Yugioh © Takahashi Kazuki

1.

Regained his name also unlocked his memory about the mystic spells he had learned, along with some of the more forbidden ones he was born with the knowledge of. Like he was the only Pharaoh ever knew the name of his Three Phantom Gods 3000 years ago, and the ultimate spell to seal himself along with Zorc the day he died. One of said forbidden spells enabled the caster to recreate and restore a human body (as a subconscious result of that, he arrogantly slept through all the Art of Healing lectures). He had recreated his own body and by his mercy, granted the Thief a vessel to once again walk among the livings. After all, his own name was that of a Creator God if it hadn't already given anyone the clue. To his annoyance, instead of latching onto Bakura Ryo like a lost puppy to atone for all the crimes he had put that poor soul through, the Thief tagged along wherever he was despite his continuous reassurance that he wouldn't kill Bakura's body with just one certain word, no matter that possibility was simply the truth. Atem demonstrated once just to get the point through, that babysitting the Thief was too troublesome so if Bakura wanted to taste life longer, just behave himself. If Atem hadn't made sure Horakhty got Zorc down for several millennia more, he would consider a likelihood that the King of Thieves was still plotting against him somehow.

The first time Anzu forced Yuugi into a situation that had resulted in him was called out (once again by Yuugi's distress) to clean up her mess, was to see him. The second time, it was an innocent offer to refill everyone's drinks in the kitchen. Atem had asked Yuugi loudly if his Aibou would mind helping her with the tray, because he was too inebriated to stand on his own feet when the shorter one tried nudging him to go after her. Only Bakura the Thief King and Kaiba Seto caught on to his obvious lie but never called him out for it. If the group didn't know the Pharaoh Atem could drink wine like water because he had lived through traditional festivities all year round, being the King he was, then it was no one's problem that they were ignorant friends. Especially not the two silent males observing the living God shamelessly from where they stood in the shadow of their little corners.

It was their Christmas celebration. Atem knew at least three mistletoe hanging in the Kaiba Mansion's kitchen according to Mokuba's private information. He had extracted those little details earlier that day via three straight victories in a row of Capsule Monsters game against the still-sulking youngest Kaiba.

Now stood leaning on the frame of the open door leading to the balcony looking down at the garden below, one of many perfect positions to give him a good view at the kitchen area, Atem watched Yuugi blushed to the root of his hair in mortified when Anzu shyly pointed at the mistletoe above them. He averted his gaze to the gold vase behind Jounouchi's head on the other side of the room when he sensed Anzu was about to shift her line of sight in his direction. Her message had been clear, she wanted his answer before her holiday vacation ended and she had to go back to America for her dance school then, which he gave willingly when he manipulated Yuugi into helping her. There had been nothing between him and her since forever. 3000 years ago Teana was a friend to him, and that friendship wouldn't cross any line now with Anzu. Because he wanted the flushing male he had steered toward her, not the girl who now had a golden chance with said flushing male. A darker part of his mind whispered the reason she started looking at Yuugi in a new light was because of him, that she only chose Yuugi because the one she truly wanted to see was him, that she was just playing with Yuugi's feeling. It was quickly dismissed as it had come to his attention. Their feelings had always been there even before he appeared in the picture, he was only a push they needed to realize it for themselves.

Atem felt disappointed in himself. If he was still the same 'Living Horus' he used to be, he wouldn't step down so easily, not when he knew he always had a chance to win Yuugi. But then again, if the one Yuugi loved was not him, he would have let his Aibou go, too. Like now. The Pharaoh watched impassively until the chaste kiss was about to commence and turned around, walked out to the night that very next moment. On the way he shot Bakura a warning look when the Thief made to approach him. That would be enough to get the unwanted tail off his back for a while. Maybe he should have stayed just to witness Yuugi's lips whispering those three words to Anzu then, and made their relationship official. But Atem deemed this was as far as Yuugi's privacy he had violated tonight and left to collect himself enough so he could smile good naturally for his Aibou when he came back inside.

No wonder why Horakhty's Light could not reach Seto's heart. Atem hadn't a chance to taste that kind of forbidden fruit back then. The most he could do was breaking into Seto's consciousness long enough for Kisara's Light to reach his cousin.

And now the reincarnation of said cousin stood in the center of the long staircase led to the garden below as he was descending. It seemed his name did not only unlock his own memory, but also a certain someone's of him. He wondered which of their karma ran deeper, his or Seto's. This fool of a Rival had chased after Atem to his tomb, unearthed the Millennium Items that were all supposed to be buried with his departure to the Netherworld, became owner of the Eighth one and used it to reach his dimension, leaving his own Light, Mokuba, behind. That was apparently a miscalculation of someone-up-there, because Mokuba was not enough to ground Kaiba Seto, unlike Kisara to Seto back then.

"Leaving without a goodbye… again?" Kaiba interrogated in a flat tone when Atem walked pass him.

Even if the King caught hint of something slightly out of character in the Kaiba Seto this world knew so well, he made no attempt to dwell into it. "I am not out of the vicinity yet, am I?" It was a practical fact, and originally he hadn't planned to leave.

"Yet." Kaiba repeated.

"What about you, out here instead of spending this supposedly special occasion with your family."

"I am, Pharaoh."

It was the familiarity of Seto in the form of Kaiba Seto addressing him caused Atem to falter in his steps and ultimately halted him an arm reach away from the taller male. "Oh?" He managed before long, but they both knew it was already too late to cover his pause.

A commotion in the direction Atem had come from got their attention. Squeals from the girls and catcalls from the guys assaulted their eardrums. Collective choruses of congratulation almost draw out Jounouchi's loud laughter, all to Yuugi. For being the one supposedly used to merry events during his reign, Atem only sighed behind Kaiba's back and turned around. "I should go back inside," He stated with less than the enthusiasm he should show, a fact that he was not fully ready to face the inevitable.

The reluctant Pharaoh didn't get to move anywhere. Kaiba's hand touched the back of his neck and Atem was drawn toward the other male until their lips pressed almost tightly together. The King stared blankly at the mistletoe over their heads when Kaiba pulled back, even so they were close enough to breathe in each other's air.

"Frigg, Mother of Baldr who was the God of the Summer Sun," There was a pause, meaningfully, and the icy blue stare sharpened before Kaiba continued, "Feared for her son's life after seeing his dream of death, had made everything of earth and under it vowed to bring him no harm. Ironically something not from the earth and under it, a lowly aerial parasite without roots of its own, attaching itself into another tree and lived off its host, the mistletoe, was too young and insignificant enough to be ignored, then made into an arrow tip by Loki, who in turn tricked Hodr the blind God of Winter into shooting it at Baldr's head, ultimately killed his own twin sibling with his own hands. Everything in Earth and Heaven wept, trying to bring the dead Sun back to life and finally, Frigg restored him. The tears she shed in mourning for her son turned into the berries on the mistletoe. In her joy Frigg, the Goddess of Love, kissed everyone who passed by the tree in which the same mistletoe was attached to." The brunet slightly shook his head in mocked dismay with small smirk, but condescending enough. "Who could have thought that Norse myth was adapted and turned into frolicking of idiots this day, originally was a story of Love that conquers Death."

Atem reminisced the smile on Kaiba's face when the other proudly walked in his throne room, having reached his realm of the dead after so many fail attempts. "Love that conquers Death?" The ancient monarch echoed. Reasoning came gathering in his mind but the situation suddenly became too bizarre for him to gather his sense. Did Kaiba drink the wrong brand of coffee today or worse, consume any sustain of Bakura's creation when he turned his back?

Kaiba took Atem's unresisting wrist and led them down to the garden with an idle pace. "Dated back to the ancient Druids, when enemies met under the mistletoe, both sides had to lay down their weapons in a truce until the next day. Because mistletoe was the symbol of peace and joy, a kiss under the mistletoe was the sign of friendship and good will."

"Friendship…" Atem would never dare to imagine a day that word left Kaiba's mouth without being part of an acidic statement.

They walked among various kinds of flowered fences strategically placed like a maze, toward a tall oak tree in the center where all routes of the florescent labyrinth ended. Shrubs of mistletoe hung heavily on the tree branches, enveloping a wide portion of the whole garden in darkness of the Christmas night.

"It is also believed to have mystical power to ward off evil spirits and brings good luck to the household," Kaiba inclined his head to look at his bemused companion standing beside him, and hid half of his smirk in the shadow when he challenged monotonously, "Which one are you taking my kiss as, Atem. A prayer to keep you safe from harm, a lasting friendship, or a token… of love?"

"I…" Atem swallowed the forming lump in his throat, fighting a twinge in his chest. There was a light, oddly familiar, in Kaiba's eyes that shouldn't be, because it was simply just… impossible.

Kaiba's fingers twitched before tightening around Atem's wrist, but the taller male stayed silent in waiting. At last the shorter of the two turned his gaze away, gave up on anymore talking from his part. Kaiba curled his forefinger under the tan chin, forced Atem to face him again. "Kiss me," He dared.

Crimson eyes widened then narrowed at the provocation glistering in the surprisingly calm Sapphires. The King raised his free hand to pull the pale one holding his chin away but made no move to order freedom for his still captivated wrist.

Which one are you taking my kiss as.

He was not ready to give answer, neither was he ready to hear Kaiba's answer.

"You of all people know very well the meaning of tradition, Atem."

"Do we have to best the other even in this farce?"

"We are not playing with each other's feelings in the game this time, Atem," Kaiba remarked nonchalantly, "Not yet. And anger can only help you run away so far from your fear of your own answer."

"What exactly, are you trying to prove?" Atem tried to stay composed rather than the outburst of denial tethering on surface, waiting for the chance just to prove Kaiba's point.

"That you are not as blind as I thought."

The Pharaoh almost raised his voice but he barely caught himself in time, "Excuse me?"

"There he is! Hey, it's two of them!" Bakura obnoxious voice interrupted before Kaiba could say anything. Atem resisted the urge to cover his wrist, more than conscious of the late December breeze as it started licking off the remnant of warmth Kaiba's fingers had left on his skin when the other withdrew his hand, at the same time Yuugi and others filled out on the balcony after the Thief spotted them.

"Is that a bunch of mistletoe?!" Jounouchi shrieked, helpfully pointed out much to Atem's charging.

"Am I supposed to applause a bonkotsu for even knowing what they are?" Kaiba sneered alongside his snide remark and started walking back to the main hall through another route of the maze.

"What did you say, you bastard Kaiba!" Jounouchi shook a fist at the apathetic male, who at this point chose to ignore him and practically everyone else.

"Nii-sama!" Mokuba waved at his sibling, perching on the balustrade next to Yuugi, "It's time for presents!" The littlest Kaiba sported a pout when his sibling gave him that signature two-fingers salute and the brusque "Pass."

"So, did you kiss? I heard if someone doesn't get a kiss under the mistletoe then they won't get married!" Bakura grinned toothily at the Pharaoh.

Atem blinked, then tilted his head in confusion and whispered absentmindedly, "Really?" Crimson gaze idly turned toward the direction he last seen Kaiba's retreating back.

"Now then," Bakura appeared next to Atem, having jumped down from the balcony, his grin turned sly, "Do I get as many kisses as the mistletoe we are standing under?"

A royal eyebrow arched elegantly. Bakura was cornered into the tree trunk by a thunderous Guardian Priest Mahad pressing the glimmering wand none too gently at his throat.

"Be unwedded for the rest of your mortal life." Atem muttered under his breath before he used a simple teleportation spell to appear behind Yuugi, not feeling like walking upstairs. He was stopped in his track on his way to go inside when he felt a hesitant tug at the sleeve of his outer jacket wrapped around his shoulders. The Pharaoh glanced over his shoulder and frowned. Why Yuugi didn't call him instead? And why his Aibou looked down when there was obviously nothing interesting about the floor—his gaze narrowed upward in sudden realization.

Mistletoe.

Atem was at the beginning of annoyance and it was unintentional put on display by a long suffering sigh. He immediately regretted his reaction when Yuugi visibly flinched. Ignored the group watching them like hawks, the King gave full attention to his Aibou. "I feel mildly antagonized by the occasion," He told Yuugi softly as he leaned closer, "If you truly want to be with someone, why wait for traditions to come around instead of taking the chance when you still have it." Atem had meant to kiss Yuugi on the forehead, but the slightly shorter of the two looked up at the spoken words and got their mouths right into each other's.

"Something terribly cliché just happens to happen," Bakura commented offhandedly. Mahad whacked him where his skull was without taking his unblinking eyes off the scene. "I found this very unfair, you know? I only failed to take his throne and the world twice and he didn't even kiss me better—" Bakura wisely closed his mouth when the wand pointed between his brows. Tch. No more magic sucked bad, bad, baaaaaad!

Atem pulled back, startled and looked to the side, giving in the urge to run his fingers in his hair. "I'm sorry about that, Aibou," He whispered audible enough for Yuugi's ears, lamenting their link through the Puzzle where their conversation had always been between themselves without anyone eavesdropping on them. Yuugi made a noise in his throat as he nodded. To the onlookers, he said, "I'll pass the present part. You all have fun."

"But!" The group started filling their protests. ("You have to see all the damn biiiiiiiig diamonds I robbed for you last night! Those are even more expensive than solid gold, you know!" Bakura howled over Mahad, cue the Priest slugged him in the face to silence him again.)

"I feel a little lightheaded, guess I drank more than I should so I'm going to rest for a bit and see you later," His gaze found the clock, Atem added, "Or when the sun is up." As an afterthought, he pointed at Bakura, jabbing, "Don't hesitate to order him around like your servant, after all he is a slave," The Pharaoh emphasized somewhat menacingly, brushed off the Thief's indignant scream of "What?!" with a bloody glare from the corner of his eyes before he was out of the room and closed the door behind him.

And walked right into Kaiba's steel chest.

The irritated ancient monarch took a step backward for the sake of his own personal bubble, or lacked thereof when Kaiba was concerned. He breathed out and pinched the bridge of his nose, no longer bothered to hide his irritation. "Tell me there is not another mistletoe above my head."

"There is a mistletoe above our heads." Kaiba observed with unmasked amusement in his tone. The Lord and Master of the house tilted his head in the manner that candidly announced he was flat out enjoy this without the complement of his usual arrogant smirk, having traded its appearance for a lazy blink of the dark Sapphire eyes.

"You must be out to make me miserable like you have to put up with my friends in your own house," Atem groused, crossing his arms and glared at the blue eyes somehow looked like they were laughing at his expense.

"On contrary, I waited until Mokuba tried asking me for permission to invite them over, feigned disinterested and told him to do what he wanted. My purpose in letting them here and enduring their unwanted company… is because I know you would come along." Blue eyes narrowed as their owner finished speaking.

The King frowned, "Why go to such length?"

"I don't want to look like I am eager."

"Someone doesn't see it?"

"I could care less about "someone" as long as you don't see it." Now, Kaiba smirked, "So far everything is according to plan."

"You do realize you sound like a criminal?" It wasn't until Atem heard himself that he realized the ironic of his query. Under Yuugi's name, he used to be no better than a real one. That was the reason his tiny sardonic smile had a bitter edge. Also nothing went unnoticed by the only witness.

"I am merely stating a fact. All good things come to those who wait." Sapphire gaze flicked to the mistletoe and back at the absentminded monarch, secretly pleased that the attention was all on him again.

Crimson eyes widened in realization, no matter how ridiculous it was to him. This dimension-ranked number one suicidal idiot had been standing under a mistletoe waiting for him to walk into his… traps(?) all this time?! No, there must be something else, there must be—"Some screws fell off your brain when I kicked you out of the land of the dead. This must be it. Yes, it has to be." Atem ranted under his breath, trying to convince himself. If he chanted long enough, it would come true. Right now he was entirely willing to believe that far more realistic reason than the real truth.

Kaiba scoffed. "What is hard to believe?"

"Don't talk," Atem raised a hand and palmed his forehead with the other. "I am not ready to accept you are something else besides Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon-sexual yet. Right, you even created Solid Vision to advance a card game only to make Blue Eyes looks livelier than a piece of paper, and you still are. It is alright, you are still Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon-sexual. Good, that's good."

Kaiba stared at Atem in a sincere way that asked if the Pharaoh had turned into an idiot. "Do you remember somewhere up there," His forefinger pointed upward in the general direction of his satellites, "Is the supercomputer dedicates to housing all data-banks of this hologram I created, imitated a certain someone based solely on my memory of him down to the last bit of his personality and notable catchphrase?"

Atem was speechless to the point he could only gape at his supposed-to-be Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon-sexual Rival, no matter how unkingly that made him look like.

"I succeeded in most of what I have done, except forcing a breach in the pathway leading to the Land of the Dead. Whatever is being said about Duel Links, to me it is nothing more than a failure, but a fruitful one nonetheless." His smirk returned as a result of him knowing he had once again successfully riled the other.

Crimson eyes flashed angrily. The perplexed King had been busy forcing close a sudden connection between the living world and the dead out of nowhere, when he heard the cry of Blue Eyes White Dragon. It was reduced to dust as Atem watched impassively with a raised brow, wondering what the dragon was up to. Kisara had cheated Death once, certainly she knew not to push her luck with Ma'at any further than she had already been. As if that had not been enough, to confuse Atem some more, he was greeted with the sight of Kaiba's soul nearly entered the realm it was not supposed to be the farther it was away from the body. In a moment of extreme aggravation when everything clicked, Atem felt no remorse as he casually dismissed the intruder with a wave of his hand before Kaiba dropped dead the instant his genius fool of a Rival passed the gate to his realm. The incensed King had stomped back with a moody huff, deducing no further investigation was necessary.

"You almost died!" Atem snapped.

Kaiba only blinked. "The keyword is 'almost'. I am still alive, as you see."

Glaring at the other male one last time, Atem turned away sharply to head in the direction of his guest room, throwing over his shoulder, "For someone who has a dear one to protect, you are terribly mistreating the life granted for you to work on it."

"I don't want to hear it from you of all people."

The sudden venom in the cold harsh tone got Atem to look back, but he only caught a flash of white trench coat before his wrist was once again captured and none too gently he was dragged down the hall. The Eye of Anubis appeared on his forehead almost instantly in response to his fury at the ill-treatment, but as soon as he got out "Unhand me—" he was shoved into a dark room followed by the loud bang of door slamming shut and a click of lock being turned.

Kaiba stepped away from his captive and casually draped his trench coat on the backrest of a sofa on the other side across his king-size bed. "This is my room," Kaiba informed, sat down on the edge of the mattress and openly stared at his rigid guest who had not moving an inch since the moment he was thrown in a room that did not mean to be assigned to him. "No one, Mokuba includes, can get in this room without my voice command."

"Human technology is admirable, Kaiba, but," Atem smirked despite anxiety already eating him from the inside, "It has been proven too many times to be inefficient against wielders of Millennium Items."

"Try me." Kaiba gibed.

"Maha—!" Atem gasped. Pain shot through his entire body, the shock was enough to bring him to one knee. The second time he tried to focus on calling his Guardian Priest, his hands raised and gripped his head tightly, he felt like it was going to burst any second now.

Kaiba stood and advanced toward the King leisurely, explaining on the way, "You think I would ignore Marik Ishstar and Ishizu Ishstar's Battle City data, especially whenever their Millennium Items were out giving them advantages over others after my defeat at Pegasus's hands? Ah, since we have mentioned Pegasus, I also found something quite interesting in your duels against him and his friends during Duelist Kingdom. Thanks to that I conveniently developed a shockwave only effective against those of high level of consciousness, high enough to catch on to it. All it does is giving you a mild headache according to the amount of concentration you have demonstrated. Judging by your reaction, I guess this is as close as I can get to disarm your call for ancient power, for now."

"What are you trying to do?" Atem gritted through his teeth, glaring at the approaching male.

Kaiba crouched, leveling his eyes with Atem and lifted the tan chin with his thumb and index-finger, "Have you received information about the term Stockholm Syndrome via Yuugi's knowledge of the modern world?"

"You—!" Before Atem could get out another word, Kaiba snapped his fingers and darkness clouded his vision.

"To protect someone dear to me, he has to be here with me… in the first place." Kaiba's lips brushed the unconscious King's temple before carrying his ancient royal bundle to the bed.

No one would interrupt him, as long they failed to tell the difference between hologram and the real thing. Or the chloroform should start doing its job by now. With their Creator God out of commission, no doubt both Mahad and Bakura were too weak to break free of the Electron Force Field he had created to disable creatures of same nature as them. Indeed, no one would interrupt him.

TBC.