Chapter Text
The next few days passed uneventfully. Bakura taught him how to read the hieroglyphics from start to finish after teaching Yugi words and letters. It didn't take Yugi as long as he thought it would've to absorb the knowledge. The kid was like in intellectual sponge, soaking up any piece of information he could. Granted, Yugi didn't know it all and could only speak very few words due to the differences in tongue movements but Bakura was sure it wouldn't take Yugi much longer to fully learn how to read and write. Perhaps even speak their language.
Bakura had stolen enough for during those past few days that neither of them really went hungry by nightfall. The clothing he had stolen, well; it had taken a lot of coaxing for Bakura to get Yugi to wear said clothing. And jewelry.
“Bakura, this is really too much..” Yugi complained for the third time that day. He was standing and messing with the bangles on his wrists, frowning in uncertainty.
Yugi had been on his feet and walking a lot more though it would still be a good bit before his feet fully healed. It was good that Yugi wasn't in a lot of pain now. He still had to sit down but Bakura wasn't going to push him. The blisters were still tender and it would burn much more if they were to tear so the thief had Yugi to sit more than stand.
Feet being burned here in the desert wasn't uncommon but many knew to wear some sort of sandal. It was usually children who were to be injured by the sand.
“Too much?” Bakura scoffed. The bangles around his wrists clacked together as he tossed slices of an apple into his mouth. He'd been cutting it up with the dagger he carried. “I'd say it's not enough but I'm not making you wear all of it.”
Yugi casted him an annoyed look. “I can't believe you stole all of this. That's why it's too much.”
Another reminder of Bakura's thievery. It only proved to amuse the man further despite Yugi’s disapproval. Chuckling to himself, Bakura leaned his head back while maintaining eye contact with Yugi.
“If it's such a big deal, go take all of it back.”
“That would make me seem suspicious.” Yugi countered, crossing his decorated arms over his chest. He had to admit, he was pretty comfortable in what he was wearing.
Bakura shook his head, lifting a hand to gesture at Yugi’s appearance. “You already look suspicious. Sure there are minor details that are different but they'd think you were Pharaoh Atem.”
The response didn't make Yugi very happy. “Is that why I'm dressed like this? Because I look like him?” violet eyes narrowed towards the thief. He only avoided Yugi’s gaze instead. “Seriously, Bakura? I'll be tried as an imposter!”
Yugi threw his hands up into the air and Bakura winced.
“I've got it planned out, okay? Stop worrying so much.”
Bakura was too nonchalant about the whole thing but it didn't settle right in his gut that he'd be mistaken for Atem again. He never minded before when they shared a body but Atem was a completely different person. Yugi didn't want to give the wrong impression. A dry laugh left his lips and Yugi brought a hand to his face, covering it. He knew he was about to get himself into a whole lot of shit but Yugi didn't know if he was ready for it.
Dropping his hand, he looked back towards Bakura. “And, what pray tell, is your plan?” Yugi asked, brows furrowed in obvious annoyance.
The thief paused, holding up a glittering necklace as he had been admiring it. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he sat the piece down. Settling into a criss-crossed position, Bakura gave him an uncertain look. He knew Yugi wasn't going to like it.
“There’s a festival today..” He started, testing the waters of Yugi’s reaction so far. When Yugi didn't say anything, he continued. “It's for the Pharaoh. He'll be in town, basking in the love of his people and such and, while he's out of the palace, I can slip you in.”
Yugi tensed. The plan really didn't make sense. If anything, Bakura was even worse than Marik was at ideas. The man seemed to see his skepticism.
“No one will know because no one can see Pharaoh Atem. He'll be in a sort of carriage as you call them; and it's really not unlike Atem to slip off and back to the castle.”
A groan left his lips. “Bakura, I'm not going through with this. I don't know if it's because you're no longer under the influence of the ring but you suck at thinking things through lately. There are so many things wrong with this plan!”
A dramatic scoff left Bakura as he placed a hand over his chest in offense. Only adding to it, he upturned his nose at Yugi and sneered.
“I'm the only one thinking of plans so what choice do you have?!” Bakura puffed out his cheeks. The action seemed completely uncharacteristic for Bakura almost as if he were pouting. He might as well be. “I'm just trying to help you see your man, Yugi.”
The boy bristled. “Don't phrase it in such a way. What's crawled up your ass and died?” Rubbing at his temples, Yugi didn't wait for an answer.
He turned away and moved towards the collection of scripts Bakura had in hopes to distract himself. He reached out to pick one up but he thumbed at the paper idly. His lips pursed as he stared at the papyrus. Yugi had no intentions of disrespecting Atem. All he wanted to do was go to see him but Bakura seemed to have other plans. A thought crossed his mind, telling him that perhaps he should figure out a way to see the Pharaoh himself. One that doesn't involve posing as him. It was almost like Yugi was disrespecting himself as well. A cruel joke that Atem no longer dwelled in a puzzle where Yugi could see him again. He really couldn't help it but it just felt entirely wrong to do.
The sigh Bakura gave, caught Yugi’s attention. Looking over his shoulder, he gave the thief a questioning look.
“Fine, I'll figure something else out. You can drop the jewelry if you want but I think the festival would be fun for you.” Bakura placed his hands on his hips once he was standing.
Yugi looked down at the bangles, armbands, and necklaces he wore before pressing his lips into a thin line. He was beginning to quite like how the gold contrasted against his darker skin. Even if he still wasn't used to it.
“I'll… keep them on.” Yugi admitted.
A laugh bellowed from Bakura's belly but he didn't tease Yugi about it further. It surely wouldn't fair well for the boy's mood which was already souring from the laugh he gave.
Yugi did, however, remove a few pieces from around his neck so he could tuck Atem’s cartouche beneath the linen around his neck. Surely if someone were to see that, it would cause questions. He worked on making himself just a little less princey and more like himself.
If he could even do that. Yugi missed his old clothes.
These just made him feel a bit too breezy. It would take awhile for him to get used to it the way Bakura was. The thief just didn't seem to care about modesty. Though, with the heat outside, Yugi was also grateful for the loose clothing and linens.
Bakura glanced over, seeing Yugi remove things here and there. The majority of the rings adorning his fingers came off and Bakura made a mental sarcastic face in the act of mocking Yugi. He huffed, uncrossing his legs to push himself up.
“Let's head into town. Wear the cloak; we can't let anyone see you.” Bakura instructed.
Yugi paused to glance around for the cloak, brows furrowed. He bent down to shift through the pile Bakura had made of stolen clothing. He vaguely remembered what it looked like but it didn't take Yugi long to find it. He draped it over his shoulders, clasping it together with a broach like ornament. Dropping his hands, he looked back at Bakura.
Bakura pointed to Yugi's feet and the boy frowned. Yuugi would've been fine wearing the sandals but Bakura had been insisting he wore something more expensive.
The younger one sighed, looking away as he knelt to grab the white linen like slippers. They looked more like flats but Yugi wasn't about to argue on how they looked. He switched his footwear and found he was actually content with how there was less of a chance of the wrappings unraveling around his feet.
“Better.” Came Bakura's remark. Yugi casted him a look before walking towards him.
Pulling the hood of the cloak over his head, Yugi gave Bakura a rather unimpressed look. “Let's get going, Bakura. If this goes horribly, I want to get it over with.”
Bakura lifted his head in a brief sound of acknowledgement as he stood up from the floor.
“Fine then but I win the bet if all goes as planned.”
Yugi lifted a brow at him cooly. “There is no bet; not on a half witted plan such as yours.”
The miniscule flinch the thief gave didn’t go unnoticed by Yugi. “When did you become so-.. Conceited ?”
Bakura didn’t receive an answer as Yugi stepped outside.
The last time Yugi had wandered around the bazaar was back in the last fight with Bakura and Zorc. The people occupying the streets couldn’t see him then but now he had to hide. He was clearly visible to them this time. The heat had been just as bad as it was now, but Yugi wasn’t left skin bare to roast in the sun's rays. The cloak provided a bit of relief which he was thankful for. Yugi could still feel himself sweating but it was much preferred over feeling his skin nearly burning off.
He was sure if his skin was still pale, it would’ve been so much worse. Yugi would practically be a lobster and sunburned. His whole body would’ve suffered, not just his feet and hands.
Yugi caught a few curious looks towards him but they were mainly just people passing by. They probably thought he was a bit crazy to be wearing a cloak during the day. Most wore them at night when it was cooler.
Still, it wasn’t uncommon for people to decide to wear them during the day every now and then so they didn’t find him all that unusual. Unless they considered Yugi a thief roaming the streets as Yugi has noticed a few people had shifted away from him suspiciously.
Yugi didn’t want to be thought of as a thief but he couldn’t just pull off the hood. Not for fear of being thought of as an imposter. Perhaps, with some stroke of luck, they would believe Yugi was some kind of long lost relative to Atem. But at the same time, Yugi didn’t want them to think much of him. Just another face on the streets.
An image of Atem’s face came to mind and Yugi ended up smiling to himself. Happy to get to see him again. Even if Bakura’s plan seemed completely disastrous.
He believes he remembers Atem saying something along the lines of them being chosen by the gods within their mother’s wombs. Yuugi still shook his head at the nonsense but a small part of him believed it to be so. Especially with all that has happened, Yugi wouldn’t put the thought on the back burner completely.
Being so lost in thought, Yuugi bumped into Bakura’s back and was rudely pulled from the memories he was replaying within his mind’s eye. Bakura didn’t offer any sort of movement to scold Yuugi for not paying attention. Brows furrowing, Yuugi lifted himself up onto his tiptoes, ignoring the painful stretch of his blisters in favor of looking over or around Bakura’s broad shoulders.
In the distance, Yugi could see decorated horses trotting towards the village. The people were quickly making way for whoever was riding said horses. One looked like priest Seto. In his usual garbs save for his hat. Maybe he had misplaced it or this festival was casual in a sense, yuugi didn’t know. Perhaps it wasn’t even Seto, Yugi couldn’t remember what they really looked like.
A sudden pain rocked through Yuugi’s legs and he was forced to crouch, rubbing at the soles of his feet after slipping off his shoes. The sand was warm but not unbearably hot but the pain only grew so Yuugi ended up having to shove his shoes back on. He would have to deal with the aching mixture of dull and sharp pain for now.
The commotion around him became louder in volume and Yuugi felt disoriented the moment he stood up. There were people shoving them back without really meaning too but Bakura took it in stride and helped Yuugi stay up right.
“Come on.” Bakura whispered, moving Yuugi along before the boy could really get a good look at what was going on. “This is our chance, everyone’s too occupied to notice us.”
Yuugi groaned. “This plan isn’t going to work .”
Bakura didn’t say anything as he continued to lead Yuugi through the crowd. The hand against Yuugi’s back was an insistent push, navigating him through the people loudly cheering for their Pharaoh and the Priests. It seemed to be a special occasion. Perhaps Atem was visiting someone as they all seemed less dressed from what Yuugi could sort of make out. Visiting whom, Yuugi did not know. He did realize that he hadn’t spotted Mana anywhere. Usually she had been close by Mahaad from what he could tell from his brief memories before the bigger battle occured.
They got a good bit of ways through the crowd before Bakura found him stopping at one of the market stands. Yuugi only noticed when he bumped into the other man’s back. Frowning, Yuugi turned his attention from the crowd to Bakura, noticing him staring at a rather nice looking pair of shoes. Bakura’s own seemed worn. At least, the ones he was currently wearing.
Yugi could practically see Bakura’s fingers itching to snatch them up.
“Bakura, you really shouldn’t…” Yugi warned, tugging at Bakura to break his attention from the shoes. But as soon as the words left him, Bakura had already snatched them up and proceeded to grab Yugi’s arm to drag him away. Yugi could hear the angry yelling of the merchant behind them. They had seemed to be a gift set to the side for the Pharaoh himself. It wasn't uncommon for the village people to offer gifts they hope would be of use for their king.
Yugi’s heart skipped a beat in fear. He couldn't understand what the merchant was yelling but he could feel everyone's attention on them now. He heard chatter cease and a moment later, he collided with Bakura’s back again. But this time he wasn't able to gather his bearings as he felt hands grabbing his wrists and yanking him back, separating both him and Bakura. The sun soon blinded him, causing him to squint. The hood of the cloak he wore had been yanked away and there was a collective gasp around them. Yugi really wasn't sure what had happened in such a short time but he could hear noise. Voices though it sounded like gibberish to him, furthering his bafflement. He glanced to the side to find Bakura struggling. He didn't seem the happiest as the guards forced him down onto his knees.
Having his head suddenly forcefully turned, Yugi winced. Kaiba? No, Seto, was seeming to take a good look at his face. Seto was asking him a question judging by the tone but Yugi could only look confused. He didn't dare speak and put further suspicion on himself.
“Yugi, he's asking who you are.” Bakura’s voice caught Yugi’s attention and he glanced towards him then back to Seto.
He had a thought of pretending he simply couldn't hear but he had already acknowledged Bakura speaking to him so the idea would be fruitless. Yugi hesitantly opened his mouth. “Yugi.”
Seto repeated his name. Yugi nodded slightly and Seto let go of his face. With an uneven, nervous breath, Yugi stumbled along as he was dragged by the Guard holding him. The unsteady steps and balance was beginning to hurt the blisters on his feet but he didn't dare just let them drag him off. They had such a tight grip on his arms, he'd definitely bruise if he allowed them to do so. Looking up, he saw everyone staring at him. He found himself wondering why until he remembered, oh, he looks like Atem.
It was clear they were not related, Yugi’s face was much too round while Atem seemed sharp and structured. He sighed, wondering if the natural reddish color of his hair really did look like Atem’s. Back then, Yugi saw Atem with the same tricolored hair he had but considering his own wasn't dyed, perhaps Atem’s hair was much like his own now that Atem knew him as himself and not as Yugi. Yugi had seen his reflection in the water of the barrel back in Bakura’s home. Not a blond streak in sight. He really couldn't recognize himself.
Yugi kept his face downward until he heard someone step down from the man-carried carriage that held Pharaoh Atem. His heart sped up to the point he could hear it in his ears. Atem wouldn't know him. He'd be angry with him, wouldn't he? Many thoughts ran through his mind and continued doing so before they screeched to a halting stop the moment Yugi looked up.
Atem looked nearly identical to him, if not more defined. The tricolored hair was gone, replaced with the fiery reddish dark colored strands instead. Even so, Yugi could spot a few lighter locks of hair. Perhaps partial albinism? Yugi didn't know but he figured it would explain just how red Atem’s eyes were. Bakura's plan would've utterly failed. Yugi briefly humored himself thinking perhaps this really wasn't Bakura's plan and he had a better one up his sleeve that he didn't get to execute.
Yugi could only stare. Even with the harsh sun’s light forcing him to squint against the image walking before him, Yugi did his best to take in every detail until his eyes could no longer take it. He squeezed them shut and looked down at the sand. He simply couldn't handle how bright it was outside.
A deep baritone voice broke through, speaking words that sounded too complex. Yugi didn't know what he was saying but the Guard releasing him gave him a good guess. No longer being lifted up, Yugi stumbled as his own balance returned. Pain etched across his face due to his feet. Yugi glanced back to find Bakura only motioning for the boy to look back because Atem was speaking to him.
He tried to look back up towards the Pharaoh but he couldn't maintain eye contact without his eyes hurting.
“I..” Yugi started, dropping to his knees in front of Atem out of respect. Atem did not remember him so it wouldn't do well if Yugi were too casual. “I cannot understand you.”
Yugi couldn't see the puzzled look on Atem's face upon hearing the language the boy spoke. It caused Atem to visibly hesitate. He took a quick glance around the crowd, suddenly nervous about what he should do with this boy. Making a rash decision, he barked orders to the guards. A moment's pause and he heard Atem say something else and Yugi was soon picked up entirely.
He didn't know what was going on but he was somewhat relieved to not have to walk.
Looking up towards Atem once more, he swore he caught a showing of fondness on the man’s face. But he couldn't make sure because it seemed that the sun was always behind Atem. As if looking upon him was a crime for Yugi’s sight.