, having just deposited clean clothes in the bureau, when the sound of Jou’s keyboard clicking away reached his ears from behind Jou’s door. As a general rule, Atem avoided Jou’s pigsty of a room like the plague. However, since they were alone, now was as good a time as any to confront the blond over whatever it was he and Yugi were keeping from him. Atem strode up to the door and knocked briskly.

“Yeah?” called Jou’s voice from the other side of the door.

“May I come in?” Atem asked.

“Yup,” Jou answered.

Marshalling his courage, Atem opened the door and (after checking to be certain there was no discarded food on the floor) set food into the room, whose floor was littered with clothes, discarded magazines and manga and other detritus, at which Atem could only guess. The dingy walls were adorned with posters of Jou's favorite heavy metal bands and scantily clad girls. Among this chaos sat the blond before his computer, typing away at his one of his online classes.

“Wut kin I do ya fer?” Jou asked, gazing steadily at his monitor.

“Jou, you and Yugi have been acting strangely of late. Is there something happening that you would like to share with me?” Atem asked.

“Nope,” answered Jou.

“Yugi stayed home yesterday, but was clearly not sick. Now you’re staying home when you aren’t sick, something I’ve never known you to do,” Atem pointed out.

“First time fer everythin’, ain’t dere?” asked Jou, still not looking up.

“Of course. Excuse me,” said Atem shortly, turning and striding from the room.

‘Shit’s gonna hit da fan soonah rathah ‘n latah,’ Jou thought to himself as he kept typing.
Saturday, June 11, 2005

“Who’s up for a game of Monopoly?” Atem asked, holding up the box.

“Aintcha makin’ dinnah t’night?” Jou asked when he noticed the empty table.

“There’s going to be food at the convention,” Atem answered. “I thought we might play until it’s about time to leave.”

Yugi and Jou looked at each other in panic. They had completely forgotten about the convention! A Duel Monsters convention would likely be one of the first places Akhnadin would look for Atem at!

“Uh, we can’t go,” said Jou.

“Why ever not?” asked Atem in consternation.

“Mosquitos,” Yugi said quickly.

“Yep. Dey’s carryin’ malaria dis year,” grinned Jou.

“The convention is indoors,” rumbled Atem.

“All the more reason not to go. Me and Jou didn’t get our shots last year,” said Yugi.

“Yeah, we might git whoopin’ cough er diphtheria dere,” smirked Jou.

“You two wouldn’t even have been allowed into the university had you not been vaccinated last year,” countered Atem.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Heh heh…” said Yugi, rubbing the back of his neck. “Silly me.”

“Well, we still can’t go cuz… cuz, we can’t afford da tickets,” said Jou.

“Bakura is paying,” returned Atem.

“Aw, why do you wanna go anyway? It’s just a fancy costume party,” complained Yugi.

“I would like to go, because I grow weary of hiding out in the house like a recluse,” said Atem stiffly.

“Well, that’s good, Atem. But we don’t have to go to a big crowded convention. We could… go to a movie,” suggested Yugi.

“There are no movies that I want to see and I’ve already finished my Black Magician costume,” growled Atem.

“We got homework!” Jou tried.

“You both finished it hours ago.”

“We gotta a lotta chores to do around the house. Me and Jou’ll be too tired to go by the end of the day,” Yugi tried.

“Too tired,” parroted Jou.

At this latest lame excuse, the last of Atem’s patience snapped. His lips turned down in a frown and eyes sparked with annoyance as he glared at his two lying roommates.

“What chores! You two do no chores! All you do is sit around playing video games!” he barked.

Yugi and Jou looked at each other. Well, technically, Atem did have a point there.

“If you two don’t want to go, don’t go! I am going!” Atem bit out, turning to carry the Monopoly box back to its shelf, having lost all desire to play with his devious roommates, who believed themselves so slick.

Yugi and Jou looked at each other in desperation.

“No! Don’t go!” Yugi cried, panic setting in.

“Why? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t!” Atem challenged.

“Akhnadin!” Yugi cried. “He chased us home from school on Wednesday!”

Atem’s pupils dilated in shock as the box slipped from his grip, sending game tokens, money, cards, houses and hotels scattering all over the floor.

“Akh…” his voice choked off at that name. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yugi winced at the sound of Atem’s strangled voice and the betrayal flashing in his eyes.

“I just… wanted to protect you,” he said lamely. “I’m sorry, Até.”

For a seeming eternity, Atem was silent, form rigid, pupils mere pinpricks as his befuddled mind processed what he had just learned. Then, as if a switch had been thrown, he turned a withering glare on Yugi, eyes blazing with rage.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME! YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO LIE TO ME!” he screamed before turning and fleeing upstairs, where the distant sound of a slamming door told Yugi that Atem had holed himself up in his room.

Tears welling in his eyes, Yugi looked desperately to Jou, who frowned and shook his head.

“Oh, gods! What’ve I done?” Yugi sniffled, raking his fingers through his spiky hair.

“We couldn’ta kept it from ‘m f’revah,” said Jou solemnly as he knelt down to begin picking up the scattered game pieces.

“We never shoulda. We shoulda just told him…” sobbed Yugi, bending down to help his friend.

“Well, dun worry ‘bout it too much. Temu dun hatecha,” Jou said gently. “Right now, he’s wound up tighta’n a drum cuz he dunno how to deal wit’ ever’tin’. Ya remembah wut I was like when you ‘n me first met in high school?”

“Yeah. You were a rotten bastard,” answered Yugi with a watery smile.

“Heh! Yeah. I was. Da only way I could deal wit’ mah ol’ man’s shit was t’ lash out at everyone else ‘round me, cuz I jus’ couldn’t lash out at him. Dat’s why I went ‘round, pickin’ on da smallah kids, beatin ’em up, takin ’r lunch money, emptyin ’r backpacks ‘n all dat. It felt good t’ do t’ someone smaller ’n me wut mah ol’ man did t’ me,” explained Jou as he began to lay his pieces into the box.

“Yeah. I remember you hanging my backpack from that tree branch,” smirked Yugi as he gathered more pieces.

“Heh heh! Yup! But da t’ing is, Yuge, ya nevah got pissed at me. I remembah t’inkin’ ya was crazy when ya offered t’ share yer lunch wit’ me cuz I din have one. But dat kindness a yers is wut brought me ‘round, ‘ventu’lly,” concluded Jou.

Yugi’s cheeks colored and he looked down at the game pieces in his hands.

“So mah point is, dun worry ‘bout Temu yellin’ atcha. Dat’s just his way a dealin’ wit’ Akhnadin comin’ ‘round. Once it’s all ovah, he’ll come back t’ ya, cuz who wouldn’t?” said Jou, giving Yugi a pat on the shoulder.

“Thanks, Jou,” said Yugi quietly as he set his pieces into the box.

‘He’s been doing so good up till now. Fucking Akhnadin is wrecking everything!’ Yugi thought unhappily.

“Anyway, ya might wanna give ’m one a dem pills Mai p’scribed,” Jou advised as he lidded the box and stood up. “I doubt he’ll git a wink a sleep t’night othahwise.”

Yugi could only nod in agreement. He knew he probably wouldn’t sleep much tonight either.

“You go look aftah Temu. I’ll text Bakura ‘n tell ‘m da convention’s a bust,” said Jou with a sad smile.

“Thanks,” sniffled Yugi.
That night…

After returning from his bath, Yugi reached into his drawer and pulled out the bottle of purple pills with Atem’s name clearly printed on the label. He had always felt funny about accepting them from Mai and keeping them himself, but had trusted Mai’s explanation enough to keep them, though he never truly had believed that Atem would attempt suicide.

‘Well, I’ll give them to him now,’ he thought resolutely.

As if having read his thought, Yugi heard the door down the hall open. He immediately opened his door and, for the first time in hours, saw Atem walking down the hall.

“Atem!” Yugi called after the Egyptian.

Atem stopped and glared over his shoulder at Yugi’s approach.

“What do you want?” he asked shortly, causing Yugi to flinch.

“I was wondering if you might wanna take one of these. They’ll help you sleep,” Yugi offered, holding out the bottle of small purple pills.

Atem glanced at the bottle in Yugi’s palm, eyes widening at the sight of his name on the label, then narrowing in anger as he turned to face Yugi.

“Where did you get this from?” his voice rumbled ominously.

“Mai-sensei prescribed these for you the day you came home with us,” explained Yugi.

“If they were prescribed for me, why was I not given them directly?” Atem bit out.

“Standard procedure for dealing with abuse victims, due to possible suicide… attempts,” Yugi parroted Mai’s explanation, voice trailing off as Atem’s features darkened with anger.

“So that’s how it is. I didn’t realize I was a dangerous lunatic who needed 24/7 monitoring. Don’t think I’ve missed the fact that there are no razors in the bathroom as well. What next, Yugi? Remove the laces from my boots and take my belt so I won’t hang myself?!” Atem ranted, voice increasing in volume as his anger mounted.

“At…”

“No! You told me that we were friends and that friends help each other. Well, friends also trust each other, of which your recent actions have demonstrated a glaring lack! I refuse to live in a place where I’m treated as a liability and watched over like a small child! Since I’m such a burden to you and Jounouchi, I will make things easier on all of us by moving out tomorrow!” Atem continued.

“No, Atem! Please!”

“This discussion is over!” Atem barked, snatching the bottle from Yugi as he whirled about on his heel, slamming and locking his bedroom door.

“Atem, please! I’m sorry! You’re right about everything! I shouldn’t have kept the pills and I should’ve told you about Akhnadin! Please open up and let’s talk!” Yugi called as he knocked desperately on the door.

The sound of something being thrown against a wall was the only answer he received. Realizing that it was pointless to try to reason with Atem while he was this riled, Yugi retreated to his room, large tears once again rolling down his round cheeks.
Desperate for a distraction from the fear, anger and sorrow churning in his heart, Yugi took the puzzle pieces from the golden box and started trying to fit them together. Alas, the pieces proved recalcitrant tonight, not two of them fitting together. Finally, in frustration, Yugi swept them all back into the box, replaced the lid and set it ungently back on the window sill.

Yugi flipped open his phone and tapped through his photos until he found the selfie he and Atem had taken together on his birthday last week. Their bright eyes and smiling faces seemed to be those of two other people.

‘Where’d that happy couple go?’ Yugi wondered sadly as he pulled his cartouche out from under his shirt and stared sadly at it while gently caressing it in his fingers.

Presently, he entered his contacts and called Sugoroku.

“Hello, Yugi,” came Sugoroku’s voice. “Are you and Atem enjoying yourselves at the convention?”

“No… I’m at home,” Yugi answered truthfully. “And so’s Atem.”

“Are you sick?” asked Sugoroku.

“No. I… I had a fight with Atem,” Yugi answered in a dropped voice, eying the doorway warily over his shoulder, as if the mere mention of Atem’s name would cause the Egyptian to come bursting in and start yelling at Yugi for talking about him behind his back.

“Oh. Well, things like that will happen in a relationship,” replied Sugoroku.

“Yeah… See, the relative I told you Atem had problems with started stalking us and… we kinda didn’t tell Atem because we thought it’d be too hard on him if he knew. But then we remembered he wanted to go to the convention and we had to tell him to keep him from going. Oh, he was so mad, Grandpa!” Yugi rambled in a low voice.

“Well, I don’t blame him for being angry,” replied Sugoroku matter of factly. “Yugi, Atem is a smart, capable young man, just like you and Jou. His problems with his relative are his to deal with. By keeping him in the dark, you sent him the message that he’s a child who can’t be trusted to manage his own affairs. How would you feel if someone did that to you?”

“I’d hate it,” Yugi stated.

“Instead of ‘protecting’ Atem by keeping him in the dark about things, stand by him and help him to defend himself if need be. Be his partner, in the truest sense of the word,” advised Sugoroku.

“You’re right, Grandpa. I’ll apologize to him first thing tomorrow,” replied Yugi. ‘If he’ll listen.’

“That’s a good idea, Yugi. I’m sure Atem will be in a more reasonable mood after a good night’s sleep and will understand that you had a good motive in doing what you did,” said Sugoroku.

“I hope so,” Yugi answered. “I love you, Grandpa! Good night.”

“Good night, Yugi.”

Yugi hung up the call and shut off his phone for the night before climbing into bed, all the while clutching his cartouche.

‘I hope Atem’ll be willing to listen tomorrow. This is the first time I’ve seen him so pissed,’ he thought warily as he closed his eyes.

/
c 1270 BC
Waset, Kemet

As the sound of trumpets announced the Pharaoh’s return from the battlefield, Hebai looked up from his dishes and ran to the nearest window, from which he could see the procession. Imagine his horror when he saw Atem’s slumped over, clearly unresponsive form, being brought back in Mahaad’s arms.

“Atem!” gasped Hebai, abandoning the kitchen and running for the front entrance.

The palace was a buzz with activity and panic as the bloodied and battered troop entered. From under his tattered tunic, Hebai could see the blood flowing from multiple lacerations all over the Pharaoh’s body.

“Atem!” he cried, charging forward, only to find his way blocked by the guards. “Let me through! I have to see Atem!”

“Stand back! Stand back! Clear the room! Get the Pharaoh to the healers!”

“Ateeeemmmm!!!” screamed Hebai, who could only watch helplessly as his Pharaoh was carried away.
/

Later…

Yugi’s eyes opened as the sound of rolling thunder and rain pelting against the house brought him to wakefulness. Raking his hand through his hair, he groaned inwardly.

‘Damn rain!’ he thought unhappily, closing his eyes to try to find sleep again.

[Flash of lighting]

KABOOM!

Only to have them fly open again at the feeling of cold dread inching its way up his spine. And it wasn’t from the storm. As Yugi lay there, the chill in his spine began to spread slowly throughout his body, causing the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck to stand at attention. He was aware of his heart beating a staccato in his chest cavity, the same eerie feeling that had niggled at him on Wednesday evening…

‘It has to end here!’ he thought as he grabbed his flashlight and baseball bat and headed outside.

Yugi made his way through the dark house, every creaking floorboard and step driving him even madder as he went. Finally, he reached the backdoor, grabbed his jacket and stepped down into his shoes before heading out into the driving rain and flashing sky.

Holding his hand over his eyes to keep the water from hitting them, Yugi looked around, seeing only the ground and trees being soaked by rain.

“Akhnadin!” he called at the tops of his lungs. “I know you’re here! Come out!”

The sky lit on the tall, gaunt figure of the one-eyed old man, in whose right hand a thick leather belt reposed. On his face was a wicked, sadistic grin.

“I have you now, you little bastard!” Akhnadin Ishtar spat as he lunged at Yugi.

Seeing the old man speeding toward him, Yugi started running toward the treeline in a bid to keep Akhnadin away from the house, lest he enter and seek out Atem. Just over the sound of the driving wind and rain, Yugi heard the squelching footsteps as Akhnadin’s feet pounded over the muddy ground in hot pursuit.

Then came the sharp CRACK of the belt as Yugi felt a burning sensation across his back from where it struck.

‘Ow! Gods, that hurts!’ Yugi thought as he dodged around a tree, only to swear mentally as Akhnadin did the same.

Again, the belt lashed out, this time striking Yugi square in his left shoulder. It took all of Yugi’s impulse control to not drop his bat to caress his throbbing shoulder.

When he tried to duck around a clump of bushes, Akhnadin was there, again lashing out with the belt. This time though, Yugi was prepared and ducked under the range of Akhnadin’s belt, charging at him while swinging his bat.

Only to have its momentum stopped dead by Akhnadin’s left hand grabbing it.

“Nice try, you little shit!” the old man spat as he yanked Yugi toward him.

In a flash and flurry of movement, Yugi found himself relieved of his bat, which was flung ten feet away from them. The feeling of the leather belt around his neck was an ominous one indeed, as Akhnadin held Yugi flush to his body, the cruel leather biting into his sensitive skin, even as he gripped it in a desperate bid to pull it off.

“Lemme go! Leave us alone!” Yugi rasped as he struggled to liberate himself from Akhnadin’s grip, ignoring the sting of the icy water seeping into the two open welts on his body.

“You’ve ruined everything, you little bastard!” snarled Akhnadin as he tightened the noose, constricting Yugi’s airway so he couldn’t talk.

With Yugi subdued, Akhnadin picked up and inspected the cartouche that dangled around the tricolor’s neck, while Yugi clawed desperately at it.

“You think you know my nephew, but you don’t. He was born with evil in him. It was my duty as his guardian to purge it. It was all going well until you took him from me! Now I’ll have to start all over!” Akhnadin growled. “And that hangs on getting you out of the way!”

At this, Akhnadin ripped the cartouche from around Yugi’s neck and cast it into the surrounding bushes, while Yugi could only stare helplessly, tears rolling from his eyes as his beloved pendant went flying and landed somewhere in the foliage. Wasting no time, Akhnadin pulled the noose as tight as he could and began in earnest to strangle poor Yugi.

“DIE!” the old man snarled.

Gasping for breath with that terrible noose biting into his neck, Yugi could only watch as blackness crept in from the corners of his eyes, darkening his world.

“AKHNADIN!!!” came a scream from out of the driving rain.

The next thing Yugi knew, Akhnadin had been knocked to the side, causing the constricting belt to fall away from Yugi’s throat as he pitched forward, landing face first in the mud. Gasping for breath, he turned around to behold an enraged Atem, in whose crimson depths the flames of Hell burned. Against the backdrop of flashing lightning and cracking thunder, uncle and nephew faced off, circling each other warily, while eyeing up the other for strength and weakness.

“Atem, you need to stop this right now. You’ve been out of my care for a while, allowing the evil to accumulate in your mind. You know you’re not well. If I don’t purge it from you, it will cloud your mind and drive you insane. Come home with me and let me help you!” commanded Akhnadin, belt at the ready.

Atem stood before the old man, eyes going unfocused as he warred with himself, the sight of Akhnadin and the command threatening to override Yugi’s reassurances that there was nothing wrong with him and that he didn’t deserved to be beaten and…

“Atem! *cough* You don’t need his help! *cough*” Yugi called up to the Egyptian, even as he coughed and gasped desperately for breath. “You’re fine just the way you are. *cough* Don’t fall for his bullshit!”

“Silence, you meddlesome little shit!” growled Akhnadin, turning his wrath on Yugi and cracking the belt toward him.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

This proved Akhnadin’s undoing as, upon seeing Yugi once again placed in danger, Atem snapped from his stupor and lunged forward, grabbing the end of the belt and wrenching it from the old man’s grasp, which caused Akhnadin to lose his footing on the slippery ground and go crashing into the mud.

Standing over Akhnadin with the belt raised, Atem swung it down, striking Akhnadin on the legs as the thunder cracked.

“You son of a bitch! How do you like it?! How does it feel to have this done to you?!!!” he screamed as he struck Akhnadin on his back again and again, raining multiple blows up and down his spine, the old man squirming and groaning in pain with each strike.

Yugi could only watch in horror as Atem took revenge on his uncle. While one part of him was satisfied to see Akhnadin getting what had been coming to him for a long time, another part was horrified to see his kind and gentle Atem morph back into Yami, the dangerously insane Demon of Domino.

‘Atem…’ he thought sadly.

“Yugi!” called Jou’s voice as, the next thing Yugi knew, he felt a jacket being draped over his shoulders.

“Jou… Atem and Akhnadin…” he rasped as he clutched at his throat, still gasping for air.

“I know. Temu woke me up when he didn’t findja in yer room ‘n we come out lookin’ fer ya,” explained Jou.

Yugi couldn’t help the feeling of warmth mushrooming in his heart at these last words. However, he quickly tamped it down, as now was not the time for mushy, romantic thoughts.

Casting the belt aside, Atem grabbed Yugi’s bat and raised it right over Akhnadin’s head.

“Yes, that’s right, Atem. Go ahead and kill me! It’s what you’ve always wanted to do, you filthy little demon! I guess I wasn’t as successful in driving the evil out of you as I’d thought!” rasped Akhnadin.

“YOU BASTARD!!!” roared Atem, eyes flaming with loathing. “DIE!”

“Don’t do it, Atem! If you kill him, you’ll be executed for murder!” Yugi cried, having finally gulped enough oxygen into his lungs to be able to talk properly. “We’ll call 119 and let the police deal with him!”

‘Justice lies with the gods, my son.’

Words from long ago echoed in Atem’s mind, penetrating the fog of rage that surrounded him. With a final snarl, Atem flung the bat into the bushes.

“Let’s git ‘nside ‘n call 119. Dat ol’ bastahd ain’t goin’ nowhere,” said Jou confidently.

“Come on, Atem. It’ll be OK, I promise,” said Yugi, holding out his hand for Atem.

Blinking his eyes, Atem shook his head and put his hand in Yugi’s to permit the younger man to lead him inside. The three friends started forward. Alas, they hadn’t gone but a few steps when…

“GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE DEMON!” they heard the voice scream from behind them.

The three young men looked behind them to see Akhnadin back on his feet, charging at them, baseball bat and belt clutched in his hands.

KRACK-CHOW!!!!!!!

Before anyone could even blink an eyelash, a bluish white bolt struck down from the sky, hitting Akhnadin square on the head, sending him sprawling once again.

“Woah! Bahbecued bastahd!” grinned Jou.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Atem’s lips curled back in a snarl as the inhuman scream was torn from somewhere deep inside him, all of the pain, anger, sorrow and fear, finding full expression in this chaotic moment.

“Atem!” cried Yugi as Atem suddenly wrenched his hand out of Yugi’s grasp and charged back toward the house.

“Let’m go, Yuge. He gotta deal wit’ dis his own way,” said Jou grimly as he held Yugi back.

Atem had just reached the threshold of the house’s back door, when two figures suddenly appeared in front of him, the taller one quickly covering Atem’s mouth and nose with a cloth.

“No!” cried Yugi, breaking from Jou’s side as he saw Atem’s form slump forward into the arms of whomever had just chloroformed him.

As he got closer, the light falling on the two forms allowed him to recognize them: Mai-sensei and Shizuka!

“Mai-sensei, what the hell are you doing?!” he yelped.

“Keeping him from hurting himself or someone else,” Mai answered succinctly. “Jou, get these two up to bed and out of those wet clothes! I’ll be up in a second. Come, Shizuka!”

With that, Mai and Shizuka went out into the still driving rain to look after what remained of Akhnadin. Mai knelt and felt Akhnadin’s charred throat for a pulse. Feeling nothing, she shook her head and stood up.

“Shouldn’t we try to resuscitate him?” asked Shizuka.

“Even if we did, he wouldn’t live long and would spend what little time he had left screaming without strong painkillers. We mark this one as non-viable,” decided Mai, looking Shizuka directly in the eye.

Shizuka swallowed hard.

“Understood.”

“Leave the body here for now. We’ll transport it to the clinic later. I need to get inside and see to Yugi and Atem,” instructed Mai.
Between them, Jou and Yugi were able to lug Atem’s unconscious form upstairs and into his bedroom. Working hard, Jou and Yugi stripped Atem out of his wet boxers and t-shirt, then manhandled him to his bed.

“T’ink ya kin handle it from here?” asked Jou as he watched Yugi, just now noting the absence of the gold pendant that he always wore around his neck.

Yugi only nodded briefly as he concentrated on tucking Atem under a thick blanket to keep him warm.

“I’m out,” said Jou as he quickly removed himself from the room.

Yugi looked down at the flushed, tearstained face of the man he loved so much and had to bite back a small sob of his own.

‘Gods, I wanted to protect you. Why do I keep fucking things up?’ he thought as he planted a kiss on Atem’s brow.
On his way downstairs, Jou ran into Mai.

“Ol’ bastahd dead?” he asked bluntly.

“Yes. It’s a good thing you called us,” replied Mai. “I’m going to need you to help me take the body to my clinic.”

“Aw, can’t it wait’ll mornin’?” groaned Jou, yawn splitting his face.

WHAP!

“Just what do you have inside your cranium? Because it certainly isn’t brain matter! Get dressed and meet me outside in 20 minutes!” growled Mai.

“Yes, ma’am,” said Jou sarcastically, turning around and marching for his room, rubbing his head all the while.
Mai made it upstairs just in time to see Yugi emerging from his room, now clad in dry boxers.

“What’s goin’ on?” Yugi asked unhappily.

“Akhnadin is dead,” Mai answered simply.

“Good…” said Yugi, unpleasantly aware of something shifting permanently in his being as he uttered this response.

Heart laden with sorrow at what she knew was a very uncharacteristic response for Yugi, Mai could only nod. Together, they entered Atem’s room to look after him. Mai grasped Atem’s wrist and checked his pulse, then pulled out her pen light and shone it into each of Atem’s eyes before she was satisfied as to his health.

“He should wake up any time. The chloroform was just enough to stop his rampage,” she explained. “He’ll be OK for now. Let’s see to your wounds.”

Yugi turned around, revealing the broken skin on his back and right shoulder where the strap had hit him.

‘Now I know how much you hurt,’ he thought, blinking at tears as he gazed at the sleeping Atem.

“Mai-sensei, I’m so sorry. I totally failed,” he apologized, hanging his head.

“What are you talking about?” Mai asked as she opened her first aid kit.

“I failed to protect Atem! He’s been hurt all over again, all because I let Akhnadin see me. I practically led him here!” mourned Yugi.

“That’s not your fault, Yugi! You couldn’t have spent all your time holed up in the house. That isn’t even healthy. Driven as he obviously was, Akhnadin would have found you sooner or later,” said Mai severely.

Yugi nodded briefly, then lowered his head again, swallowing around the lump that had formed in his throat.

“Mai-sensei, do… do you think Atem’ll have to go to the mental hospital now?” he asked tremulously.

Mai sighed as she gently set to work on Yugi’s lacerations.

“I don’t know, Yugi. I simply don’t know. No doubt tonight’s events will have caused a major setback in his recovery,” she said with a glance at the figure sleeping on the bed. “What I’m thinking would be best for him right now is a complete change of scenery. I own a beach house along the east coast. It has a beautiful view of the ocean, all the comforts of home, including wifi, and the nearest neighbors are two miles away. If you could convince Atem to go there with you for a while, I think it would do you both a world of good.”

“A beach house? Sounds pretty cool. I haven’t gone swimming since I was a kid,” Yugi forced himself to joke, wincing as Mai doused his tender flesh with a disinfectant, followed by some ointment.

“Well, Yugi, you’re very fortunate. These welts are so shallow, you don’t even need stitches. Go back to bed now and try to get a bit more sleep. It’s still very early. I’ll give Jou some money to order you and Atem some breakfast in the morning,” advised Mai as she tied off the last bandage.

“I’m gonna stay with him tonight. I don’t want him to wake up alone,” decided Yugi.

“Good thinking, Yugi. I think seeing your face is the only thing that could calm him right now,” agreed Mai.

“OK. Thanks, Mai-sensei,” answered Yugi with a yawn.

“Good night, Yugi,” said Mai with a sad smile.

“Night, Mai-sensei,” Yugi returned as he climbed onto the chair next to Atem’s bed, draped a blanket over his bare legs, then leaned forward to sleep with his head pillowed on his folded up arms on Atem’s mattress.

‘I’m sorry, Atem. I failed you this time. I swear it won’t happen again!’

At first, Yugi was afraid he might not be able to get back to sleep. However, these fears were short lived as a wave of exhaustion crashed over him.

‘A beach house. That might be just what Atem needs,’ he thought as he allowed his heavy eyelids to fall shut once again.

/
c 1270 BC
Waset, Kemet

Hebai sat on the wooden bench just outside the healers’ chambers, which had been completely sealed off with guards at the doors while the Pharaoh was attended to. Hebai had spent the past few hours straining his ears in desperate hope of hearing Atem’s voice. All he had heard had been the voices of the healers, calling for different poultices and potions.

Just as he thought he was about to go mad, the voice he had been longing for rang through the wooden doors.

“HEBAI!!! HEBAI!!!”

“Shhhh. Please relax, Great Pharaoh. You are safe…”

“Where is Hebai?! I want Hebai!!!”

‘Atem! Orders be damned! I have to go to him!’ Hebai thought, rising to his feet and glancing around the corner at the two guards outside the door, the one nearest him with the blond hair and brown eyes looking especially vacuous.

Pulling out one of the flint rocks he always carried on his person, Hebai threw it against the wall, creating a great clatter as it struck the stone surface.

“Wadda hell was dat?!” yelped the blond guard.

“Best check and make certain no one’s trying to get to the Pharaoh,” advised the other guard.

When both guards had left their posts, Hebai ducked around the corner and into the medical chambers.

“Hey! You’re not supposed to be in here!”

“Get him!”

“No one is allowed to see the Pharaoh!”

These invectives ringing in his ears, Hebai ran at top speed, using his short stature to easily dodge all the healers’ attempts to grab him. There was the door to the Pharaoh’s treatment room. Hebai pushed it open with all his might and stopped.

Atem lay on the stone slab, covered only in bandages, while two healers held him down by the arms and two more restrained his legs to keep him from jumping up and reopening the wounds they had just closed.

“Hebai! I want Hebai!” Atem screamed, head shifting side to side.

“Atem!” Hebai cried, leaping across the space between them and grabbing the Pharaoh’s hand.

“You’re not allowed to be in here!”

“Get him out of here!”

Hebai felt hands on his shoulders, trying to pry him away from Atem, even as he struggled against them.

“No!” he cried.

“SILENCE!”

A sharp female voice rang out from the entrance behind him, stilling everyone. They looked back and saw the head healer, a woman with long black hair and sharp, intelligent blue eyes, who floated into the room among them.

“Can’t you see that our Pharaoh is crying out for his beloved? Who gave the order that Hebai not be by his side?” Isis asked unhappily.

“High Priest Seth ordered the isolation of the Pharaoh, no exceptions.”

“And since when did High Priest Seth outrank me in the healing chambers?” asked Isis, blue eyes narrowing at her subordinates.

“Never, Isis!”

“Then if I order you to unhand Hebai and let him be with the Pharaoh, there won’t be a problem?” asked Isis.

“No, ma’am!”

“Then consider the order given!” said Isis.

Only then did Hebai feel himself released from their grip. With a smile of thanks at the head healer, he returned to the stone slab and took Atem’s hand in his and squeezed.

“Hebai,” said Isis, kneeling down to talk to the young servant, “Atem has lost a lot of blood, but his wounds have been cleaned and bound. He’ll be alright with time. What he needs most is to have the one he loves and trusts by his side. We’ll all leave you alone with him right now.”

“Thanks, Isis,” replied Hebai with a small smile.

Isis stood up and clapped her hands, ordering everyone out of the room. When the door shut, Hebai looked at Atem with tear bright eyes and gave a squeeze of his hand, before pulling a cloth from a bucket of cool water, wringing it out and applying it to Atem’s fevered brow.

“Don’t worry, Atem. I’m with you,” he whispered.

“Hebai…” Atem sighed, smiling in contentment.
/
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Darkness Before Dawn