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
- 7
- 8
- 9
The car sped on until they reached a small medical clinic on the side of the road, seeming to be away from everything and everyone else. Jou shut off the car and took Atem out of Yugi’s arms. Yugi ran up to the glass door and opened it so Jou could enter.
“Hi, Katsuya! Oh my!” yelped resident doctor Kawai’i Shizuka at the sight of the broken man bundled in Jou's arms.
“Dis ain't no social call, Shizu-chan! Git us to Mai on da double!” Jou demanded.
Shizuka led Yugi and Jou back without hesitation.
“Mai-sensei, emergency!” she called.
Mai’s blonde head popped up, sharp violet eyes locking on the sight of her boyfriend carrying the bundle in his arms.
“Bring him in here!” she commanded.
Yugi and Jou brought Atem into the exam room, where Jou set him gently on the table.
“Thank you. Now get out!” Mai said to Jou and Yugi.
“Please can I stay? I’m sure he’ll be scared if he wakes up to strangers standing over him,” pleaded Yugi.
“He won’t because he won’t be waking up yet,” announced Mai, holding up a syringe. “Shizuka!”
“Wait outside, guys. It’ll be a while. Don’t worry about your friend; Mai-sensei knows what to do,” soothed Shizuka as she herded Yugi and Jou from the room.
The two friends found themselves sitting in the waiting room.
“Guess nothin’ to do but wait,” said Jou, slumping back in a seat.
“I just hope she can help him,” said Yugi, looking at the floor.
“Dun worry ‘bout dat. Mai’s a crackahjack doctah,” said Jou, laying a hand on Yugi’s shoulder.
Yugi only nodded without looking up.
Working slowly and carefully, Mai and Shizuka poured hot water over the areas where the blood had stuck the cotton of the sheet to Atem’s skin, gently peeling the sheet away to reveal the horrible bruises and welts.
Using her digital camera, Mai photographed every wound that marred Atem’s sleek body.
‘Who could do something like this?’
Mai had Shizuka part the Egyptian’s nether cheeks to view his perianal area.
‘Oh, gods. This is some of the worst I’ve seen.’
This as she stared at the torn flesh, streaked with fresh blood and semen. While Shizuka held the nether cheeks apart, Mai took several photos of the damaged area for evidence.
After logging all the damage, Mai and Shizuka set to work, cleaning and bandaging all the bloody wounds. Finished with that, Mai started Atem on an IV and threaded a catheter into him. They wheeled him out of the surgery and settled him into a bed in a private room in the back.
In the waiting room…
Yugi sat staring unwaveringly at the door, as though hoping to be able to peer through it and the walls and see what was happening to Atem. Only the sound of Jou’s voice was able to break him out of this reverie.
“Man, aftah seein’ wut dat ol’ bastahd was doin’ t’ Yami, I’m glad we got ’m outta dere. Nobody d’serves to go through dat,” remarked Jou with unusual vim.
“Yeah. That’s for sure,” agreed Yugi as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the disturbing tableau even now playing out before his eyes.
They lapsed into silence for several moments before Yugi spoke up again.
“But there’s something I just don’t get, Jou. Bakura told me Atem was able to beat up anyone who bothered him and you said you heard he put two people in the hospital last year. When those two bullies who were gonna beat me up saw him, they put me down and almost ran away. So Atem’s obviously strong. There’s no way that old guy should’ve been able to tie him down to his bed! Why did he just lie there, without fighting back?” asked Yugi, voice quavering at the end.
Jou frowned resolutely as he pondered Yugi’s question for a few moments.
“Well, Yuge, I t’ink it’s kinda like wit’ me ‘n mah ol’ man. Ya know how I used to git in fights all da time in school ‘n beat da shit outta a lotta guys? Da t’ing is, when mah ol’ man’d lay his hands on me, no mattah how much I wan’d to, I could nevah raise mine t’ him, cuz every time I tried to, he’d tell me his breakup wit’ Mom was mah fault. Ev’ry time I heard dat, I’d jus’ freeze up ‘n let ‘m do what he wanted. It really fucked wit’ mah head fer a long time. I kept t’inkin’ maybe if I’da done bettah in school, or if I’da bin p’litah or some shit like dat, dey woulda stayed t’gethah. Den da next day in school, I’d beat da shit outta anybody who even looked at me wrong,” said Jou, staring down at the floor.
“Your parents’ breakup wasn’t your fault, Jou. It was cuz your dad was such an asshole to your mom,” protested Yugi.
“Heh! Yeah. I know dat now, Yuge. But when I was a kid, I b’lieved da bullshit mah ol’ man fed me, cuz well, he’s was mah ol’ man. I didn’t staht t’ realize it wasn’t mah fault till… well actually, it was aftah I made friends witchu ‘n got mah head on straight,” replied Jou with a smile at Yugi.
At these words, Yugi blushed hard and looked at his clasped hands in his lap.
“So what I’m drivin’ at is, maybe dat ol’ guy somehow got it into Yami’s head dat he deserves what was bein’ done to ‘m. Parents ‘r gods t’ kids ‘n when dey use dat t’ hurt kids, it fucks ‘em up royally,” Jou concluded solemnly.
“Yeah,” agreed Yugi with a broken sigh. ‘Talk about a traumatic bond!’
After what seemed like hours…
The door swung open, revealing Mai, who looked tiredly at Yugi and Jou through dull violet eyes, causing the two young men to jump to their feet.
“We’re finished. He’s resting in back. He has huge welts and bruises all over his back and thighs. Fortunately, there are no broken bones and his internal organs seem alright. I’m gonna keep him overnight and all day tomorrow for observation,” Mai explained. “If he’s better by Sunday morning, he can go home with you, but needs to take things easy for another week.”
“Can I see him, please?” Yugi asked tremulously.
“As soon as Shizuka’s done settling him in,” assured Mai.
“Thank you,” said Yugi with a bow.
After yet another a seeming eternity, the door opened and the young resident stepped out.
“Yugi, you can see him now,” she said gently with a quick smile at Jou.
Yugi and Jou nodded to each other and Yugi fell in behind Shizuka as the resident led him into the back. When they reached the door to Atem’s room, Yugi bowed a silent “thank you” to Shizuka, who then left. Steeling his courage and squaring his shoulders, Yugi opened the door and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
Yugi’s heart sank at the sight of his friend, who lay in a hospital bed with his hair unbound into a starfish shape similar to Yugi’s own. His toned body was draped in a gown, through which glimpses of white gauze peeked out. An oxygen mask fitted over his mouth and nose helped him to breathe more easily while he recovered. A monitor beeped off how many beats per second his heart produced. An IV line embedded in his left arm dripped saline solution into his bloodstream to keep him hydrated, as well as a good, strong painkiller. Yugi also noticed a clear bag with a yellow liquid dripping into it, clipped to the side of the bed. The sight of that made his insides clench.
He sat down at the bedside and laid his hand on Atem’s brow. Yugi looked into his dark twin’s relaxed features and began gently stroking thick blond bangs back from his forehead.
“Hey, buddy. How’re you doing? Sorry everything happened so fast, but I had to get you outta that place,” Yugi began, voice laden with unshed tears.
No response, not even a twitch from the Egyptian whose brow Yugi’s hand so lovingly caressed.
“Atem,” he continued. “You don’t have to worry about being hurt again. I’ll never let that bastard lay a hand on you. When you get outta here, you’ll come home with me. I’m gonna take care of you from now on.”
As Yugi combed his fingers through Atem’s voluminous hair, he took comfort in the sounds of his deep, even breathing and the beeping of the heart monitor. Though Atem was still and unresponsive, these were the sounds of life, showing Yugi that he was still in the world, still fighting to return.
“When me and Jou visit tomorrow, we’ll show you Jou’s Red Eyes and tell you how he got it, just like we promised,” Yugi said softly. “You’ll like staying with us. We play a lotta games and watch a lotta movies and TV. We’ll all have shitloads of fun.”
Throughout Yugi’s apostrophe, Atem’s eyes remained closed and his features unresponsive.
‘That sedative’s some strong shit,’ Yugi thought as he continued to touch Atem softly. ‘Poor guy.’
“Me and Jou’ll both be here bright and early tomorrow. Get some sleep so you can recover, OK?” said Yugi as he gradually eased up his touch on Atem’s head. “Good night.”
Yugi stole from the room as silently as a thief.
Yugi made his way down the corridor toward the doorway to the waiting room. Just as he passed Mai’s office, however, the door opened up and the doctor stepped out.
“Before you go home, there are some things I need to discuss with you, Yugi,” she said seriously as she gestured toward her office.
“What kinds of things?” asked Yugi as he stepped into the office, closing the door behind him.
“Have a seat,” said Mai, gesturing to a chair before her desk.
Yugi sat down and fixed large, worried eyes on the lady doctor.
“While you were visiting with Atemu-san, Jou told me and Shizuka as much as he knows about the circumstances surrounding tonight’s events. But since you know Atemu-san better than he does, I need to hear everything from you,” Mai said.
Yugi wriggled about uncomfortably in the chair as he tried to think of the right words to sum this ordeal up.
“Well, he always seemed real quiet and angry. But once I dueled with him, he started talking and hanging out with me and we became friends. But sometimes, he’d come to class with bruises on his face and once I saw bandages under his clothes. Then I hugged him once and he freaked out on me,” he explained.
Mai pondered Yugi’s words for a few moments before looking up at him. Without ceremony, she swiveled her computer monitor for Yugi to look at. What he saw made his stomach roil inside him. Photos revealed welts and bruises marring the front and back of what should have been a god’s body. The photos of the evidence of the assault were the worst, causing tears to well in Yugi’s eyes.
“Oh, shit! I had no idea it was that bad! It was so dark when we got there,” he said in a shaky voice. “Why show me this?”
“Because, if you’re to help Atem to heal, you need to understand what he’s been through,” answered Mai as she swiveled the monitor back.
“I think I have some idea,” said Yugi sarcastically as he defiantly wiped the tears from his face.
“Your narrative, coupled with Jou’s, points to Atem having been through abuse too horrific to put into words. Yes, the physical wounds will heal, but words and experiences, especially at the hands of an adult authority figure, can leave lasting emotional scars,” Mai said solemnly.
Yugi nodded sadly.
“He can heal from this, Yugi. It’s not unheard of for abuse survivors to go on to live normal lives with stable, happy relationships. However, in order to achieve this, a strong support system is essential. If you and Jou take Atem home with you in two days, you’re both committing yourselves to his recovery,” Mai said.
“Yeah. We’re gonna take him home and I’ll do whatever I gotta do to to help him,” declared Yugi.
“When he first arrives home, don’t be surprised if he’s jumpy and experiences flashbacks and nightmares,” Mai said.
“What should I do if that happens?” Yugi asked.
“You’ll need to try to talk him out of them. At this point, it will be better if you touch him as little as possible, but your voice can still reach if you’ve built up a rapport with him,” said Mai.
“A report?” echoed Yugi.
“‘Rapport’, Yugi. A relationship based on trust,” Mai explained.
“Well, we’ve hung out almost every day for two weeks and he did say he likes talking with me,” said Yugi.
“That something to build on. Build up his sense of self-worth. Not so much with words, but with deeds. After he begins to trust you, a soft touch will likely do him worlds of good, but remember, always ask his permission or at the very least warn him before initiating contact,” Mai continued. “You’re Atem’s grounding force now, his rock, if you will. For his sake, you must be strong and reliable. If you show weakness in front of him, it could throw his whole world off kilter and destabilize him. Remember this: If he’s hurt again, he could break so badly that he would have to be institutionalized.”
“Institutionalized?” Yugi gasped.
At that word, an image of Atem sitting in a white room with padded walls, arms securely bound in a straight jacket, flashed into his mind, causing his blood to run cold. They would probably dope him up with so many drugs that he would become a drooling vegetable. Gone would be the amazing duelist who knew seven languages, psychology, history and theology; a precious mind, irrevocably destroyed forever.
‘I can’t let that happen!’
“I’ll remember,” promised Yugi solemnly. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help him.”
“Good,” answered Mai with a grim smile.
Yugi meant to respond, truly he did, but ceased speaking when his eyes happened to fall on a small, faded picture hanging on Mai’s wall, which enthralled him.
When she realized Yugi’s attention was no longer on her, Mai turned her head to follow his gaze to the picture: a faded photograph of a solitary red rose blossoming gloriously in the pale golden sand of a desert. Slowly, she turned back to Yugi with a smile.
“Pretty, isn’t it? My father took that photo while on safari in the Sahara,” she explained.
“I never knew flowers could grow in the desert,” breathed Yugi.
“The rose that blossoms in the desert is the strongest one,” said Mai.
“A desert rose…” mused Yugi.
“Exactly. Now you and Jou should go home, take a hot shower, get some sleep and then come here tomorrow morning for a proper visit,” advised Mai. “Atem will be fine for tonight. The sedative will keep him under.”
“Alright. I’ll leave him in your hands, Mai-sensei,” replied Yugi with a bow. “Good night.”
Yugi exited Mai’s office and found Jou and Shizuka sitting in the waiting room, talking. At the sight of their starfish haired friend, both stood up.
“Thanks for all your help, Shizuka. We’ll come see him tomorrow,” said Yugi in a tired voice.
“Don’t worry about him for tonight, Yugi. Mai-sensei and I will look after him,” promised Shizuka.
“T’anks, Lil Sis. You ‘n Mai make a kick ass team,” grinned Jou.
“And don’t you forget it, Katsuya!” giggled Shizuka. “See you tomorrow.”
Yugi and Jou exited the clinic and headed for Jou’s car. As they walked, Yugi felt conflicting feelings of sorrow and relief swirling in his heart; sorrow at what he had learned about Atem’s life and relief that that part of it was now over.
“Jou, I’m sorry for being so selfish over this whole thing; always eating with him, hardly hanging with you and then asking you to help me rescue him. I’ve been a total douche,” Yugi sighed as they pulled onto the road.
“Hey! Nuff a dat talk!” growled Jou with a sideways glare at Yugi. “Ya prolly saved a life back dere. Ain’t nothin’ selfish in dat. As fer us: I ain’t nevah known ya to steer me wrong so I trustcher judgment. Ya say Yam- Atem’s a great guy, he prolly is. Tell ya what, I’ll bring mah Red Eyes when we visit t’morrow ‘n we’ll git to know each othah.”
“That would be cool. He’ll like that,” Yugi nodded, able to smile a bit now.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Although antithetical to his nature, Yugi was up by 8 AM, without the use of Jou’s bucket o’wake-up. The hot shower and bath Mai-sensei had prescribed had done him wonders and, coupled with the relief of knowing that Atem was in good hands for the night, Yugi had conked out almost from the moment his head hit the pillow until the light of the rising sun had beckoned him through the veneer of his eyelids.
After dressing and taming his hair down somewhat, Yugi grabbed his phone and called Grandpa.
“Hello, Yugi. What a surprise to hear from you this early,” teased Sugoroku.
“Very funny, Grandpa. I just called to say I can’t come to the game shop today. I have to visit a friend in Mai’s clinic,” Yugi explained.
“Would this be the friend you mentioned before?” asked Sugoroku.
A beat.
“Yeah. I followed my heart like you told me to. I can’t go into detail, but let’s just say I’m so glad I got him outta there,” said Yugi, even now fighting to keep his voice even.
“That’s alright, my boy. Go visit your friend and take care of him,” said Sugoroku.
“Yeah,” Yugi answered briefly.
“May I be a nosey old man and at least ask his name?” asked Sugoroku.
“It’s Atem,” Yugi answered.
“Ah! Is he Egyptian?” inquired Sugoroku.
“Yeah,” answered Yugi with a faint smile.
“He must be named after the Pharaoh who lived 3,000 years ago, one of the greatest kings of the 18th dynasty. Truly a fascinating story!” gushed Sugoroku.
“That’s great, Grandpa. I’d love to hear it sometime, but me and Jou gotta eat and then get to the clinic,” said Yugi, hoping to be able to politely end the conversation.
“Ha ha! Alright. I’ll letcha go. Good luck with Atem,” said Sugoroku. “I love you, Yugi. Bye.”
“I love you too, Grandpa. Bye,” said Yugi before pressing the red button to end the call.
Just then the door opened, revealing Jou bearing the bucket o’wake-up in his hands and a shit-eating grin on his face. Imagine his great surprise upon seeing Yugi standing before him, already dressed and groomed for the day.
“Wha' da hell?!” the blond yelped.
“Beatcha to the punch for once,” smirked Yugi.
“Gotta hand it t’ ya , Yuge. Ya must really be serious ‘bout dis dude!” chuckled Jou, setting down the bucket.
At the mention of Atem, Yugi immediately sobered up and nodded.
Mai’s Clinic
The sun shone in brightly through the eastern window, illuminating the room in its soft white light. The door creaked softly as it swung open, revealing Dr. Kujaku Mai, whose sharp lilac eyes quickly checked the room before falling on the beautiful dreamer lying in the hospital bed, chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept.
“Ishutaru-san?” Mai asked, checking for wakefulness.
When Atem didn’t so much as twitch, Mai set to work, folding down the blanket and lifting Atem’s gown away to reveal the white bandages winding all around his body. After quickly washing her hands and snapping on gloves, Mai turned her attention to the catheter extending from Atem’s urethra.
“Let’s get this out of you,” she said softly as she began sliding the clear plastic tube out.
Even under the sedative, Atem flinched a bit as the invader was moved about in his sensitive tubing.
With the catheter out, Mai washed and regloved, then applied her ointment to a finger and gently slipped it inside Atem to examine and medicate his healing sphincter and rectum, her finger working it around inside her patient. Thankfully, some of the swelling had gone down since last night.
As she worked, Mai felt Atem’s body tense up despite the sedative.
‘The trauma is so deep, it even follows him into a medically induced stupor,’ Mai thought sadly as she began to slowly withdraw her finger.
After washing and regloving yet again, she set about removing the used bandages and medicating the nasty bruises and welts that marred Atem’s bronze skin before applying a new dressing.
Finished with all the unpleasantness, Mai dressed Atem in a new gown, pulled the blanket up and ceased the flow of the sedative into her patient’s IV line.
9 AM…
Jou pulled the convertible into the parking lot and he and Yugi jumped out, eager to see how their new friend was doing.
“No worries, Yuge. Wit’ a good night’s sleep b’hind ’m, Ya-Atem should be right as rain b’ now,” said Jou confidently.
“I don’t think it’s that simple, Jou,” replied Yugi dubiously as Jou pulled open the glass door.
“Hi, guys!” greeted Shizuka from behind the glass at the reception desk. “Step back in and follow me.”
“T’anks, Shizu-chan,” said Jou as he and Yugi stepped out of their shoes and into slippers.
“Mai-sensei’s already stopped the sedative flow, so Atemu-san should be waking up just about now, though he’ll be groggy,” advised Shizuka.
“Right,” said Yugi.
Shizuka led the boys into the back of the clinic, where they met Mai, who was just stepping out of Atem’s room.
“Ah, boys. Good morning,” smiled Mai.
“Good morning, Mai-sensei,” returned Yugi with a bow.
“Hey, beautiful,” greeted Jou, at which Mai rolled her eyes.
“Please go in, Yugi. Atemu-san will be waking up any minute now,” said Mai.
“Thanks,” replied Yugi, inclining his head.
“Wut ‘bout me?” asked the affronted Jou.
“You go wait in my office until you’re invited in,” said Mai firmly.
“Yes, ma’am,” returned Jou sarcastically as he headed for Mai’s office.
Yugi cautiously peeked his head around the open door, not wanting to startle Atem. When no response came from the Egyptian, Yugi stepped in, closing the door behind him.
A visual assessment showed that not much had changed, except for the absence of the clear plastic bag from the side of the bed, which caused Yugi to breathe a sigh of relief. Feeling a little better, he crossed the room and sat on the chair he had used last night. Again, he laid his hand on Atem’s cool brow and began stroking the blond bangs gently back.
“I’m back, just like I promised,” he said, just barely over a whisper.
At length, Yugi felt the brow under his touch furrow up and gently withdrew his hand. As he looked anxiously down at Atem's face, sleep fogged rose petals revealed themselves from behind hooded eyelids. The eyes blinked once, twice before focusing on Yugi.
“Hi there,” Yugi said softly, smiling down at Atem.
“Yu… gi?” Atem managed to rasp out.
“Good to see you,” Yugi said, voice thick with unshed tears.
Atem only stared up into Yugi’s gently smiling face. Several times, he had to blink, as though fighting just to stay awake. Finally, with much effort, Atem was able to turn his head and look about the room.
“We’re at Kujaku Mai-sensei’s medical clinic. She’s Jou’s girlfriend,” Yugi explained.
“What...” Atem began, voice trailing off as the words fled his sleep fogged mind.
“Mai fixed you up and gave you some medicine so you won’t hurt too much. She’s gonna keep you here for the day so you can get better,” Yugi continued.
Atem looked down at himself, just now noticing the hospital gown and IV. He raised his eyes again, locking onto Yugi’s face as the memories washed over him. The stinging pain across his back, the horrible thrusts threatening to rip him apart from the inside, the loud explosion of wood, then flashes of what appeared to be Yugi’s face and the face of someone he didn’t know, but thought he might have recognized from Yugi’s stories, had he been coherent. Blackness…
And then, the horrifying realization.
“You saw?” he rasped out.
Yugi frowned and nodded.
At this, Atem lowered his head, covering his eyes with his arm as sobs began to wrack his body.
“Oh, no… No, no, no…” he sobbed brokenly.
Yugi reached out and touched Atem’s arm, causing Atem to flinch away, withdrawing into himself even more.
“I never… wanted you to know… how filthy… I am,” he sobbed.
Yugi's eyes darkened with sadness at Atem's words.
“Atem, you’re not filthy,” he protested. “That old guy, Akhnadin, is the fil…”
Yugi’s words were cut off by the explosion.
“What do you know about it? You think you know me because we dueled each other a few times?! You don’t know, Yugi! You don’t know how filthy and cursed I am! Look at my eyes! These are the eyes of a demon!!!” Atem screamed as he gripped the bed rails with white knuckled hands, said eyes sharp and blazing despite the drugs lingering in his system.
Poor Yugi could only stare in sorrow and dismay at the raw pain exuding from the man he had so quickly come to admire. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he decided once again to meet Atem’s hostility with calmness.
“You’re right, Atem. I don’t know you all that well. I only know you from the time we’ve spent together. But, based on that time together, I can’t believe the Ishutaru Atemu I met is cursed or filthy, let alone a demon. He’s a cool guy who saved me from bullies, made me an awesome cartouche, which I’ve hung on my wall by the way, taught me about Egyptian theology, and how to say ‘good morning’ in four different languages. As for your eyes, what about them?! So what if they’re red? Your eyes aren’t demonic anymore than mine are angelic!” Yugi declared sensibly.
Atem’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as his gaze remained fixed on Yugi. Then he lowered his face into the crook of his elbow and began to sob anew.
Yugi’s heart felt thick and heavy as he watched Atem once again dissolve into sobs, hiding his eyes behind the crook of his arm, body jerking with each shaky breath he gulped in. For several minutes, he remained still and quiet, allowing Atem time to work through the emotions inundating him.
“That man who was… hurting you, he’s not the one who gave you the cartouche, is he?” Yugi ventured hesitantly.
Atem shook his head vigorously.
“He’s… my f-father’s twin brother,” he answered between sobs.
Now everything made much more sense to Yugi. The loving father who had given Atem the cartouche had somehow been removed from the picture and replaced by his evil brother, who had wrought unspeakable horrors upon his nephew, all while twisting his mind and telling him it was for his own good.
‘Horus didn’t have Osiris to protect him this time,’ Yugi thought somberly.
Steeling his soul, Yugi took a deep breath and raised his gaze to Atem, slowly proffering his right hand.
“I meant what I said before: I’m your friend, Atem. And friends help each other. Will you let me help you?” he asked solemnly.
Atem looked up and began wiping defiantly at his tears, trying desperately to get his emotions in check. Slowly, he stretched his right hand out to meet Yugi's. Atem and Yugi stared at each other again, Yugi offering a gentle smile, which Atem shyly returned with just the tiniest quirk of his lips.
Yugi held Atem’s right hand gently while Atem used his left to dab at his moistened cheeks with his blanket. Yugi’s heart raced warmly. It wasn’t much, but it was an important first step.
“When me and Jou got you, I swiped your wallet and backpack and as much of your clothes as I could stuff in it,” Yugi stated at length while giving Atem’s hand a gentle squeeze.
As Atem looked into Yugi’s face, a smile briefly flickered across his features as he returned the squeeze.
“Thank you,” he breathed out.
Yugi looked into the soft, sleep-fogged rubies and smiled gently at their owner, who closed his eyes and smiled back vaguely as exhaustion began to pull him down once again.
“I’ll take care of your stuff until we get you home,” Yugi said softly.
Atem nodded, unable able to open his eyes.
“I’ll letcha go back to sleep. Me and Jou’ll be here all day, so I’ll peek in in a couple hours and see if you’re awake then, OK?” said Yugi.
“Thanks… for coming,” Atem breathed out.
“I’m glad to,” returned Yugi. “I like being with you.”
“I like… being with you…. too,” returned Atem with a soft smile.
With a final squeeze of Atem’s hand, Yugi withdrew from their mutual grasp and crossed the floor on silent feet until he reached the door. With one last glance at his sleeping doppelganger, Yugi exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
In the hall, he ran into Mai, who had just emerged from her office.
“How did things go? I thought I heard some yelling,” inquired Mai.
“Things went as good as we can expect I guess. That was Atem. I think he’s kinda confused about waking up somewhere else,” answered Yugi.
“That’s understandable. Next time you visit him, I’ll come in and introduce myself. Hopefully, that’ll put him at ease,” offered Mai.
“I’m sure it would,” agreed Yugi.
“Hey Mai, yer vendin’ machines suck. Dey’re nothin’ but watah ‘n fruit juice. Where’s da pop?” came the disgruntled voice of Jou as the blond came into view.
“I run a medical clinic, not a video game arcade!” sniffed Mai.
“Well, I’ll die if I dun git some caffeine,” pointed out Jou.
“I’ll risk it,” said Mai unfeelingly.
“How’d she git t’ be a doctah?” Jou glowered to the by now giggling Yugi.
‘I can’t wait for Atem to meet everyone. If laughter’s the best medicine, he’ll be outta here in no time,’ Yugi thought to himself.
11 AM
“My Skull Demon electrocutes your Celtic Guardian and Red Eyes, dropping your life points to zero,” Yugi concluded.
“Ah, shit. Great game,” said Jou as he gathered his cards.
BEEP BEEP!
Yugi’s phone beeped off the 11 AM alarm that Yugi had set.
“I’m gonna go check on Atem,” he announced as he stood up.
“Cool,” said Jou as he put his Red Eyes back in its plastic case.
Yugi knocked once, then opened the door and peeked in. A pair of dark ruby eyes stared back at him with a bit more focus than they had held earlier.
“Hello… Yugi,” Atem breathed out.
“Hi, Até,” smiled Yugi as he crossed over to Atem’s bed. “You been awake long?”
Atem shook his head.
“Just now,” he answered quietly.
“That’s good,” smiled Yugi, proffering his right hand, which Atem latched onto.
“Yugi, how did you… f-find my house?” Atem asked curiously.
“Bakura got me the address,” answered Yugi. “I’m sorry, Atem. I know you’re probably confused about everything. I just… I couldn’t leave you in that situation. I’ll understand if you’re mad at me…”
“I’m not angry,” answered Atem. “However, you must be aware of the danger you’ve placed yourselves in. That man… will stop at nothing… to get what he wants.”
Yugi frowned as Atem’s voice began to shake at the mere mention of his abuser.
“Don’t worry. Jou punched him so hard he flew across the room. He probably didn’t even see us,” said Yugi dismissively.
“For your sake and Jou’s… I hope you’re right,” replied Atem after taking a deep, steadying breath.
“Speaking of Jou, you feeling up to visitors right now?” Yugi asked. “Jou’s here with me.”
“Has he… his Red Eyes?” Atem asked, eyes lighting just a bit.
A smile lit Yugi’s features as he answered with a sharp nod.
“Be right back,” he said, giving Atem’s hand a squeeze before withdrawing.
“Now remember, you. When you're in there, you move slowly and speak softly. Atem needs absolute rest and quiet!” Mai admonished Jou.
“Yes, mothah,” said Jou with a roll of his eyes.
Whap!
“Just do it!” growled Mai.
Just then, the door opened to reveal Yugi’s smiling face.
“Wanna show Atem your Red Eyes now?” he asked.
Reaching into his pocket, Jou stood up to follow Yugi.
“Lemme go in first,” said Yugi quickly.
Jou nodded and watched as Yugi leaned into the room.
“Jou’s here. OK if he comes in?” Yugi asked.
After a moment, Yugi turned to Jou with a smile and opened the door wider with a gesture for him to enter.
Jou stepped in and looked over to the darker version of Yugi, seeing a pair of intense ruby irises staring back at him.
“Hi, Atem. I’m Jou. T’anks fer lookin’ aftah mah lil buddy fer me,” Jou said by way of introduction.
Atem flinched at the attention from the blond, squeezing Yugi’s hand, who promptly squeezed back. The two exchanged glances.
“It’s OK. I’m right here with you.”
Reassured of Yugi’s presence, Atem turned his gaze to Jou once again and nodded gravely.
“You’re… welcome,” he said. “Thank you … for your help.”
“Hey, no probs,” grinned Jou. “Oh, yeah.”
Jou pulled out his Red Eyes Black Dragon in its plastic case and, mindful of Mai’s instructions, slowly extended his hand, proffering the card to Atem.
After receiving another reassuring squeeze from Yugi, Atem extended his left hand to accept the card from Jou’s grasp. He turned it over and over, crimson eyes widening as he gazed at the coal black dragon with fiery crimson eyes staring out of its fierce countenance, emblazoned on the legendary card.
Unseen by the card gazing duelist, Yugi and Jou exchanged a triumphant smile.
Presently, Atem raised his eyes to Jou, fixing him with an all too wonderfully clear gaze.
“Yugi said you’ve a story… of how you… came by this card,” he asked, breathing deeply every so often.
“Yup! It was at last year’s regionals. I ended up in Pool B ‘gainst Dinosaur Ryuzaki…”
Jou proceeded to relay his exhaustive adventure to Atem.
“Den I prayed t’ every god I knew of t’ lemme draw da one card dat’d clinch it fer me. I drew ‘n dere it was: da Time Wizard!” said Jou.
Atem’s eyes widened.
“You used the Time Wizard with…”
“Yup. Da time magic gamble worked ‘n I was able to age mah Baby Dragon 1,000 years to Thousand Dragon. Ryuzaki’s Red Eyes was turned t’ a fossil. My Thousand Dragon blew dat fuckah t’ bits ‘n I got da cahd!” Jou concluded.
“Awesome story as always, Jou,” said Yugi. “That was the day I knew Jou had the makings of a real duelist, even if he is a bit thick skulled in other things.”
This last sentence to Atem, who managed a small smile of amusement.
“Damn right… Hey! Wuddya mean ‘thick skulled’?!” growled Jou, shooting a death glare at Yugi.
“Oh, sorry, Jou. I got carried away,” said Yugi, holding up his hands placatingly.
As he watched the easy, playful banter between the two friends, Atem couldn’t help but smile sadly. Could he ever feel comfortable enough around other people to interact with them the way these two close friends before him did?
After Atem handed the Red Eyes back to Jou, he and the blond sat and listened as Yugi read aloud to them from a manga he was reading about a boy and the samurai ghost who sometimes possessed him.
When Yugi finished the volume, he and Jou played a quick game of Duel Monsters while Atem kept score. Jou took out quite a few of Yugi’s best monsters with his Red Eyes before inevitably succumbing.
The three lads watched TV on the set that stood in the corner of the room. Yugi found an anime about an adorable red haired swordsman with a large X scar on his left cheek that all found agreeable and they watched the first two episodes thereof.
12 PM
By the time the second episode had ended, Atem was fast asleep, head lolling to the side. Yugi smiled indulgently at the Egyptian as he shut off the TV.
“He’s wiped,” Yugi announced softly.
“He ain’t da only one,” agreed Jou through a yawn.
“It’s only 12 o’clock. What’s your excuse?” Yugi teased.
“Stayed up late studyin’?” Jou tried.
A mutual glance, then the two collapsing into muffled guffaws. After recovering from their laughing fit, Yugi and Jou spared a glance over to the bed to make certain they hadn’t woken Atem up. To their relief, he lay still, breathing deep and even.
“Let’s go git some grub ‘n come back aftah,” suggested Jou.
“Yeah. That’ll be cool. He’ll probably wake up again before evening,” agreed Yugi.
Yugi and Jou exited the room and made their way back down the hall to Mai and Shizuka’s office.
“How’d everything go?” asked Mai.
“Great!” crowed Yugi.
“We’s gittin’ grub. Wan’ any?” asked Jou.
“If by ‘grub’, you mean that junk food you two always consume, I’ll pass,” Mai sniffed contemptuously.
“Yer loss,” shrugged Jou as he and Yugi departed.
Vending machine alley…
Yugi and Jou stood at the candy vending machines, plunking coins in and pulling out many plastic wrapped polychromatic fruit and chocolate treats.
“So what about it, Jou? Think you can stomach Atem as a roommate?” Yugi asked as he unwrapped a chocolate bar.
“No prob. I kin learn a lotta cool duelin’ strategies jus’ by hangin’ ‘round you two,” grinned Jou.
Yugi smiled. That was one way to look at it.
4 PM…
Atem came slowly to wakefulness, gradually opening his eyes and looking about the room before closing them so he could stretch his limbs. With the sedative now out of his system and a solid four hours of sleep behind him, he felt truly awake for the first time in two days.
knock knock
Atem’s gaze snapped toward the door.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened and in came Yugi, cheeks bulged out like a chipmunk’s with candy stuffed in them. In his hand, Atem could see several more pieces of the sugary stuff wrapped in clear plastic.
“Hi, Atem,” greeted Yugi around his mouthful of candy as he sat down at Atem’s bedside.
“Good afternoon, Yugi. What are you eating?” Atem couldn’t help but ask as he looked askance at the younger man.
“Breakfast, cuz I was too excited to eat this morning,” answered Yugi as he chewed.
“Why?” asked Atem.
“Cuz I was coming to see you,” Yugi answered as he happily shoved another cherry drop into his mouth.
“Oh…”
At a loss for words, Atem could only blush prettily.
“Wan’ shum?” asked Yugi as he held the handful of candy out for Atem, who could only stare incredulously at his friend’s choice for the midday breakfast.
“Thank you. I'll have some later,” he said finally, taking one piece in a show of politeness.
“Ok,” said Yugi happily as he crammed some fruit flavored candy into his mouth.
“So, Doritos for lunch and candy for breakfast?” Atem inquired.
“Yup,” answered Yugi as he chewed.
Poor Atem could only stare askance.
Just then, the door opened and Mai peeked in. At this, Atem tensed up, clutching reflexively at Yugi’s hand.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
“It’s your clinic,” smiled Yugi as he crammed a chocolate bar into his mouth. “Atem, this is Kujaku Mai-sensei, the doctor who took care of you. She’s totally cool.”
“It’s good to see you looking better, Ishutaru-san,” Mai said in a no-nonsense, but also kind and quiet, voice.
Atem looked to Yugi again.
“Mai-sensei is a duelist, just like us,” Yugi explained, squeezing Atem’s grasping hand.
At these words, Atem slowly relaxed and fixed Mai with his ruby irises.
“What cards do you duel with?” he asked hesitantly as Mai adjusted some of the equipment he was hooked up to.
“Harpy Ladies and their assorted accessories and pets,” Mai answered.
“Those can be quite efficacious,” Atem remarked.
“Those are the cards I feel the strongest about. I see myself in the three Harpie Ladies,” declared Mai.
“Just like I see myself in the Black Magician and Kuriboh and Jou sees himself in his Baby Dragon and Red Eyes,” remarked Yugi.
“The Black Magician is my card of choice as well,” said Atem with a vague smile. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt that he was looking after me.”
Yugi and Mai looked at each other and smiled.
“Well, if we use our cards well and care for them, they reciprocate that to us,” concluded Mai. “Atemu-san, I’m going to keep you here overnight and then if you feel well enough, you can go home with Yugi and the idiot…”
“I heard dat!” protested Jou’s voice from the hall.
“...in the morning,” Mai concluded, completely ignoring Jou.
Yugi was rocking back and forth with laughter in his chair.
That night…
Atem sat looking out the window, a small smile of amusement playing on his features. If what he had heard from Yugi was any indication, he would be in for some madcap mayhem at their house. Candy for breakfast and corn chips for dinner? Really!
“Mai-sensei, are you aware that Yugi and Jounouchi eat nothing but candy and corn chips all day long?” he asked when Mai entered the room to look after him.
“Those two wouldn’t know a vegetable if it fell on their heads!” replied Mai hotly as she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Atem’s arm and began pumping.
“So I’ve noticed,” agreed Atem with a ghost of a smile, even as he felt his arm being squeezed almost from his body.
“Believe me, Atem. I’ve tried everything to get them to at least look into a healthier diet, but my words always fall on deaf ears,” spat Mai as she removed the cuff and put her stethoscope to her ears.
By this point, Atem was smiling openly.
“They’re truly entertaining,” he declared, even as his skin crawled from the feeling of the icy steel disk.
“Idiots! Both of them!” said Mai sharply.
The two fell silent while Mai listened to Atem’s heart and lungs.
“There’s a Middle Eastern restaurant called A Little Taste of Lebanon not six blocks from their house,” Mai offered after she had withdrawn the stethoscope.
Atem’s face lit.
“Thank you, Mai-sensei. I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” he declared.
“Good. Maybe you can break them of their vile habits,” said Mai. “Now, let me draw you a good, hot bath.”
“That would be welcome,” said Atem sincerely.
Atem sank gratefully into the bathtub and closed his eyes, letting the hot water loosen sore, tired muscles and the misty scent seep into his nostrils, further soothing him. His healing wounds stung a bit, but that was offset by the water’s calming effects. As he soaked, he thought more about Yugi and Jou, the two who had become his bedrock over the past 24 hours. Their visit had actually cheered him up for its duration. Atem couldn’t help the ghost of a smile that quirked his lips.
He thought about what it would be like to go to a new home. Yugi had told him that he was free and safe now. Could he ever truly feel free and safe? He wished he could. He was tired, tired of being hurt, tired of being afraid and most of all, tired of hiding his pain and fear behind a mask of rage.
‘That isn’t who I am,’ Atem thought, a sob catching in his throat. ‘I just want to feel normal again.’
Too tired to keep his eyes open, Atem climbed from the tub and toweled off. A now clean and dry Atem picked up the tube of ointment that Mai-sensei had prescribed, squirted some onto his fingers and applied it to his healing orifice, wincing as he felt the cool sting against the still tender flesh.
Atem sat on the bed with his back to Mai so she could tend to the healing welts and bruises on it. Not a second later, he felt the cool, tingly ointment being rubbed gently into the tender wounds.
"Your back is already showing signs of healing. However, you need to keep using the ointment and keep the welts bandaged for another week to make certain they heal properly. Your best options would be to stay here and let me or Shizuka do it or enlist someone you trust," declared Mai as she rubbed.
For Atem, the answer was only too obvious.
"Of course, I would want Yugi," he replied flatly.
"Just what I was thinking. Yugi is the kindest, gentlest person I know. He would never hurt you," said Mai as she set aside the ointment and began winding the gauze around Atem's torso.
"I know," Atem replied simply as he lifted his arms so Mai could work on him.
Finished medicating and bandaging Atem’s torso, Mai held out a new gown for him to slide his arms into, then tied it in back.
"Good night, Atem."
"Good night, Mai-sensei," said Atem through a yawn.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Atem’s eyes fluttered open as the light was flicked on. Rolling over onto his back, he saw Mai enter the room.
“Good morning, Atem,” she said professionally.
“Good morning, Mai-sensei,” Atem returned cordially, even as he stretched out like a cat.
“I bet you’re ready to get out of here,” Mai said.
Atem smiled briefly and nodded.
“Let’s get this needle out of your arm,” said the doctor as she washed her hands and donned latex gloves.
Atem sat still and watched as Mai slipped the IV needle from his left elbow, then applied a bandage.
“There you go. Yugi and Jou should be here within the hour. How about some breakfast while you wait?” offered Mai.
“That would be appreciated,” Atem answered with a vague smile.
After dressing in some of the clothes that Yugi had managed to liberate from his room, Atem sailed into the tamago kake gohan Mai had brought in for him. Although not as good as Egyptian food to him, Japanese fare was a nice variant on his usual diet.
A red convertible sped down the road.
“Ya nervous?” Jou asked as he saw Yugi’s hands fidgeting absently in his lap.
“No,” answered Yugi, stilling his hands. “If anything, I’m excited. I just can’t wait to get him home.”
“We’s almost dere,” reassured Jou.
“Yeah,” smiled Yugi at the thought of seeing Atem again.
Soon, they arrived. After Jou parked the car, the two young men headed into the clinic, where Shizuka greeted them.
“You can head on back. Mai-sensei has some prescriptions and last minute instructions,” she said.
“OK,” said Yugi as he and Jou walked back.
“Good morning, you two. Atem’s dressed and ready to travel,” announced Mai as she met them in the hall.
“Morning, Mai-sensei. Shizuka said you had some stuff for us?” Yugi asked.
“Yes,” Mai answered without preamble as she held up a tube of ointment to Yugi. “He’s going to need someone to rub this into the healing welts on his back every night for the rest of the week, preferably after his shower. You’re the only one aside from me that he trusts to do it. Are you willing to?”
“Of course,” replied Yugi amiably, heart thrilling upon hearing how much Atem trusted him already.
“You’ll need to wash your hands with hot water and antibacterial soap to prevent infection. Then you just squeeze a pea sized amount onto your fingers and rub it into each welt in small circles,” Mai instructed with gestures to show Yugi what to do.
“No problem,” said Yugi happily.
“And then, there’s this,” continued Mai, holding up a bottle with a 30-day supply of purple pills to Yugi. “These are sedatives that you can give him if he has trouble sleeping or becomes too agitated.”
“Well, OK. But why not give these to Atem?” questioned Yugi.
“Standard procedure with abuse victims. You don’t let them have anything that they could use for suicide,” answered Mai.
“Atem wouldn’t…”
“You never know, Yugi. Better safe than sorry,” interrupted Mai, all but forcing the pills into Yugi’s hands.
With a sigh, Yugi accepted the pills.
“Alright, Mai-sensei. I-I’ll hang onto these. Thanks,” he said hesitantly. “What about the ointment? Or do you think he’ll eat it?”
“Probably not. I’ll give that to him now. Wait here while I tell him you’re here,” said Mai.
“OK.”
Just as Atem set his chopsticks down, Mai opened the door.
“They’re here,” she announced, holding out the tube of ointment.
With a nod, Atem took the tube and rose from the bed. As he stepped through the door, the sounds of Yugi and Jou’s playful banter reached his ears, causing a ghost of a smile to quirk up his lips. As he drew closer, the voices lowered to a hush.
There were Yugi and Jou, standing in anticipation of his approach, Jou with his hands shoved casually in his jeans pockets, Yugi all rigid and excited in anticipation. Upon seeing Atem, Yugi’s eyes lit.
“Morning, Atem,” Yugi said, remembering only at the last moment to keep his voice down.
“Hey, Temu!” greeted Jou a bit louder, only to get a whap on the back of the head from Mai.
“Indoor voice!” the doctor seethed.
“Heh heh!” Atem couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped his mouth at their antics.
“Ready to go?” Yugi asked softly, holding out a hopeful hand.
Atem looked at his new friends, who smiled encouragingly at him.
“Yes,” he answered with a smile as he grasped Yugi’s hand.
“Let’s blow dis popsicle stand!” cheered Jou.
“Excuse me!” growled Mai.
“Er, dis wondahful med’cal ‘stablishment,” Jou quickly amended, causing Shizuka to giggle and the tricolors to exchange amused glances.
“Now remember, I’ll see you back in one week,” Mai reminded Atem and Yugi.
“Yes,” Atem answered.
“No problem,” replied Yugi. “Bye now.”
After everyone had stepped into their footwear and out into the parking lot, Jou took the opportunity to fall in next to Atem.
“Hey, Temu,” he began softly.
Atem looked over at the blond, eyebrows rising slightly.
“Yugi says yer a kick-ass duelist. So, how ‘bout you ‘n me duel whenevah ya feel up t’ it?” Jou proposed.
As Atem processed Jou’s words, he felt himself relax. The man walking beside him was a good friend of Yugi’s and a fellow duelist. Somehow, he knew he had nothing to fear.
“I'd like that very much,” he replied with a ghost of a smile.
“Cool,” said Jou. “Friends?”
Atem looked into Jou’s brown eyes and managed a small smile.
“Friends,” he agreed.
When they reached the car, Atem climbed into the back with Yugi. Jou started the engine and they were off.
“You’re gonna love the house. It’s a 50-year-old three-story, so there’s lotsa room,” Yugi began. “There’s also a big front and backyard and woods behind.”
“Mmmm,” Atem responded, content to let Yugi’s words wash over him.
“Your room’s just down the hall from mine on the third floor. So if you need something, just pop in whenever, even if the door’s closed,” said Yugi.
This caused Atem’s eyes to open and his gaze to turn to Yugi.
“Are you sure ?” asked the Egyptian seriously.
“Yup. My door is always open to you,” promised Yugi.
Atem blinked, then fixed Yugi with a warm smile, which Yugi returned, before turning to watch the passing scenery. The motion of the car plus the sight of buildings, trees and people whizzing by, all conspired to make Atem’s eyelids heavier and heavier…
Yugi looked over to Atem to say something to him, but stopped when he saw that his dark twin’s eyelids had fallen shut, his face relaxed in sleep. A tender smile crossed Yugi’s face as he gently tucked a stray bang behind Atem’s ear.
Atem stirred, but his eyes remained shut and his features lax.
At home…
With slow and gentle movements, Jou slid his arms under Atem's shoulders and knees and hoisted the Egyptian up. Atem's eyelids cracked for a second, but fell shut right away.
Yugi opened the door and admitted Jou and Atem. Yugi and Jou went right upstairs and down the hallway to the room on the left. Yugi opened the door and Jou carried Atem to the bed.
“Slow and gentle,” Yugi instructed Jou just above a whisper.
Moving with an all too wonderful care, Jou deposited Atem on the mattress as gently as laying a newborn into its crib. When he pulled back up, Jou grinned and gave Yugi a thumbs-up, which Yugi reciprocated. The two friends looked at each other, then at the beautiful sleeper before them.
“I’ma go grab some ‘Ritos,” Jou whispered before hastening from the room for a long overdue second breakfast. “Have fun. Dun do nothin’ I wouldn’t do.”
“Thanks. I… Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!” fumed Yugi.
“Wutevah ya wan’ it to,” smirked Jou as he slipped from the room, just avoiding the balled up sock that was aimed at his head.
After Jou had left, Yugi looked down at Atem with a sad smile. Moving with a slow, gentle touch, he stroked the black hair with crimson fringe.
“Welcome home, Atem,” he said in a low voice.
Atem sighed and leaned into the touch.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Darkness Before Dawn