AN: oh gosh! This was written almost a month ago but when I went to post it I realized so much of it jumped around I had to re-write it. Sorry gang, please forgive me!!

Chapter 10: A Cold Request

It was no surprise that the museum was packed. Thousands of duelists were in the city prepping for the tournament that started Saturday and Atem could swear every one of them were currently in the museum right now. Luckily Yugi was one of the first ones to arrive which allowed Atem to dodge the "are you Yugi Mutou" questions onto the real Yugi avoiding that very awkward explanation.

Yugi looked so bashful as flocks of duelists swarmed him asking for autographs or just sending over their positivity. Atem couldn't help but smile seeing Yugi get so much attention. Yugi side glanced at Atem and smiled causing him to blush briefly before Yugi's attention went back to his fans.

All of his friends were here at the museum, walking around talking with each other and distracting him from his job. It made working even more awkward because every time they stopped him to talk, his boss came up behind him and dragged him away giving him a long lecture that "his luck will run out one day".

Nosaka eventually made him work in the far portion of the meuseum away from the duel exhibit hoping he would be more focused on his tasks. It had the complete opposite effect, while in the presence of his friends he wanted to show how good he was at his job but with them not there, all he thought about was what they were thinking or talking about.

"I wonder if every young adult goes through this?" Atem sighed, leaning up against one of the exhibits and explaining it to the one or two people who bothered to come and look at it. Japanese history didn't seem to be the target of the night and he just so desperately wanted to get back into the other room and talk to Yugi.

"My word...! So Ishizu wasn't joking...you really are here"

A cold chill ran down Atem's spine. He gripped his fists and turned to look in the direction of the voice, his eyes dark with anger.

"That's a scary look..." The cheerful chirp of the man said, "And here I thought you'd be excited to finally exist in this world"

"What do you want" Atem coldly stated resisting the urge to knock the man out.

"Is that really anyway to greet an old friend-"

"Old friend?!" Atem snapped, "You stole Yugi's grandfather's soul...nearly killed him, the Kaiba brothers and Yugi...and you want to try and say you are a friend?!"

"And yet when my soul was taken you rescued me," Pegasus smiled placing a hand on Atem's shoulder only to have it slapped away.

"I rescued Yugi, and Joey...you were just there," Atem grunted before turning away, "One last time, WHAT do you want?"

"There's that royal tone," Pegasus sighed shrugging, "I warned you about Dartz...and I have nothing but regret for what I did to Yugi and this is how I'm treated? Atem..."

Atem just glared at Pegasus as he shook his head.

"...I need you to back out of the tournament," Pegasus boldly stated causing Atem to chuckle.

"Really? And why would I do that?" Atem smirked, as Pegasus returned the chuckle.

"Boy aren't you similar to Kaiba-boy" Pegasus said causing Atem's gaze to revert back to anger, "...touchy subject...Atem, you can't compete in the tournament, I beg you"

Pegasus shook his head, "by competing in this tournament...people will learn your name and then it'll be impossible to draw the them out..."

"Them?" Atem asked, "What do you mean?"

"You honestly don't know? Did Ishizu not tell you?" Pegasus gasped, "I was sure she would've mentioned it as soon as...well as soon as you came back"

"..." Atem looked away and sighed. Either this was another one of his games or Pegasus was serious that Ishizu kept something from him. Either way he was growing tired of being around Pegasus and decided to humor him hoping he might get to the point and leave him alone.

"...Kaiba-boy is building a school" Pegasus began as Atem sighed realizing this was going to be a long winded not to the point conversation, "A school to teach young talent the aspects of Duel monsters...a school to bring out the best of the best! But there's another purpose for it all..."

Pegasus walked up to Atem's co-worker, took a glass a wine off her tray and shoed her away like she was some servant. Atem gave her an apologetic look before following Pegasus into the other room. There were even less people here if you could believe it but out of the corner of his eye he could see Jounouchi and Mai near one of the tablets. He glanced around but couldn't see Yugi anywhere.

"Are you listening?" Pegasus asked as Atem sighed and turned to look at him.

"Get to the point. I am technically supposed to be working here" Atem stated.

"...since the Ceremonial Duel and the disappearance of the God cards and Millennium items...and well your death," Pegasus said, "There have been groups of duelists searching for them...lingering in the shadows, forming groups and going after anyone who ever knew anything about them..."

Pegasus had Atem's attention now, "What?!"

"It's getting bad..." Pegasus sighed, "They came after Ishizu and Marik shortly before you came back...and shortly after that came after me. They didn't manage to beat us, but they weren't the only ones..."

Suddenly Atem felt cold. He thought about the robber the night before and tensed. Could he have been apart of this group? Was Pegasus telling the truth?

"Why didn't Ishizu tell me..." Atem said, "If this is true...she would've told me the second I got back!"

"I thought that as well...and I'm not sure why she didn't tell you," Pegasus shook his head and yet his hair never revealing his damaged eye, "I thought she would come to the same conclusion as me..."

"And what's that?" Atem asked.

"That you need to stop them" Pegasus stated boldly, "It's not a coincidence you came back. There's a reason for it, and I believe it's to help clear out these people who will threaten us..."

Atem sighed, "It seems Ishizu and you handled it"

"Yes, but for how long? The more time they have, the better they get...and it's only a matter of time before they figure out who else held millennium items..." Pegasus said shocking Atem, "Ryou-boy...Sugoroku Motou...Yugi-boy... all of them are potentially in danger"

"If they couldn't beat you two, they will never beat them" Atem said, "What does it matter if I end up in the tournament? Yugi beat me in a duel before, wouldn't he be the better candidate?"

"Yugi is wide known...wherever he goes, the media does..." Pegasus shook his head, "These are not people who want to be seen...they are a dark group and will stop at nothing to get what they want. But if the media is circling around, do you really think they're going to come out?"

Atem sighed, "So you want me out of the tournament, so they don't know who I am"

"Precisely!" Pegasus chirped as Atem rolled his eyes.

"I look like Yugi...don't you think the media might mistake me for him?" Atem questioned as Pegasus genuinely looked shocked.

"I didn't think of that..." Pegasus shook his head, "I guess I anticipated you looking...different. But at most, your skin, eye colour and mannerisms are different...so they would probably only think you were a fan in the end and move on if you got spotted. But Yugi? Seto? They would get noticed for sure"

"Find someone else. I don't trust you...Ishizu didn't tell me for a reason, and that probably has something to do with you," Atem coldly stated before turning him away.

"Wait! Would you really risk Yugi-boy's life so easily?!" Pegasus called out causing Atem to stop in his tracks, "Atem...please...I know I'm the last person you'll trust but..."

Atem turned around to look at Pegasus who genuinely looked scared. He sighed before his expression changed to near fright. Pegasus revealed his eye.

"...I couldn't bring back the one I loved...I did everything, created duel monsters and pursued the millennium items to bring her back...but it didn't matter" Pegasus stated, "...I paid the ultimate price...please...I don't want anyone else to suffer because of the past"

Atem turned away, those final words piercing into his very soul. His entire legacy, he sometimes forgot how much pain and agony it caused so many people he cared about. The lives that were lost protecting him, and defending the world from chaos. Whether he was manipulating him or not, Atem couldn't chance it. If anything were to happen to Yugi...

"Please Atem...consider it..." Pegasus begged before concealing his eye once again, "I will make sure you are well taken care of...give you access to any card to build your deck to save us...but please...do the right thing, back out of the tournament tomorrow...I'll have a boat waiting for you at domino peer during your first match...please...pharaoh who saved the world...please help us"

Without looking back Atem walked forward proudly. His mind made up before Pegasus had to beg those last words as he walked through the hallways. He nearly walked into Jounouchi who was rush over to see him and only stopped when he felt a firm grip on his arm.

"Atem! Yo man, what's wrong?" Jou asked concern all over his face, "You look...so upset."

"Jounouchi..." Atem exclaimed with surprise so deep in thought he didn't even notice it was him.

"Wow...he really does look like Yugi," Mai said smirking "So cute too"

Jounouchi glared at her as she giggled, "You know...if all that crazy stuff didn't happen with Dartz and Marik well...I don't think I'd believe your story and figure this guy as just a rabid Yugi fanboy"

"Who says I'm not that too?" Atem chuckled, "It's good to see you Mai"

"It's good to finally see you" Mai smiled, "Now, what's on your mind? I'm sure you wouldn't nearly plow Jounouchi to the ground if it wasn't important"

"Hey...hey who says he would've knocked me over?" Jounouchi interrupted showing off his muscles, "Sorry Atem, I'd probably hurt you more with these guns"

"Oh please" Mai rolled her eyes and snorted, "You couldn't beat up a baby"

"Guys...I'm sorry, I need to go" Atem said, "I need to get out of here before Yugi notices me..."

"Why?" Jounouchi asked, "He really wants to talk to you man...apparently you were going to tell him something? He hasn't shut up about it all day"

Atem sighed. The confession...with Pegasus's unwelcome intrusion he nearly forgot about this morning. He couldn't do it now. If any of this was true he had to keep Yugi as far away from it as possible. He needed to talk to Ishizu now and demand and explaination.

"Geez you guys weren't kidding, he looks terrifying when he's thinking..." Mai expressed cutting Atem off from his thoughts, "If looks could kill"

"Sorry Jou, Mai...I need to go" Atem started to walk away again before Jounouchi grabbed on and nearly yanked him back to his original spot.

"Hey man, what's going on" Jounouchi asked his eyes narrowing, "I have seen that look twice now...and both times it wasn't good. What happened?"

"It's complicated...I need answers before I can, Jou, please" Atem tried to walk away but Jou stepped in front. Atem clenched his fists.

"Yea, that's about right buddy! You're going to have to knock me over before I let you go on with that look..." Jounouchi said with a determined expression.

"You might as well tell us, unless you want to fight" Mai said.

"...Yugi was attacked last night," Atem began the urge to plow through Jounouchi to save him from this long winded thought was there but he knew there was no way even that would get him to stop at this point, "...man claims he was after the item for just it's gold...but I felt he was lying. Then Pegasus shows up here and explains there's been a group of duelist terrorizing anyone who had anything to do with the millennium items... it's too much of a coincidence... my return, this robber and now apparently both Ishizu and Pegasus being attacked...I can't ignore it"

"Those millennium things were definitely powerful...it's no surprise they'd attract more attention," Mai crossed her arms, "But do you really think Pegasus is telling the truth?"

"That creep stole Yugi's grandpa's soul man!" Jounouchi shook his head, "He's just manipulating you..."

"I can't chance it..." Atem shook his head and gritted his teeth, "If I let this go and it's true..."

Jounouchi looked down before sighing, "So what's the game plan?" Atem looked over at him as he nodded and continued, "Well, yea... you honestly think I was going to let you figure this out on your own? Come on now."

"...I need to talk to Ishizu and find out if this is true...and why she didn't tell me," Atem nodded, "After that...Pegasus wants me to drop out of the tournament"

"What?!" Jounouchi exclaimed, "How on earth is that going to help?!"

"I'm not known in the public eye...if compete then everyone will know me again and there's no way I'll be able to travel without being spotted," Atem sighed, "These guys are attacking silently...if they truly do exist, they won't be looking to be caught..."

"Geez..." Jounouchi gasped, "...Well I'm sure Yug will understand. He's always got your back! This is one tournament you guys will miss? So what! There'll be more...this is more important"

"Yugi can't know what I'm doing." Atem stated firmly.

"Wait...what?! Why not?" Jounouchi shouted in anger

"Yugi will come with me...I can't risk his safety, I won't" Atem said clenching his fists, "I almost couldn't protect him from that robber...if something were to happen...I can't Jounouchi, I can't risk his safety again for my sake!!!"

Jounouchi looked shocked for a moment before looking down at the ground and grunting. He sighed deeply, kicked the ground a bit before looking back up and nodding.

"I guess I get that...but..." Jounouchi sighed, "There's no way he'll let you go man..."

Atem turned to Jounouchi as he and Mai nodded, "Look man...Your passing really hurt him, badly...he didn't express it but we all knew. Since you've been back...he's been happy. Happier than I've seen him in a long time... If you leave again, it's just going to hurt him all over again..."

Atem sighed and paused for a long time before continuing, "I'd rather...I'd rather that then..."

"...You can't be thinking of doing this all alone..." Mai shook her head, "These guys seem sneaky...one wrong move,"

"I know...I won't screw up." Atem said nodding, "You have to believe in me"

"We do man but...tck I don't like this, not one bit! This reeks of Pegasus schemes..." Jounouchi scuffed.

"I'll be fine Jounouchi," Atem smirked, "It'd take more than Pegasus to take me down."

"How exactly are you going to sneak away without Yugi noticing...don't you live with him?" Mai asked.

"My first match and Yugi's first match happen simultaneously. I'll forfeit right at the beginning and leave before his match is over" Atem said.

"...I don't like this...Yugi, hiding this from him..." Jounouchi crossed his arms. "Let it be known I'm completely against this"

"Noted Jou," Atem nodded, "I can't risk anyone's safety with my legacy anymore...I need to handle this. He'll be mad...I know, and he may hate me but...he'll be alive."

Jounouchi looked at Mai who both looked sad towards Atem. Their concern was all over their face but after Atem uttered those words they finally saw where he was coming from. He was tired of Yugi being in front of his mistakes and his problems.

"I need to call Ishizu before it gets too late," Atem nodded, "Please Jounouchi...Mai, don't tell Yugi"

"I won't...but...you really should..." Jounouchi said. Atem sighed walking forward for a bit before stopping near the exit of the museum.

"Jou...please tell Yugi when I'm gone...that," Atem looked down briefly before towards the exit once more, "...he's the one thing in this world I can't lose. Ever."

Jounouchi's eyes went wide as he watched Atem walk through the exit doors. He swore for just a moment he saw a familiar cape blowing behind him.

Chapter 10 end.