#pharaoh-npcs

She feels like she may be getting called out by someone.

Oh well.

If she had a nickel for everyone that won the day through the power of friendship™, she'd have a lot of nickels.

"Hey Atem? Can you check that? Someone's at the front."

"On it, Aibou."

Casually gets up from the chair and heads to the storefront.

"Hi there, we're going to be closing ear-"

"Oh, hey there."

"Oi! Don't 'hey there' me, Pharaoh! It's the holidays, have you forgotten?"

"You don't need to tell me that~" As he was already wearing a...

"Pfffft! Ha! Nice sweater there, Santa's Little Helper!"

"Careful, I have extras. Perhaps one that would even fit you-"

"Aw hell no! Ain't no way you're catching me in any of your crazy sweaters!"

"Someone said Honda in an ugly sweater?"

"Oh shit."

"Ya shoulda' told me. I'd have brought my camera!"

"Oh god damn it."

"Aw, now that's no way to greet an old friend, ol' buddy, ol' pal~!"

"Yeaaaaaaaaa, that kind of ass kissing must mean you broke your duel disk. Again."

"Hey. Ladies. Ya mind? I'm kinda freezing out here."

"...!"

He knows that voice.

"Sigh. Haven't been here for more than a day and already I have to break you two apart."

"Anzu!!! How did-"

"It's the holiday break. They gave everyone at the dance academy a week off, so I stocked up on vacation time and took the whole week off. About time I finally get to see you face to face once again. Now, if Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are finished with their squabble, I do have bags that need to come inside."

"And you call yourself a gentleman-"

"You got hands too, Asshole!"

"WILL YOU TWO CUT IT OUT ALREADY?!?!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Oh I've missed this."

It had been a while since they all got in a group call together, the last time they were even in the same room was during the holiday. Not sure how Tristan and Yugi managed to even get Anzu to come over from New York but he was grateful to have spent the holidays with his friends.

Tonight, he had a special surprise to show them for their group call. Looking at the ring on his left hand, he was in the group call first, waiting for the others to show up. The first one to join him was...

"Alright, everything's good, permissions all set and-"

"Wait, what the fuck? Pharaoh? You're never here on time! And your camera is all set up too?! Uh... hi? This is new. Alright, might as well test your mic levels now while we wait for the other two."

Tristan was usually the first to show up, as he was the "tech support" for when something would be amiss during the group calls. Usually it was Atem because he knocked over a cord or something. At least this time he can make sure everything was running smoothly on his end before the others came in.

"Yea, by the way. What's it like having Rich Ass pay for half your shit? I saw that kitchen of yours, and there's no way you'd have the money to pay for that good of an appliance set."

"It's not like I had a choice. He said something along the lines of... not wanting me to burn the place down before he got a chance to defeat me... or something."

"Oh, for fucks sake, of course he'd say that."

"Hello, hello? Tristan, you hear me?"

And there was another familiar voice.

"I got you, though what time is it over there? It's gotta be late on your end, isn't it?"

"Please, I just got back from rehearsals, so I have a while before I gotta head off to-"

"Wait, Pharaoh? Ah, sorry. Atem? You're here... on time?" She leaned in closer to her camera. "Are you feeling well? Is the weather out there bothering you? Are you getting enough rest-"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Atem chuckled. "I just really wanted to see you guys again after the holidays, and... um... once Ai... Yugi comes in..." He got a little red in the face. "I have something to show you."

"Speaking of, I have to ask. You're close to him. Did you notice anything... off about Yugi?"

"You mean how he's starting to speak like his stuck up boss? Yea, I've noticed that too."

"Well, yea I guess. But that's not what I meant. I meant towards Atem. How he's acting all... formal and... different. Like, okay for example. You call him 'Yugi', not 'Aibou'. I'm not saying it's bad, but just... different. Is everything okay?"

"It's fine." Atem tried to reassure. "We had a bit of a talk once I came back, he and I, and... um... we agreed that since I'm here to live a life of my own, then that means I have an identity of my own, just as he has his own. It's... a long story that I'm sure you guys don't have the time for me to blab about, haha..." He paused for a little bit before continuing.

"It's... fine. We have our own separate identities, separate lives, so... it's better if we addressed it as such. We're still friends, of course, it's not like anything like that has changed. Just... how I address him. I am Atem, and A... Yugi is-"

"Sorry, am I late?"

The conversation was broken when another familiar voice entered the call. Without missing a beat (and to prevent the awkward silence of just talking about him) Tristan popped in to greet the new arrival.

"And look who arrives here last! Guess who beat you to the call this time?"

"Am I late? Oh, sorry, sorry. I've been busy with- ah, lemme get my camera on... there we go." There were sounds of fiddling with something before the camera feed popped on, showing Yugi on the other end.

"I just got back from a meeting and haven't gotten the chance to rest my eyes and-"

"On a Sunday?! Does Rich Ass have nothing better to do? Whatever. You're all set up here, all good to-"

"It's a video call between friends, Tristan, nothing to get all serious 'tech support' about. If I sound or look a little fuzzy, it's fine. Should I need you for my business calls, then I'll take it seriously."

"Alright, if ya say so. Anyway. Atem, you were so adamant on having our monthly group call now instead of at the end like we usually do. Did something happen?"

"I thought you'd say something like that, but... yea. I wanted you all to see something. I... um... have been seeing someone for the better part of half a year, and... um... Maybe it's best that I show you." He raised his left hand just enough so that his laptop camera was able to capture the golden ring on his left hand. "I'm... I'm engaged to him."

Silence. For a good thirty seconds.

Atem was worried that his feed was cut off, but before he could open his mouth to ask...

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"...huh?"

Atem just blinked a bit from the reactions. "Not... at all what I was expecting, but..."

"Move it closer! Lemme see! Lemme see!" Anzu was the first to speak up, to which Atem obliged and moved his hand closer to the camera so that the group could all see the golden band on his finger. Immediately after which Anzu laughed. "Yup, that ring just screams Atem. It's perfect for you."

"God damn that's impressive." Tristan gave a whistle of surprise at the sight of the ring. "Guess the Colonel got smart and put a ring on it."

"Tristan, be nice."

"I am being nice! I met the guy, and he ain't half bad. Would like to see how good his shot is, though, if he's one of them military brats. That reminds me, how'd you two meet up, anyway? You work at a café and he's a big shot Colonel. Not exactly screams 'love at first sight' or anything."

"About that..." He was debating on whether or not to mention the whole "different dimension" thing, but then again the only one who might know or understand any of that... isn't even in the call. "We, ah... met at a lounge I frequent at. He and I would meet for drinks every now and then, and before I knew it we started talking and-"

"Alright, that's it." Tristan interjected. "Next chance I get I'm taking him to a 'normal people' bar, none of your fancy bougie lounge bullshit."

"Tristan!"

"What? If he's gonna marry our best friend, I wanna see what makes him tick! I wanna see what he's really about! Get to who he really is, yanno?"

"Oh my god, Tristan, you're going to scare him away if you do that."

"Please. If he's put off by hanging out with one of his fiancé's best friends at a regular baaaarrrr then he's so out of place in this here group."

"Oh for the love of..." Anzu sighed, but then noticed something. "Hey, Yugi. You haven't said anything. Everything okay?"

"Hmm? Oh. Yea, I'm fine."

"Well, what do you think? About Atem's ring?"

Yugi looked at the ring on his partner's Atem's hand, then let out a sad smile.

"I think it looks great on you." There was a small chuckle. "If he makes you happy, then I'm happy for you. He sounds like a great guy, so I'm glad you found someone. Congratulations, Atem."

The rest of the call was them simply small talking and making jokes, and by making joke it was mostly Anzu yelling at Tristan for making another off color joke. Eventually they all had other business, so they decided to start wrapping up the call.

"I'll see ya guys real soon, and Atem... you and I are going shopping the next time I come over there, and you are going to tell me everything about this Roy guy. Ok? I wanna meet the guy who managed to take our little Pharaoh away all to himself. I'm kidding! I wanna see if he's even better than you describe him! I got to go. Congrats again Atem!" She gave a wink as she disconnected.

"I'm needed at the factory tomorrow so I gotta get my z's in too. Call is all yours, you two. Just clean up after you're done~"

A long pause between all three right after Tristan's comment.

"No? Alright, fine. You two have your little chat or whatever. Buzz me if you need me." Tristan disconnected, leaving both Atem and Yugi as the only two in the call... which prompted another long pause.

Yugi was the first one to break the silence. "So... does he make you happy? Is he good to you?"

"Mmm-hmm. He's very patient and caring, and I love him dearly."

"Good. That's... that's a good thing. You found someone on your own that completes you, living the life you chose to live. I'm happy for you."

There was a pause before Atem spoke up. "You know... we don't have to limit ourselves to these group calls. You and I can... um... hang out. Spend some time together. Just like befor-"

"Between working under Kaiba and working on my game, and helping out Mom and Grandpa with the shop I've had little to no time for any of that. I had to dip out of a meeting early just to join this call."

"I'm... I'm s-"

"Don't. You wanted to announce a big moment that happened, so you were excited. If anything, that's on me to plan better. So don't start that. Look. You came back because you wanted to live the life you wanted, right? And you are. You should be happy for that. I am."

"But... I also came back to see you, Aib-"

"I told you, stop calling me that!" The shout that came from Yugi's end made both rooms silent. After about a few seconds Yugi composed himself and sat back down.

"Sorry. What I meant to say is... we both have our own lives to live now. I'm living mine, and you're living yours. You said it yourself, you wanted a life where you were no longer bound to anything, didn't you? The Puzzle is gone, that means we are no longer partners. We're just two separate people. We no longer live through each other anymore. We've had this talk already and we agreed on this. Okay?" A long pause before Yugi said one more thing to Atem.

"I'm glad he makes you happy. You deserve someone like that." He then disconnected the call.

"..."

"..."

She's still not here. This isn't like her.

Concerned, he took out his phone and began to dial Anzu's number. He was instructed to never call her unless necessary because of the time difference and to instead use the laptop if he wanted to contact her. But... with her nowhere in sight and the faint feeling in his gut lingering...

...

"Hey there! Sorry I can't answer, but if you leave a message I'll get back to you as soon as possible!"

Beep!

"Anzu? Anzu? It's me. Is everything okay? You said to meet at the station, right? Um... call me back if I'm mistaken... I guess. Um..."

Click. He was never really good at leaving messages.

"Anzu said that she was staying with Honda for the week, which means that she would be coming from..."

He looked out in a certain direction, and... almost as if by intuition, he brought his left hand to his chest, turning his ring into egg form. The turquoise Soul Gem was normally dim, however... Upon facing the direction where Anzu would most likely come from... he noticed for a brief moment...

The Soul Gem flickered.

A reaction to magic.

In the direction of...

"No!"

Without thinking, he took off in the direction he was looking at.

"Heh. That sure was long overdue. The whole group back together, just talking nonsense."

"Yea. I've missed that."

"Even Anzu showed up. We're you aware that she was coming?"

"No. Can't say that I was. They had that secret hidden tight. How sweet of them."

"..."

"Hey. I'm curious. Why did you choose not to tell them?"

"About?"

"You know. That." He pointed at Atem's ring finger.

"Getting them involved would be a terrible idea. I'm already risking so much letting you in on my... secret."

"Speaking of... You haven't really explained this whole... hunting... thing. Is that what you do at night? Why you come home so late? I only ask because... you haven't been doing that lately. Is that wise?"

"Pffft. Told ya."

"D'aww, look at her. Already doting to him as soon as she entered. Such a kind and caring-"

"Shut up or I'll shove my steel toed ballet slipper up both your behinds!"

"Yes, MOOOOOOOOM. But you can at least let him breathe with how much you're smothering him."

"It's fine, it's fine."

"At least it's not like the scolding you gave him the night he came back."

"Aibou, I thought I said we don't talk about-"

"You had the audacity to come back 1, while I was away in New York. And 2, when REBECCA found you first??? IN CALIFORNIA?!?! What were you doing over there?!"

"Let's... just say that I wasn't specific enough when I wished to come back to the Modern World."

"Hmph. Didn't know your gods had a sense of humor."

"Or that the little brat could be nice to the Pharaoh- Sorry. Atem."

"Oh. That's right. You said you pretty much gave up your throne and your title to come back. Is that... okay?"

A small nod. "It's a shame I can't have the power and magic that I once had upon coming back but..." He looked at the window, staring off before looking back to the group. "Looking at what it led it to... moments like this... I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and I'm glad I was given a second chance."

So... he's not going to tell them. I get that he doesn't want to worry them or drag them into this new mess, but...

"Ey! Yuge! Whatcha got for drinks over here?"

"H-huh? Oh. I mean... teas, sodas, juices... the usual."

"Yea, I'mma stop the dumbass right there before he gets any funny ideas. Ain't no way I'm about to watch Jounouchi stumble like an idiot. Well... like an even bigger idiot."

"The FUCK YOU SAY TO ME-"

"Relax, relax. I'll get the whole group something to drink and a snack or two. Anzu, give a hand, please?"

"Anything to keep those two quiet."

"..."

"..."

"Now now, you two. This is supposed to be a festive occasion."

--At the kitchen--

"It sure means a lot that you were able to come here for the holidays, Anzu. And I know how much it means to him."

"Silly. I didn't just come down for him. I came for everyone. That means you. Don't go thinking you're immune to my scolding just because I keep scolding Atem, you hear me? I'm more than capable to do random calls just to check up on you as well."

"Uh... that... won't be necessary. Heh heh..."

"...?"

"..."

Yugi stopped when he noticed Anzu pause for a moment, her gaze at the window.

"Anzu? Is something up?"

"I thought I..."

She blinked and shook her head before giving Yugi a smile, grabbing the plate of sugar cookies to bring back to the group.