Nazo no Kisu (Mysterious Kiss)

Nazo no Kisu (Mysterious Kiss)

Welcome all to Chapter 23. Thanks for all of your support to this point! I can't say it enough! I know some
of you are in a depressed mood becuase of the extent of Atemu's condition. Will Yugi find out the reason
he's not in Domino City for good? When will Anzu get her say to Atemu? (Yugi: Do I get my POV duties
back?) And Yugi gets his POV duties back. (Yugi: Thanks!)

Chapter 23: Ureshii Tanjobi! (AN: Happy Birthday!)

Yay! Today's my birthday! It's Atemu's birthday too! He's still here in Domino! He told me he has to return
back to Alexandria tomorrow. I'm sad about that, but I'm glad he came here. This has been the best and
busiest week of my life!

After winning the tourney and having Atemu to literally fuck my brains out, I went home. Oh boy and when I
went home, the press was everywhere! I feel like a celebrity! I've been doing photo shoots and interviews for
magazines, both local and worldwide.

I've been on TV a lot lately too, especially on KC Network. I can hardly walk around town without a hoard
of people asking for autographs and pictures.

School, glad it's dismissed for the summer or it would be even worse! Well, KC Network is thinking about
doing a special about me. 'A Day in the life of Yugi Mutou' is what they want to call it. I don't think they'll
get too much, my average day is pretty boring.

Today I've been with Jii-chan most of the day. He got me up early to go birthday shopping, for myself
and for Atemu. I buy him a necklace and have our names engraved in it.

Jii-chan starts this story about how baa-chan gave him a necklace with both of their names engraved on
it.

He reaches around his neck and shows the necklace to me. It's engraved in a gold catouche, with
'Sugoroku and Sakana Mutou: Until Death do Us Part'.

"Death did us part physically, but spritually, she'll always live in my heart."

"That's so sweet jii-chan." I say looking at how the S's in their name are specially written.

I get my gift wrapped and of course sign autographs for the jewelers who gave me a 75% discount. So,
there are perks to being in the spotlight.

We go by Atemu's home to pick him up. Then, the three of us go to my house. I open the door and it's
unusually dark inside. When I turn on the light...

"Happy Birthday Yugi! Happy Birthday Atemu!"

Atemu and I are drawn back as we both are very surprised at this, Our 18th birthday surprise party. I
look around and everyone is here. When I say everyone, I really mean everyone.

Mai, Shizuka, Otogi, Honda, Okaa-san, Otou-san, Atemu's parents, Akefia, Kajiki, Ryou, Malik, even Anzu,
Jou and Kaiba are here. I can't believe they're actually here. I haven't said anything to the two of them since
the day I registered for WIT. Hmm, where's Seth?

I look at Atemu who's kinda pissed at the fact that Anzu, Jou, and Kaiba are here. Do you blame him? But,
we can't act up, this is OUR day.

The music starts, thanks to DJ Skylz, one of my favorite DJ's.

Everyone gets to the middle of the living room and dance. Atemu and I dance together a couple times, then
we dance with everyone else.

This is the best party ever! I go into the kitchen to get something to eat and I see Atemu and Anzu talking...
Now what could they be talking about.

"Hey guys, the party is in there!" I say getting a plate and getting some chips and dip. I don't see the cake,
I wonder where it is?

I pour myself a glass of soda and go back into the living room, leaving the two in their deep conversation.

"Ok birthday boys, it's time to cut your cake!" yells mom.

Great, are we married now?

Atemu comes from the kitchen with a forced smile on his face. Now what could have been said between
the two? I should have stepped in.

Atemu and I go to the center table, where our moms uncover the cake. It's not a regular cake, it's an ice
cream cake! My favorite!

I look at Atemu, and his eyes light up, I guess he likes ice cream cakes too.

18 candles are lit and we make a wish and blow them out. By the time everyone gets a slice...I get 2 slices...
of cake, there's nothing left but icing that Atemu finishes up.

We sit on the 'birthday sofa' and everyone comes up to us with gifts.

Then its time for me and Atemu to exchange gifts.

I pick up the small box with his necklace in it and hand it to him.

"Happy Birthday, Atemu Ikhras." I say, feeling myelf becoming flushed.

I watch as he opens the box and pulls the necklace out. He reads the inscription and smiles.

"What?! What does it say Atemu?!" his mom asks.

"Yugi and Atemu; A love that never dies."

A chorus of awws are heard as Atemu hands me a box, similar to the one I just gave him.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You have to open it to see."

I lift the lid from the box, and indeed, it's the same thing I just gave him. It even has the exact same
inscription.

"Happy Birthday, Yugi Mutou."

"What does yours say Yugi?" My mom asks me.

"Yugi and Atemu; A love that never dies."

Everyone's taken back as we managed to get each other the exact same gift for our birthdays.

The music starts back soon after and everyone continues to dance, except for us.

"What did Anzu talk to you about?" I ask.

"Nothing. She was wandering where I had been these past 6 months."

"Why should she care?"

"She was saying that she had heard of my condition before."

"Ohh."

"Come on." Atemu says standing. "Let's dance!"

We get up and dance.

"Atemu? Where's Seth?" I ask him, wandering where in the world his Egyptian cousin could be.

"Him, he's somewhere. I don't know. He's learned Domino in a week and he can go anywhere he
wants. My mom said that he would be late."

"Ladies, gentlemen, family, lovers, and friends..."

That's no one but Seth Ikhras with an entrance like that...

Everyone stops dancing and looks to the DJ booth.

"Seth Ikhras is here! Sorry I'm late, I had to go and get their gifts."

"He... He... He looks like me!" yells Kaiba.

Those who hadn't seen Seth, look at him and Kaiba the same way I did the first time I saw him.

"No way. How can Yugi and Kaiba both have Egyptian look-a-likes?!" Jou says breaking the eerie
silence.

Seth spots Kaiba and walks to him.

"Hi. My name is Seth Ikhras." he says in Japanese. "You be Seto Kaiba."

"I am." Kaiba replies in English.

They look at each other...stare each other like dogs who are about to fight. Please don't ruin this guys.

Seth smiles... "Nice to meet you Kaiba-kun!" he says happily. "You are as handsome as me!"

Kaiba could do nothing but laugh at Seth's cheerful attitude as a sigh of relief is heard throughout the
room.

The DJ starts playing and everyone starts dancing again.

I look at Atemu and he looks as if his mind is crowded with a million things. I try to mind-link with him,
but he's blocking it. I guess he wants to be left alone.

"Atemu, you should be happy. This is our 18th birthday party!" I say to him.

"Ohh. Gomen. I was just thinking about tomorrow. This week has flown by."

"I know. But, you will be able to come back to me soon! Patience this next 6 months, will lead to
togetherness for a lifetime."

What's this look... Is he crying? Why?

He takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen, then upstairs to my bedroom. He collapses on the
bed and cries.

I lock the door, not wanting to be disturbed.

"Atemu?! is everything ok?! What's wrong? Are you going to miss me that much?!"

"I am going to miss you, but I've been hiding something from you about my true condition. The real
reason I can't return to you right now."

"What is it? It can't be that bad, can it?" I say trying to control my emotions.

What's wrong with him?! What has he been hiding?

"I may never be able to return to you Aibou. I may die before that day comes."

What...

No...

He can't mean that! Can he?! He's completely cured! He should be able to return to Domino for good!

"No, you're going to live Atemu. You're just saying that to see how I'm going to react."

Ra, please let it be just that.

"Aibou." He says sitting up and embracing me tightly. "I may leave you Aibou. I don't want to, but...I've
been hiding this from you. I didn't want to tell you, but now my emotions are taking over me and you
must know. I am no longer able to hide the truth."

"No...you're lying to me."

I feel him shake his head.

"If it was only that."

"Then tell me! Tell me why are you going to die?!"

"The virus I contracted has evolved into Death's Toll."

No...it can't be! That's what my mom's parents died from after their accident...

"You don't have Death's Toll, you're just lying to me!"

"Aibou, listen to me. I'm hardly surviving day by day. I know I told you that I was going to be able to
return in January...the doctors told me that I would be lucky to survive even to December, when the
Alexandrian Rose will bloom again."

The tears stream heavily down my face...dampening Atemu's shirt.

"Whether it's here or the afterlife, my love for you will never die." he says...

"You are going to live until they find a cure for Death's Toll! Then you will return to me!"

I feel our bodies collapse onto my bed.

"I will return to you...Aibou..."

I feel his body become slack and fall from my grasp. Is he asleep?

"Atemu? Atemu?! Wake up. We have to get back downstairs for the party." I say shaking him. "The others
are waiting for us. We have to hurry before they think we're up here making love..."

I continue to shake him, then slap him....it's no use. He's not moving! Is he...?

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Oh Kami....is he ok?! Is Atemu dead?! Now that Yugi knows the real truth, will Atemu survive to see the day that
the cure for Death's Toll is created?! You just have to stay tuned to find out!