Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Rending the Veil	By : SangoHuntress1977 Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3154 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: YuGiOh and all characters thereof are the sole property of Kazuki Takahashi and all media rightsholders. I am merely a fan borrowing for fun and entertainment and derive no profit therefrom.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Mokuyobi, Thursday, July 18, 2002
Morning
Scorching winds, blowing sands from the tops of dunes, the white-hot sun glaring down from the vault of blue sky. Palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. The fresh, cool water of the Nile. The tall points of the Pyramids, reaching for eternity.
Shimon approaching with a solemn face.
Cold, bright…
Flashes of Yugi, Jou and Bakura.
The rending of a veil.
“I don’t want you here! Get out of my shop! Get out of my life!”
Those words lanced through Atem’s heart, causing his handsome features to contort as a heartbroken cry started to build and build in his throat.
/
The brilliant, white light of the afterlife flooded the dark stone room. Yugi had to squint to make out the spiky haired form standing before him. A hand reached out and gently cupped his cheek, thumb stroking the skin.
“My Partner, my friends, thank you.”
The hand slipped from his face, the form turning and walking away from him into the light. Yugi reached out after him, but his Other was already too far away. Black leather pants and tank top melted away to be replaced by the white shenti of Ancient Egypt as Other Yugi morphed back into Pharaoh Atem and faded into the waiting light.
“Other Me! Don’t go!”
The stone door slid shut, cutting off the light and plunging Yugi into darkness.
/
“No!” Yugi sat bolt upright and, with a trembling hand, reached up and brushed the noisome moisture from his cheeks.
“No!”
Yugi looked toward his door at the cry coming from across the hall.
‘Other Me!’ he thought, jumping up and running for his door.
Yugi leapt across the hall and threw open the guestroom door, to find Atem writhing about on the bed, brow furrowed in distress as tears spilled from his tightly closed eyes.
“Partner… why have you forsaken me?” he sobbed.
Yugi rushed right over to the bed and gripped his Other’s shoulders.
“Other Me! Wake up! You’re having a nightmare!” Yugi cried.
Yugi’s words and actions had no effect on Atem, who kept trembling and sobbing.
“Other Me!” Yugi tried again.
Still no change.
Getting desperate, Yugi took a deep breath.
“Atem!” he yelled sharply, giving Atem a rather rough shake in a bid to snap the Pharaoh out of his personal hell.
At the call of his ancient name, the Pharaoh’s eyes snapped open, crimson locking with violet. Yugi knelt at the bedside and pulled Atem’s trembling form to his chest, feeling hot tears soaking through the fabric of his t-shirt, even as Atem tried to swallow the sobs that wracked his body.
“Ssshhhhh, Oth… Atem. It’s OK. You were having a nightmare,” Yugi murmured into Atem’s ear as he gently rubbed the small of his Other’s back in a bid to soothe him. “I’d never reject you. Not in a million years.”
After a bit, Atem’s body stopped trembling and his breathing gradually evened out. Yugi continued to hold him close and whisper to him while rubbing his back.
“I’ll always be your partner. I’ll never turn you away,” he chanted over and over again into Atem’s ear, willing his words to ease his Other’s pain.
Finally, Atem had calmed down enough to pull away a bit, tear bright eyes seeking Yugi’s out. Smiling gently at his still fragile Other, Yugi helped him to lie back down.
‘Oh, my beautiful pharaoh, tears don’t suit you at all,’ Yugi thought sadly as he gently caressed Atem’s cheek, noting how Atem leaned into his touch as he did so.
“Please, Oth… Atem, tell me what happened in the dream so I can help you,” Yugi implored as he continued to caress Atem’s face. “Will you tell me?”
“‘Get out… of my shop. Get out… of my life,’” Atem choked out, raw pain oozing from his bloodshot eyes as he never once removed his gaze from Yugi’s face.
At these words, Yugi’s blood ran cold as his hand stopped stroking Atem’s cheek for a full second.
“Oh, gods…” he whispered, eyes widening, face going as white as a sheet. “I didn’t know…”
He lifted his horrified gaze to meet with Atem’s pained one, hand falling away from Atem’s face.
“Oh, Atem. I’m s-so sorry,” was all he managed to get out before a wave of sobs engulfed him. “I didn’t know. Oh, gods. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Atem grasped Yugi’s hand and weakly squeezed it, the touch sending shocks through Yugi’s system.
With his free hand, Yugi gently wiped the tear tracks from Atem’s cheeks, even as he felt tears coursing down his own cheeks. He closed his eyes as he felt long fingers shakily wipe the salty moisture from his cheeks. When both their faces were dry, the Pharaoh’s face blossomed with a beautiful smile for Yugi and no other, ruby irises seeming to glow.
“So good… to see… your face,” Atem’s voice was barely above a whisper as he struggled to speak each word.
Yugi felt his own smile brighten his features as well.
“It’s so good to hear your voice,” he returned in a trembling voice. “I swear I’ll always be your partner. Believe me?”
Still smiling, Atem closed his eyes and nodded.
Yugi closed his eyes and leaned forward until his brow touched Atem’s. The two tricolors stayed thus for several minutes, neither speaking, both simply drawing comfort from each other’s presence.
“Try to go back to sleep for a while. It’s still early,” Yugi said softly at length.
At this, Atem scooted back and patted the spot on the bed next to him. Yugi hesitated for a fraction of a second before climbing in and snuggling up to his Pharaoh. He turned to speak to Atem, but found him already asleep, completely worn out.
‘Sleep well, Atem,’ Yugi thought as he planted a soft kiss on his Other’s brow, then closed his eyes and let sleep take him as well.
Somewhat later…
Yugi pried his eyelids open with great effort and glanced out the window to the left. Still raining.
‘Ugh!’
Slight movement to the right caused him to turn his head and see a pair of dark rubies staring intently at him. Yugi took a deep breath and smiled at Atem.
“Good morning, my pharaoh,” he said.
Atem only smiled, apparently still too out of it to do much of anything else.
‘That’s OK. I’ll build your strength back up,’ Yugi thought.
The most practical way to do this of course, was to get some food into Atem, who had eaten nothing since his mysterious return two nights ago.
“A-are you hungry? Can you eat?” Yugi asked, to which Atem promptly smiled again.
“OK. I’ll be right back,” Yugi said before rolling out of bed and bolting for the door.
After stopping to change in his room, Yugi went tearing downstairs and saw that Jou was just stirring on the couch, blond hair ruffled every which way from having spent the night tossing and turning.
“Morning, Jou,” Yugi said.
“Hey, Yuge. Damn storm! Couldn’t sleep wort’ shit last night. Every time I started to drop off, lightnin’ ‘n ‘ t’unda woke me back up!” groused Jou.
“Aw, sorry about that, Jou,” sympathized Yugi. “I didn’t sleep so good last night either.”
“Speakin’ a sleep, how is he?” Jou asked.
“He’s awake!” Yugi announced in a quiet voice, as if afraid the fates would hear his joy and take the Pharaoh away from him again.
“No shit?!”
Yugi nodded.
“Dude! Dat’s awesome!” cried Jou.
“Yeah,” agreed Yugi with the first full smile Jou had seen in days. “He’s pretty weak though. I gotta take him some food.”
When Jou saw Yugi going for the chips and pop, he put a hand on the smaller man’s shoulder. Yugi looked up at him in confusion.
“Da dude almost died a fever jus’ 48 hours ago. I dun t’ink chips ‘n pop’r gonna help ‘m git bettah. Give’m some a last night’s takeout. I’d say nuke it, but da powa’s still out,” Jou suggested.
“OK…” conceded Yugi.
Yugi hurried upstairs, carrying the Korean takeout on a tray, not wanting to leave his Other alone any longer than necessary. Upon entering the room, Yugi found Atem staring expectantly at the doorway, eyes as large and dark as rubies.
“Breakfast is served, my Pharaoh,” Yugi announced. “Don’t worry about if it’s edible or not. It’s takeout.”
Moving slowly so as not to spill anything, Yugi sat down by the bed and picked up the chopsticks. Slowly and steadily, Yugi fed Atem the spicy chicken from last night’s meal. The process of feeding Atem was slow and laborious as Atem barely had enough strength to even chew the chicken. Eventually though, the chicken was gone and Yugi breathed a sigh of relief.
With a full stomach, Atem’s eyelids grew heavy and began to droop. What little energy the Pharaoh had possessed had been depleted by the effort it took to eat. After moving the tray from the bed, Yugi adjusted his Other so he was lying down.
Cracking open an eye, Atem reached up and grasped Yugi’s hand, causing the younger man to look down at him. A smile spread across the Pharaoh’s bronzed features, causing Yugi’s eyes to light up and his heart to flutter in his chest at the tender gaze directed at him.
The Pharaoh’s eyelids fell shut and his grip slackened. Yugi lowered Atem’s hand to the mattress and watched as the Pharaoh’s head lolled to the side. Peeling back the blanket, Yugi laid his hand on Atem’s stomach and began moving it in slow circles over his navel. This caused Atem’s eyes to flutter open for just a second, but they closed again as Atem heaved a contented sigh and relaxed totally under Yugi’s soothing touch.
Atem felt himself sinking back into the heaviness of sleep as everything grew distant.
Yugi continued rubbing until he heard Atem’s breathing deepen and even out. He then gradually let up and covered Atem with the blanket before clearing the tray from the room.
“He 'sleep?” Jou asked when Yugi came back down.
“Yeah. Probably for a while. Eating seemed to wipe him out,” Yugi answered.
“Eh. Poor guy’s been through Hell’n back,” said Jou. “Well, we’ll git’m back on his feet.
“Yeah,” Yugi agreed as he set the tray in the sink.
Yugi and Jou settled into playing Duel Monsters. For two hours, in the gray daylight, they matched wits, pitting their best cards and strategies against each other. As always, Yugi beat Jou handily, but had to admit that the blond was continuing to make great strides.
“Think I’ma curl up ‘n take a nap myself,” Jou said at length. “Dis weatha just makes ya wanna sleep.”
“Yeah. Maybe I’ll do the same thing. See you in a while,” agreed Yugi.
“Yep,” said Jou as he stretched out on the couch.
In his room, Yugi stretched out on his bed and grabbed a manga he was currently reading, about a young boy who could fuse his being with the ghost of a samurai. However, no matter how much he tried to concentrate on the manga, his eyes kept drifting over to the guestroom door, visible through his ajar door. Finally, he gave up and left his room.
Yugi entered the guestroom and approached the bed, on which Atem lay, fast asleep. Moving slowly, Yugi climbed onto the bed and snuggled under the cover. Once he was comfortable, he picked up reading where he had left off.
Presently, Yugi heard Atem’s breathing switch from sleep to waking mode and looked over in time to see ruby irises peeking out from under heavy lids. When Atem saw Yugi, he blinked curiously.
“Wanna read this manga with me?” Yugi asked softly, getting a faint smile in response.
While doing his best vocal impressions, Yugi held up the book so Atem could see it without straining while Atem looked with interest at all the pictures and smiled faintly at the funny bits as Yugi narrated, such as the main character getting knocked around by the girl he was engaged to.
That afternoon…
Atem looked over to the right as Yugi came in, carrying two basins, which he set down at the side of the bed. Folded over his arms were two large towels and several smaller cloths. An eyebrow arched in curiosity.
“May this humble servant bathe the great Pharaoh?” Yugi asked, irises twinkling.
An amused smile passed over Atem’s features. If anyone else would have suggested such a thing, they would have been on the receiving end of a tongue lashing from Hell. However, the idea of Yugi touching him intimately was actually rather agreeable.
“OK. I’m gonna put these big towels under you. Roll over for me,” Yugi asked.
With Atem lying on his side, Yugi placed the towels on the mattress underneath him. When the towels were in place, he rolled onto his back again.
“I’m gonna wash your face first, OK?” Yugi explained, holding up the cloth.
With a nod, Atem put his head back and closed his eyes.
Yugi dipped the cloth in the warm water and wrung it out.
“Here we go,” he said, by way of warning Atem.
Yugi touched the cloth to Atem’s right temple and began gently working it in small circles, working his way down Atem’s jawline slowly. As he worked his way along Atem’s jaw, he watched his Other for any signs of discomfort. The Egyptian didn’t move or even crack an eye open as Yugi worked his way up to his right temple.
Yugi sponged off both of Atem’s cheeks and nose, then moved up, wiping slowly from the bridge of Atem’s nose out toward his ears over each eyelid, then returning to small circles on the Pharaoh’s brow.
Finally, both ears were bent forward and slowly scrubbed from behind.
During the entire procedure, Atem lay in a light doze, enjoying the warm water and Yugi’s soft touch. Even when his forehead was being rubbed, he didn’t even twitch a muscle, which was unusual, as Atem generally bristled at having his forehead touched.
After patting Atem’s face dry, Yugi dipped the cloth in the basin again, then lathered it up with soap. He ran the warm, soapy wash cloth in slow circles over Atem’s neck and chin, watching as some of the water ran in thin, white rivulets down Atem’s neck and soaked into the towel beneath him.
After rinsing the soapy water from Atem’s neck, Yugi picked up the shampoo bottle.
“Is it OK if I wash your hair?” he asked.
At Atem’s smile, Yugi helped him to sit up and placed a hair washing basin, with a recess for the neck, under him so that he was lying with his head tilted back into the basin. Yugi poured warm water over Atem’s hair until it hung down straight into the water below.
After squeezing some shampoo into his hand, Yugi began lathering it into long black and crimson locks and golden bangs. As always, he watched Atem’s face, but saw no signs of distress. If anything, Atem seemed to be enjoying this, almost looking to be asleep. Finished with Atem’s hair, Yugi poured warm water over it several times until the water in the basin ran white with the rinsed out shampoo and conditioner.
Lifting Atem’s right arm, Yugi began rubbing the cloth between the Pharaoh’s fingers. Moving in his slow circles, Yugi moved steadily up Atem’s arm. Using a firm touch, he washed under Atem’s arm and over his shoulder. Finished soaping, he gave Atem’s right hand a gentle squeeze, which was promptly reciprocated.
Yugi repeated on his left, also giving that hand a squeeze.
Yugi folded the blanket further down, exposing the Pharaoh’s muscular torso to his eyes. As he gazed at the planes and angles of Atem’s chest and abdomen, he felt his mouth go dry.
‘He’s gorgeous,’ he thought.
At the snort, Yugi looked down into a pair of twinkling rubies eyes and the amused smile that made feelings of warmth explode in his inner core. Returning the smile briefly, Yugi went to work on the Pharaoh’s chest, gently spreading the soapy water over it, moving down over his stomach in slow, soothing circles.
Yugi wrung out the rinsing cloth and slowly and sensually wiped the soap away from Atem’s skin. All while he worked, he maintained eye contact with the Pharaoh, who continued to smile warmly at him.
Yugi slowly and gently sponged Atem’s thighs, moving in small circles, lifting the Pharaoh’s leg to get the underside, then moving down to caress those wiry calves. When he reached Atem’s feet, he wiped slowly from heel to toe on the tops first, before switching to the soles. The spaces between the toes were wiped as well. Yugi felt the odd desire to want to take Atem’s big toe into his mouth and give suck, but quickly suppressed it.
‘Not while he’s still recovering, idiot!’ he sternly reprimanded himself.
After rinsing Atem’s legs, Yugi patted them dry, then covered them back up.
“Roll over on your side, please,” he asked.
With a partial smile, Atem rolled over so his back was to Yugi. Yugi dipped and wrung the soapy cloth, then began carefully soaping Atem’s shoulders, working his way steadily down his Other’s spine.
As he worked, he thought he heard Atem utter a sigh of contentment. Determined to make this experience as enjoyable as possible, Yugi took a bit longer than actually necessary as he ran the warm, wet cloth over Atem’s sleek back.
Yugi gently rinsed Atem’s back off, patted him dry and covered him up again. When he came to the other side of the bed, he saw that Atem’s eyes were shut and his face was relaxed and peaceful in sleep. Yugi stroked Atem’s hand for a minute before picking up the bathing supplies and silently exiting the room.
Kinyobi, Friday, July 19, 2002
Yugi’s eyes opened and looked out the window only to see the ever present clouds and rain pouring from them, tapping against the glass and sliding down.
‘The sun’ll come out someday, won’t it?’ he thought sourly.
Yugi left his room and crossed the hall to the guestroom. Though his eyes couldn’t make out much in the near darkness, the sound of Atem’s deep breathing filled the room.
‘Sounds like he’s doing OK,’ Yugi thought with a small smile as he closed the door and headed downstairs.
Upon arriving downstairs, Yugi found Jou looking through the fridge, whose light was back on.
“The power’s back on!” he cried out happily, only remembering to keep his voice low at the last second.
“Yeah. Fer ‘bout ‘n hour now,” said Jou. “How’s he doin’?”
Yugi smiled, touched by Jou’s concern for Atem.
“Sleeping,” he answered simply.
“OK, I got some shit t’do ‘round town. I’ll git us s’more takeout while I’m out. Be back in a couple hours,” said Jou, going for his coat and keys.
“OK. See you when you get back,” said Yugi.
With Jou out and Atem still asleep, Yugi found himself with nothing much to do. In an attempt to relieve his boredom, he plopped down on the couch, grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
‘Back to the 21st century. Thank God!’
Keeping the volume down so he could hear if Atem needed anything, Yugi watched a morning talk show, documenting the ongoing storm and regional damage. Just then, he heard the sound of the bed creaking from the floor above. Abandoning the TV, Yugi ran upstairs, down the hall and opened the door, just in time to see Atem stirring.
When he heard the door open, Atem looked over at Yugi, a smile spreading across his features.
“Hi. Um, how’re you feeling?” Yugi asked as he entered the room.
“Much, much better. Thank you for the care while I was ill,” Atem purred with a slight accent as he extended a hand toward Yugi.
A now crimson cheeked Yugi climbed onto the bed and took the proffered hand in his own and squeezed. The whole thing felt so good, yet so awkward and strange.
“You’re welcome,” he managed to squeak out.
"You’re a finer healer than any I had in Kemet,” Atem said, squeezing Yugi’s hand back before drawing it to his lips and planting a soft kiss on the knuckles, eyes never leaving Yugi’s face.
The two young men stayed thus for a while, gazing into each other’s eyes while their hands explored each other’s features, tracing the jaw line, the slope of the nose and gently caressing each other’s cheeks.
Yugi felt that warm, fluttering feeling becoming more and more intense with each passing moment, that strange warmth stirring in his core.
‘Do I feel the same way for Atem that I’ve felt for Anzu?’ Yugi thought, shifting uncomfortably on the mattress.
“Yugi, would you mind fetching my old deck?” Atem asked suddenly.
“Yeah. You wanna duel?” Yugi returned, relief at the distraction flooding over him.
Now that there was nothing riding on the outcome of a duel between them, except perhaps someone’s hurt pride, it would be fun to duel with Atem.
“I would like that very much,” answered Atem.
Yugi hurried to his room and retrieved both their decks.
When he returned, they both went through their decks, making certain all their cards were accounted for. Yugi pulled out his old faithful Black Magician card and caressed it. Then they began.
Yugi and Atem spent the next two hours locked in combat. Victories and losses were traded evenly between them, never with more than 200 life points difference.
“Wow! That was awesome! We’re still so close!” Yugi exclaimed as he stowed his cards, only to still when he felt Atem’s hand atop his.
“In every way,” Atem’s deep voice purred as Yugi looked up into a pair of smouldering flames.
“Uh, yeah,” Yugi said with awkward cheerfulness. “Hey, how about we finish up that manga we were looking at yesterday?”
At Atem’s nod, Yugi took his deck and flew back to his room again to retrieve his manga. Soon the two were sitting and looking at the manga about the boy and samurai ghost’s adventures. Yugi did the boy’s voice and now that Atem was more alert, he provided the voice of the samurai ghost.
At length, the Pharaoh began to shift about, seemingly unable to find a comfortable position. This caused Yugi to look over at him, face weighted with concern for his Other’s well being.
‘He’s been in bed for two days. He’s probably getting sore,’ Yugi thought to himself as he laid the manga aside.
“Hey, Atem. How about a back rub?” he offered.
Atem’s only response was a sultry smile before rolling over onto his stomach.
“Be right back with the oil,” said Yugi, giving Atem’s shoulder a squeeze as he stood up.
After returning with the oil, Yugi peeled the blanket back to expose the Pharaoh’s entire back for his ministrations. Atem’s back, like the rest of his body, was all lean muscle residing under that beautiful burnished skin that Yugi found he couldn’t look away from.
‘He is so gorgeous!’
After pouring some oil into his left hand, Yugi went to work on the strong, bronze shoulders, fingers kneading and stretching the muscles that rippled beneath.
“Mmmmm…” Atem moaned from deep in the back of his throat, body shifting as Yugi’s nimble fingers scattered his thoughts to the wind.
Yugi smiled tenderly down at his Pharaoh as he worked a particularly noisome knot from the small of Atem’s back.
Atem’s eyes closed in blissful relief upon feeling his muscles loosen up.
“Unnnnhhh…”
Yugi continued his work for several minutes in silence, hands moving slowly and steadily over Atem’s shoulder blades, spreading the warm oil to work all the tension and distress from lean muscles.
“Yugi, those hands… so skilled,” the Pharaoh groaned appreciatively.
Yugi’s cheeks flushed a lovely incarnadine as a bright smile broke out on his countenance at these words. As his fingers moved in slow centripetal motions, he felt the muscles in Atem’s shoulders unlock as the tension was pushed from them.
“Ooooh, Raaaaaa…”
Yugi worked his way slowly down Atem’s spine, gliding over smooth skin, stopping to push and knead any stress nodules he came across. These he worked on until the muscles relaxed under his touch.
Yugi continued the massage until Atem’s back glistened with the warm oil and the Pharaoh’s muscles felt like putty under his hands. Lightening his touch gradually so as not to disturb his Other, Yugi stood up, pulling the blanket up to Atem’s shoulders so the Egyptian could sleep.
Just after making his way downstairs, Yugi heard the screech of tires and the engine being cut off. Moments later, the side door opened.
“I got some Chinese ‘n Mexican. Figured a lil international cuisine might be just da t’ing to git Temu goin’ again,” said Jou.
Yugi winced at Jou’s chosen nickname for his Other, but refrained from commenting.
“So, ya want Mexican or Chinese?” Jou grinned.
“What the hell? I’ll try Mexican,” said Yugi with a shrug.
“Olé,” grinned Jou as he spread out some of the Mexican food on the table, then going to refrigerate the Chinese.
As the two ate, Jou’s eyes looked upstairs.
“Any chance a seein’m today?” Jou asked.
“I don’t see why not. He’s doing a lot better now. I’ll just ask him when he wakes up,” said Yugi with a bright smile.
“Maybe we could bring in da portable. He’ll prolly be bored outta his skull t’day when he wakes up,” suggested Jou.
“Yeah! That’s a great idea,” exclaimed Yugi.
After eating, Yugi and Jou spent the next few hours on the couch watching TV. Every ten minutes, Yugi would leave the couch and go to the base of the staircase to listen for any sound from the guestroom.
Finally, two long samurai films later, Yugi went to the bottom of the staircase and did indeed hear movement from the guestroom. He flew up the stairs and opened the door to see Atem stretching out, having just awoken from a long sleep.
“Hi,” Yugi called in a dropped voice to his Other.
“Hey, Partner,” Atem said, lips turning up in a smile upon seeing Yugi, which caused the by now familiar incarnadine hue to tinge Yugi’s cheeks again.
“Um, are you hungry?” Yugi said, in a bid to change the subject so his cheeks would stop shining like apples.
“Very,” was Atem’s succinct answer.
“Chinese or Mexican?”
“Chinese.”
“Be right back.”
Yugi scampered downstairs to grab some Chinese food for his Other.
Yugi sat on the chair and watched as Atem fed himself for the first time since his return from the afterlife. His handling of the chopsticks was a bit awkward for the first few bites, but muscle memory quickly prevailed and soon he was eating as if he were a native of Japan.
“Say, would it be alright if Jou came up? He’s been helping me take care of you for the past two days,” Yugi asked at length.
“Jou’s here? Yes! I’d love to see him!” Atem exclaimed before biting into a wonton.
“Be right back,” said Yugi, giving Atem’s hand a parting squeeze.
Atem smiled after Yugi’s departing form. His heart felt warm and light with the knowledge that Yugi’s hurtful words from that last night of Obon were not his true feelings after all.
Moments later, Yugi returned with Jou, who carried the portable TV in his arms, which he promptly set down and plugged in. Finished with that, he flashed Atem his winning smile.
“Hey, Temu! Welcome back to da land a da livin’!” he exclaimed.
“Hi, Jou. It’s good to be back. Thanks for helping Yugi to care for me,” Atem said gratefully.
“No problem! Man, dis is so awesome! As soon as yer up to it, me ‘n Yuge’r gonna take ya everywhere, like da movies, da mall, da mosh pits…” said Jou, voice rising an octave as he got more and more excited thinking about all the fun things they would soon do.
Though Jou was filled with well meaning, all of his exuberant attention and loud voice were rather distressing for Atem, causing him to withdraw into himself a bit.
“Easy, Jou. Let’s wait till he’s actually out of bed first,” admonished Yugi by way of quieting the blond down.
“Eh? OK. In dat case, let’s watch a DVD!” said Jou, proudly whipping out Fellowship of the Ring.
At the sight of that title, Yugi visibly paled, but swallowed his apprehension. Ever since he had run out in the middle of the movie last winter, he had been silently berating himself for his childish behavior. Now was his day of reckoning, so to speak. After all, he couldn’t run away crying in front of Atem. He would never live it down!
“What’s it about, Jou?” Atem asked, looking at the DVD box with keen interest.
“It’s epic! It’s about dese short lil dudes called Hobbits, who gotta go on dis badass mission to destroy an evil ring in a volcano!” said Jou excitedly.
“There’s way more to it than that,” Yugi put in quickly.
“Put it in,” said Atem with a nod.
“K,” said Jou as he popped the disc into the player.
The three friends sat together as Jou skipped through all the previews to go straight to the movie.
Throughout the film, crimson eyes were riveted on the TV, taking in every scene, sword fight and beautiful piece of music the film had to offer. The story of three hobbits and their quest to save Middle Earth seemed to entrance the ancient pharaoh.
When that part of the movie played, Yugi snuggled up against Atem and blinked at the moisture that filled his eyes as he once again watched Gandalf plunge into the darkness as he battled the Balrog and watched the hobbits crying for their friend. Just as he felt like his heart was going to burst in his chest, the Pharaoh’s fingers interlaced with his and squeezed gently. This simple gesture on Atem’s part allowed Yugi to watch the rest of the movie without too much distress.
Jou livened things up with his funny and sometimes inappropriate commentary about the different characters and situations, drawing laughs from Yugi and being ignored by Atem, who was simply too engrossed in the movie to notice.
As the credits rolled, Yugi smiled to himself.
‘What an awesome movie! I’m glad I finished it,’ he thought.
“That was amazing!” Atem declared, eyes shining. “It’s almost as good as the tales I was told as a child.”
“Da sequel’s comin’ to theaters in Decembah, if ya wanna see how da rest a da story goes,” offered Jou.
“You’d have to lock me away in Mordor to keep me from it,” declared Atem.
Yugi couldn’t help but laugh at his normally aloof Pharaoh being so openly enthusiastic about something.
Just after the credits ended, Jou’s phone blasted its text tone and he flipped it open to check. His face turned pale as a sheet upon seeing whom it was from.
“Ah, shit!” he said, jumping up from his chair.
“What is it?” asked Yugi upon seeing the change in his friend’s demeanor.
“Just got a pissy email from Kaiba sayin’ I gotta go to work today b’fore he replaces me wit’ a rottweiler,” explained Jou, glowering at his phone.
“Kaiba could give Sauron a run for his money in the evil department,” commented Atem acerbically.
“Ya said it, Temu! I betta go to work. I’ll swing by latah tonight wit’ s’more takeout fer you guys,” said Jou as he put the DVD in its case.
“Oh, I hope I haven’t gotten you in trouble,” said Yugi unhappily.
“Nah. Dun worry ‘bout it,” said Jou as he headed for the door. “See you guys t’night.”
“OK,” said Yugi.
“Thanks for the movie!” Atem called.
“Any time!” came Jou’s voice as the blond descended the stairs.
‘Jou’s been a big help, but he has his own life to live and now that Atem’s fever’s gone, I can take care of him myself,’ thought Yugi, gazing fondly at the door Jou had left through.
“So, Jou works for Kaiba now. Have I returned to the wrong dimension?” Atem mused.
“No. Well, I don’t think so anyway. Kaiba’s not quite as bad as he used to be,” explained Yugi.
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” said Atem, crossing his arms.
“It took us all a while to believe it even after seeing it,” smiled Yugi.
“That, I’d believe. Well, the movie was excellent, but now I need some sleep,” Atem said through a yawn, looking at Yugi with sleepy ruby orbs.
“OK. Maybe you’ll dream about the Shire,” teased Yugi gently as he helped Atem to lie back down.
“That would be very peaceful,” Atem agreed with a contented smile as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off.
Yugi sat on the chair next to the bed, studying the sleeping man’s features. They were and yet weren’t, the features Yugi had become familiar with when gazing upon his Other Self. Whereas Other Yugi’s features had been Yugi’s own, albeit sharper, Atem’s features were swarthy and exotic, making him look like a different person altogether.
‘You’re so laid back compared to my Other Self. Not that that’s a bad thing, just kinda different. I wonder what other ways you’re like and different from him,’ he thought as he tenderly stroked his Other’s thick, soft hair.
- 6
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- 8
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Rending the Veil