The Ten Things

The Ten Things

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter Five

The night had been long and drawn out. He couldn't find any point in sleeping. Falling asleep when angry was impossible. Yuugi turned side to side on the pallet on the floor, eyes gazing blurred at the ceiling of his room. Moonlight reflected off his large side window, beaming down onto his pale face. Every so often he turned his eyes towards the clock on his desk, reading with some difficulty. Digital block numbers glowed in the darkness, reading three in the morning. Sugoroku and Arthur showed up drunk and disoriented two prior to this moment. Yuugi made sure that both men made it to their respectful rooms without falling and injuring something on their fragile bodies. After all, neither man was getting any younger.

Yuugi sighed heavily, folding his arms beneath his head. He kept his gaze away from the bed where his former lover snoozed through his torment. If there was one thing that the elder man was good at, it was sleeping through anything despite the tension they endured not long ago. Everything was beginning to grow further into perspective for Yuugi. He was beginning to realize the mistakes he was making all over again. Despite his age of twenty-three, he was still following the beliefs and immaturity he held when everything with Atemu fell apart.

Atemu… The man was the reason for everything. He was the reason for the younger male's problems. At this thought, Yuugi's face contorted into a frown, eyes closing as old memories flooded through his mind. He wouldn't necessarily call them memories. These flashbacks were common, brought on by his negative decisions within the past six years. He had gone through countless treatments to help with his addictions, many of which still lay dormant within his mind. The temptation was always there, especially for alcohol. Drinking was his biggest downfall next to smoking cigarettes. He fell into a pitfall of depression and took to smoking and drinking, leaving him with nothing in the end. The main reason he stopped was for his grandfather. Sugoroku begged him to return home. He told of how much he missed his only grandson and how much he needed him back in the shop. Yet, at this point Yuugi was beginning to realize that his grandfather was trying to patch things up between him and Atemu.

Atemu… The name did not flow across his tongue. It was more the reason he had grown accustomed to calling his lover by his preferred name, "Yami." Not many were given the privilege to do so. He and only the man's cousin were allowed to call him by this nickname. Even the mere thought of this reminded Yuugi of the many names the duo had for one another. Atemu had always called him partner or little one. He loved being called partner. Little one just annoyed the living hell out of him.

After a while, Yuugi managed to find peace within his fatigued mind. He closed his eyes, falling into a dreamless slumber. The only things that mattered were finding peace and balance with the problems at hand. He was going to follow his past despite the pain he felt from it. Some things were definitely not worth drama.

Atemu opened his eyes, squinting as light poured into the room. He groaned, sitting up in the bed, running a hand through his spiky mane of hair. After allowing himself to wake up, he gazed around the room, remembering where he was. Sighing under his breath, he turned his attention to the floor where the pallet from the night before no longer existed. His eyes widened at the sight of this. Yuugi had never been a morning person. He usually slept in until noon or later. Curiosity bubbled through his mind as he wondered where the man was. It wasn't until that moment that the events from the night before played out within in his mind. Frowning, Atemu stepped out of bed, stretching the kinks out of his back. Once he finished stretching he pulled on a pair of basketball shorts and headed out of the room to the bathroom.

After a few minutes he returned from the bathroom, yawning. He finished getting ready for the morning and returned to the bedroom. He looked around the room once he returned, realizing that he had still not come in contact with Yuugi once since he woke up.

'Where the hell is he?' Atemu thought, scratching his head. The thoughts from the night before ran through his mind, reminding him of what occurred in the early hours of the night. They had gotten into a fight. Groaning, Atemu went through the drawer that Yuugi had set his clothes into, and picked out a black shirt and a pair of leather pants and adorning accessories of a black choker, and numerous leather wrist cuffs. His style had not changed since high school, something that Sugoroku had teased him about for ages.

Moments later, the man scratched his head, walking down the stairs. Yuugi was still nowhere in sight. This was odd.

Atemu walked into the kitchen spying Sugoroku with a pot of coffee. He raised a brow as Arthur walked in from the other entrance to the kitchen. The old man walked up behind Sugoroku and ruffled his hair, smiling down at him. This scene caused Atemu's eyes to widen past their usual narrowed stance.

'What the hell is going on here?' He thought, feeling odd at scene portrayed in front of his eyes. Annoyed and red-faced, the Egyptian made different plans.

'Maybe a day out of the game shop will help. After all, it is my day off.' With this thought set in, Atemu headed off with different ideas in mind.

"Is there anything else I can get you?"

"No thank you."

"Alright, here's your tab and I hope you guys have a great day."

Yuugi walked off from the high top table, going back behind the bar of his new job. Yuugi smiled, falling into his old mannerisms of working in the hospitality industry. This was nothing new to the man. He made his way through college and beyond by bar tending and waiting tables. The money was good and it was easy to please people when you were as handsome as Yuugi Mutou.

The man smiled as he watched his customers walk out of the restaurant. Smiling, Yuugi stood behind the bar, sighing. He had gotten the job fairly easily. It was one of the reasons he had returned to Domino other than to see his family and get away after the situation of leaving someone at the altar. This bar/restaurant had been Yuugi's first job in the past. He had worked there since he had turned sixteen. Yet, he was never able to bar tend until now. His old boss still ran the place and wanted Yuugi back. So here he stood, working on his first few hours without any need of training.

Bored for the moment, Yuugi pulled out his iPhone, spying a few random text messages from a few friends he hadn't seen in a while. Smiling once more, Yuugi replied to them, and frowned when he saw one from said person who made him return to Domino in the first place. Annoyed, he erased the text and turned off his phone.

'Why can't she leave me alone?' He thought, putting his phone back in his back pocket.

Atemu walked down the streets of Domino, worriedly. He had no idea where Yuugi was and had not thought about asking Sugoroku where Yuugi was after seeing that scene with Arthur and the elder Mutou in the kitchen. He did not want to intrude upon the situation of something that apparently was not meant for the eyes of another.

Annoyance fueled the man's need to escape. He walked down further into the heart of Domino, spying one of the city's family-owned restaurants that he knew all too well. Millennia, a family owned restaurant that held one of the best bars all around stood in front of him. This was the place that he and Yuugi spent their first date, and had asked Yuugi out in the past. Hell, it was where Yuugi worked for the majority of his high school life. A frown marred his features as old memories flooded through his mind. This restaurant held the remembrance of their on-off relationship. It also felt as if something was drawing him towards Millennia again. Confusion settled in the pit of his growling stomach at this thought. Judgment set in stone for a decent meal, Atemu walked through the doors of the eatery, smiling at a few of the hostesses as he did. Many of the workers knew Atemu very well, some too well.

He sauntered into the bar, brows rising in curiosity at the sight of Yuugi behind the bar.

'What the hell is he doing here?'

Yuugi chose that moment to hear the bar door open, amethyst eyes locking to meet those of his former boyfriend. A nervousness and silent feeling filled Yuugi's stomach as he gazed at the man now sitting down at the bar top, questions easily seen dancing in the depths of his fiery gaze.

Despite the worry and impending doom he felt, Yuugi walked over to Yami's spot at the bar, a neutral expression guarding his true feelings.

"Can I get you something to drink?" He asked, keeping to the worker and customer status. He wanted to avoid any type of confrontation that would eventually erupt in the future. The need to keep it at home was needed especially since he had just gotten this job.

Atemu raised a brow at Yuugi's directness. He was not used to the little one's first step approach. Yuugi usually avoided forwardness when direct confrontation in any means of social interaction. Confused by Yuugi's tone, he simply shrugged his shoulders lightly and gave the man a blank stare.

"I'm not entirely sure. Care to recommend anything?"

Yuugi gave a slight shrug and gazed at the man with a smirk. "That depends. Do you want something of the alcoholic variety?" Yuugi asked, gauging the other man's reactions.

"Yes, I would love something of that variety, Yuugi. It is my day off for the week after all." He tapped his chin and then smirked in his usual fashion. "I guess I'll take whatever is the house specialty."

Yuugi nodded, taking out a few decorated bottles of liquor and a glass. He placed the ingredients in a shaker and prepared the drink quickly. After a few moments he poured a creamy drink into a glass and set it in front of the elder man.

"One White Russian for the picky man." Yuugi sniggered under his breath, proceeding to clean a few stray glasses behind the bar. He studied Atemu's reactions as he took a drink of the restaurant's specialty.

After a couple of minutes, Atemu set the glass down and smiled at Yuugi. "Great drink. My hat goes off to the bartender."

Yuugi shook his head, giving the man an incredulous look. "I always wondered if your hair was some type of hat or peacock tail."

"Too bad we have the same hairstyle, Yuugi. I should say the same to you." He countered, playfully, sipping his drink.

Yuugi rolled his eyes at the counter attack. He didn't appear it in front of Atemu, but deep down he was nervous as hell around the man. The argument they endured the night before was more than enough to set him off of interacting with his ex. Having the man in his bar, drinking was going to be somewhat intriguing to say the least.

Atemu continued to drink his White Russian, eyes locked onto Yuugi's still form. He was surprised at Yuugi's position as the bartender in Millennia. It was hard to get a job bartending for this place. Hell, he knew from experience. The owner would never allow him to serve or even work in the restaurant doing kitchen work. It just showed how well he wouldn't do in the hospitality business.

Yuugi finished cleaning the glasses. He sighed heavily as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Annoyed, he took out his iPhone, checking through the array of text messages that littered the main screen. One message in particular stood out, making his amethyst eyes widen slightly.

Quickly he punched in a response on the touch screen, worriedly. He had not expected to hear from an old friend such as this one. Shaking his head, Yuugi found Atemu's eyes studying his smaller figure.

"You want another drink, Atemu?"

"We're back to that, Yuugi?"

"Back to what?" Yuugi asked, taking the now empty drink from Atemu's grasp.

"When are you going to revert back to calling me by my preferred name?" He paused and gauged Yuugi's reaction before continuing further. "I figured I deserved the same respect in that matter as I do it for you."

Yuugi groaned, rolling his eyes at the stubborn man. He went to work at making another White Russian for Atemu as he shook the contents of the shaker vigorously. He let his temper take control for the time being as he poured the white concoction into a fresh glass.

"That's not fair. Not many people even know my real name besides you and my grandfather." Yuugi huffed, cleaning the shaker in the dish pit. He hated it whenever his real name was brought into any form of conversation.

"Maybe that is true, Yuugi. However, I feel that I respect you enough to call you by Yuugi instead of-"

Yuugi interrupted him before he could finish the sentence, throwing his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, I'll call you by your damn nickname! NEVER say my real name or so help me I will stab you too death with a machete."

Atemu smirked, nodding in agreement. "Alright, anything for you, Yuugi." He smirked and took a drink of the White Russian smiling at the man.

"You make these quite well, little one. Do you make these for yourself off the clock?"

Yuugi shook his head, walking from behind the bar counter. He stood next to Atemu as he walked to the other end of the bar, picking up a stray glass on a table.

"No, I do not drink anymore."

"Why?"

Yuugi walked back behind the bar top and cleaned the glass as he thought through his mind if this was the right time to admit the truth.

"I'm not supposed to drink anymore. I used to abuse it…."

"Oh."

Well yeah…. He was not expecting a better response other than a simple "oh." Dealing with Atemu at times was like dealing with a child. The man was a child at heart, and usually had a child-like curiosity that often took form when something of interest sparked his questioning mind. Yuugi often found himself in situations as this in the past, even when it came to their breakup.

Yuugi wished someone would come in for a drink. The tension in the bar was growing unbearable for him as Atemu sat there, idly drinking his alcoholic beverage. The words from the man's own mouth the night before still played continuously through Yuugi's mind. He wanted to know the truth.

Yuugi leaned against the counter, observing Atemu's actions. He fought an inner battle for the answer to his desires. He wanted answers to what happened and he wanted to know why Atemu seemed to care. Despite his mind and heart screaming at him, Yuugi went against his senses and asked the question plaguing his mind.

"Why did you say that to me last night?"

Atemu's eyes narrowed slightly, brows rising upward in confusion.

"Uh… care to refresh me on what I said exactly?"

Yuugi bit back a groan as he sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. "Why do you admit to care and still have feelings for me?"

"That's a stupid question, Yuugi."

"Well, I don't care. I'm a stupid person who asks stupid questions. I just want an answer."

Atemu finished the contents of his White Russian, setting the glass onto the counter top. He surveyed Yuugi's anxious expression. He saw a bit of his Yuugi in this hardened and easily angered man in front of him in this one moment.

"You're not stupid. I have little to no interest in anyone if they're below my intelligence level, little one." He smirked at his own joke, and spoke further. "I said it because I still love you Yuugi. Deep down I know you still have feelings for me and you know I love you as well. We were first loves, Yuugi. You and I shared many firsts. It's hard to forget someone you spend such a great amount of time with."

Yuugi blushed slightly remembering exactly what entailed with Atemu's mentions of "firsts." They had both experienced a lot of things together as a couple that others hadn't. It was no wonder they still cared about one another. Yet, he knew that it also shaped him into the person he currently was.

"It also set us up for failure in future relationships. Am I safe to assume that you haven't had a serious relationship since we broke up?"

"No I haven't had anything as serious as you and I had, Yuugi. And I know you haven't dealt well with commitment in other relationships. At least, that's the vibe you give off."

"Yes…. You're right in your beliefs with that." He frowned slightly as he and Atemu continued to talk quietly about things. It seemed that they would understand one another a bit better now. Well most things, that is.

The door to the bar opened, a lone figure walking into the small room. The man stood at a decent height, blond hair falling into his light brown eyes. He glanced around the room, frowning as he failed to find whatever he was looking for. The man sighed in defeat, almost walking out of the bar until Yuugi gasped.

"Jou?"

Upon hearing his name, the blond turned, doing a double take. Moments later, he found himself smiling. Yuugi ran over to him, hugging the blond tightly, smiling.

"Hey Yug' what the hell are you doin' here?"

"I'm the new bartender, Jou. What are you doing here?"

Jou shrugged his shoulders lightly and then walked over to the bar top, raising a brow in question at Atemu.

"You two together again?" He whispered to Yuugi.

Yuugi shook his head, giving the blond mixed drink. "No, we're not in a relationship, Jou. You have nothing to worry about."

"Good, cause I didn't want to have ta kick his ass and all. You're my main man, Yug."

"Sure, Jou. I sure am." He rolled his eyes, and yawned slightly. "You know he's special and you and I just started talking again. Give it time."

Jou took a swig of his drink and shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, dude. Whatever floats ya boat."

"Thanks."

Jou leaned over the counter slightly and gave Yuugi a kiss on the brow, smirking to himself as the man blushed.

Yuugi jumped at the action, turning away with a red face. He knew that Jou would do anything to make a scene, especially in front of his ex boyfriend.

All the while, Atemu watched with narrowed eyes. He had seen the kiss and the mostly silent declaration the duo had moments beforehand. Jou was fighting him for Yuugi's heart… This was unexpected. A smirk graced the man's features as he took out his wallet, ready to pay for his drinks.

If Jou wanted a fight, he would give the man a fight. Yuugi was worth more than anything in the world to him. The game was set and the challenge had been issued. Operation regain Yuugi was now in session.