We had some luck when it came to keeping our cover.

The morning after the tournament, when I came down for breakfast, I found mother sitting forlorn at the kitchen table. It was clear she hadn't slept. Yesterday's eye make up was smeared down her cheeks and her lids were lightly swollen. A lit cigarette hung between her fingers, hovering over an egg cup she appeared to be using as an ash tray. She had officially quit smoking when she became pregnant with me, but she relapsed when Atem died. Originally, she smoked outside but when winter came and the temperature dropped she stopped caring about how the house would smell and possibly influencing me.

"Want to know the latest with Temmy?" she croaked, her gaze on anything but me.

Atem's ghost appeared at the sound of his name, sticking his head through the wall curiously.

"Have they found out anything else?"

My mother shook her head. I felt sad as I watched Atem slide into the seat next to her. She was unaware that her lost son sat next to her, a ghostly finger reaching out to stroke her cheek longingly. She shivered, scratched her cheek but didn't comment.

"What's the latest then?"

"They've closed the case again" she said flatly "Apparently they don't have enough funds and there's more important cases to focus on" She took a drag on her cigarette "He's now got a cause of death"

Atem and I's gazes met, eagerly. So many questions could be answered if we just knew how he died!

"They've stated suicide"

'What!' shouted Yami 'I didn't kill myself, I swear!' he stuttered, digging his nails into his forehead with rage 'I didn't'

"He couldn't have, mum"

"Well that's what they've decided" she got up from her chair, wondering over to the kettle "Unfortunately, we're going to have to settle with the fact that he wasn't really a happy kid. We missed all the signs" she heaved a shaky sign. She sniffed, turning round and heading back to her chair, fiddling through her handbag that hung from the chair's back.

"Here" she pulled a note "Some money. Go treat yourself to some breakfast. I need the house to myself for a little while, okay honey?"

I can't deny that I was hurt, but I was relieved that the case had been dropped. I had feared that the case being open meant we were more likely to get caught.

When I got back from breakfast (a take-a-way omelette muffin from a near by cafe) (I stood in a park to eat just so I could talking to Atem), Grampa was down in the shop. He was more pleasant to be around than mum. He seemed to be forcing himself to be happy. After discussing the closed case, Grampa asked about the tournament.

"Did you watch it?"

"Yes. Just to make sure Atem is still the king of games" I half laughed

"Is he?" Grampa looked away from me, stacking a shelf with card tins.

"It was chess. His recorded personal best wasn't beaten. So far, he's still Pharaoh!" I grinned, sneaking a look at my brother, who sat on the til, one leg over the other. He watched our grampa fondly.

"He'll always be a Pharaoh to us" Grampa mused.

And the final bit of luck came that evening. I was in my room alone. Atem came and went, wondering through the walls of our home. He had wanted to go in his room but quickly changed his mind. 'Not today' he said 'another day'.

I laid back on my bed, flicking through the television screen aimless. With little choice, I settled on the news. To my horror, a segment appeared that I had wrongly not expected.

"The yearly Domino Game Champion Tournaments have begun, but that isn't the only reason people are attending the games. Two years ago, the DGCT champion, Atem Yami Muto, also know as The King of Games, Game King, and The Pharaoh, unexpectedly based away at the tender age of 16. Or so it had seemed. At the opening of the tournament, it seemed Atem Muto was fully alive as he played against contestant Duke Devlin, winning the match. The assumed dead champion is yet to be interviewed on the circumstances-"

'Yugi, this could be a hindrance on your plan' Atem muttered, sitting beside me with my leg crossed over the other.

"-Many are wondering if this all an elaborate hoax, whether it be to bring attention to the games or keep the champions memory well alive. If so, is it in good taste? What about legal? I'm here to do with Police Chief Takamashio"

My heart sank as panic rose in my body.

"Chief, is the police doing anything about this?"

"Currently, we are not taking action. We are yet to receive any complaints from Atem Muto's family and there is no crime being committed"

"No crime? Could this not be considered identity theft?"

"While it is possible, the current circumstances simply suggest an elaborate hoax which the family may been involved in. Until we are shown proof of illegal activity or complaints from the family, we will not be taking action"

'Looks like you're getting away with it' Atem smirked, folding his arms.

"So far... But it's only time until mum and grampa find out" I swallowed.

I was nervous. I had no idea how they would react. Would they encourage me? Would they be dreadfully angry? Would they disown me? Or worse, would they realise I was capable of disguising myself as Atem and slowly try to make it a permanent thing?

Now I was being ridiculous. Nonsense.

I forced my mind onto other things. I couldn't worry about that now. I had other things to worry about.

And one of those things would appear at my door not long after this.

The television had been abandoned for a lunch search. I raided the fridge in search of something I fancied, half listening to my ghostly brother, who sat on the table behind me rambling about how he missed the ability to taste.

'It's so a small pleasure, an every day thing, but it is very missed when its gone'

That's when I heart loud voices coming from the shop. I heard laughing, some of which was my grandfather. I recognised the other voices immediately. Fuck.

"Go straight through boys" came Grampa's voice, shortly followed by foot steps and thanks.

The door to the kitchen swung open and relieved the faces of Yami Bakura, Ryou Bakura, Marik, and Malik.

"Hello, Yugi" Ryou beamed "We've come to see how you are"

I swallowed hard before speaking.

"Very well thank you. I appreciate the visit" I hadn't meant to respond so formerly.

"Fabulous" Bakura answered on the behalf of all "All I quite well other than my undeserved court date. But there is one other thing. An issue that is in all our hands"

"There is?" I did my best smile calmly "What might that be? Anything I can help with?"

"Most likely" Malik smirked.

I hated Malik's voice. It was so similar to Marik's, of course, but it was deeper. He spoke loudly as well, his voice filling the room and leaving an uncomfortable air. I was sure Ryou felt the same.

"I'm alarmed that you would be so cheery considering your brother seems to be challenging people at games from beyond the grave. I would prefer my brother to be up against a living contestant"

I was silent. I couldn't think of a response. My eyes darted to watch Yami, who scowled at his old friends.

"You know something" Bakura growled, his eyes burning into me.

I opened and closed my mouth, words still failing me.

"He's not dead, is he?"

"No, he-"

"Where is he?!" Bakura bellowed, kicking the chair being storming into the living room "Pharaoh? Come out!"

We all quickly followed him, Ryou and Marik close behind him, begging him to calm down. His pleas were ignored. Bakura stormed around the house like a tornado, searching under every piece of furniture in hope. To ruin the intensity of the situation, Atem was on his heels, growling.

'Idiot! How dare you-' He changed his glare to me 'How dear he come here like this!'

'I don't know what to do' I thought, my brother hearing me.

"He's in his fucking room, I bet" hissed Malik, standing with folded arms and observing Bakura, making no effort to stop him.

Immediately, Bakura began to head up stairs. Atem's eyes widened before I set into action, chasing Bakura up the stairs. We all followed.

"Bakura! You're just been rude now!" Shouted Marik, leading us all as we chased him.

When I reached the top, I saw Bakura had stopped in his tracks in front of Atem's locked door. My brother's ghost stood right in front of him. His face contorted into horrid grin as he his bore in to his friend. I took a step forward, unsure. Everyone else was just standing and watching as well, all wondering the same thing. Why had he stopped?

I had another question. A minute later, I felt it had been answered.

Suddenly, Atem's fist flew. Bakura went backgrounds. He landed, some how still facing the ghost of Atem. He didn't move, continuing to stare. Atem bent down to him.

'Don't do it, Baku. Stay the fuck back.'

Bakura shivered.

"Bakura?" Marik muttered quietly.

I saw Malik look at his brother disapprovingly before running over to Bakura.

"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted at the white haired boy.

Bakura didn't move. He was still. He faced Atem, frozen. Ryou was quickly at his side, bending down to him with a nervous expression.
I could hear Atem muttering to Bakura, though words weren't clear. Finally, the white haired boy moved, shaking his head.

"No" he looked round at his friend and brother and then back to where Atem stood.

Finally, Bakura rose to his feet. Without a word, he turned round. His face was paler than usual, his eyes abnormally wide. He looked more like his younger brother than the thief I had always feared. He looked straight past us all as he walked behind us. He ignored Ryou's worrisome questions, heading to walk past us and back down the stairs.

I turned my glance to Atem. He smiled at me.

'He was always clueless about boundaries'

Be encouraging and leave me a nice comment or two and then I'll upload the next chapter.

Always used to ask for comments so thought I'd resort back to my old ways for feedback.

Do you think Bakura could see Atem? Or was Atem just using a supernatural force?

What are you expecting in the next chapter?

Thank you for reading.