A/N: Welcome to the second chapter of three. I apologize for taking a lot of time to write this chapter, but I found myself stuck with an idea that I had no idea how to write. Odd? Tell me about it. But anyway, here is the second chapter.

Warnings: A quick warning: this fic is about the love between two boys, so if you chose not to respect that, please press the back button and continue on your way.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is not my own creation. It's lovely artwork and story belong to Takahashi Kazuki.

Hidden Past

Chapter Two: A Past Long Forgotten

I sigh as my eyes blink open, revealing the world to me once again. I look down and notice my other's head buried in my chest and I slightly wonder how our positions had changed over night. I smile anyways; glad to know he is still here. I let my fingers run through his hair, just enjoying the moment.

I guess a part of me wanted to prepare for the worst. Prepare for what he had predicted would happen. I look down at the form in my arms and feel my face fall into a frown. If he believes the worst would happen, who is to say it won't? What if these are the last moments I spend with him before he tells me his dark past?

No. That's why I have decided. I love him. Whatever happened to him or whatever he did in the past, is what lead him to me and made him the way he is. How can I possibly not love him because of who he is?

I felt a pair of eyes on me and immediately I looked down. I smile as our eyes meet again. "Good morning."

"Good morning, partner." I see him frown slightly and pull away from my chest to be at eye level with me. "Or will it be a good morning?"

I shake my head and close my eyes. "I've already told you. Whatever you did in the past will not affect my feelings. Whatever happened made you the person you are now."

"But how do you know I am the person you see?"

I open my eyes to look at him incredibly. "How… how can you say that? Do you think you could have managed to deceive me this whole time? I may have not seen your true heart, but I've seen pieces of it. I know this is who you are. I just don't know why you are who you are."

He rolled over on top of me, pinning my arms to the bed. I try not to look surprised. I try to remain calm as I look up into the burning eyes. "Then I will show you, other me. I will show you the truth about the monster you claim to love."

I feel myself go limp as he keeps his cold gaze on my eyes. I wonder what is happening to me as my world turns dark.

---

I've had two experiences in my life, partner; two that have made me who I am. I will share one with you now. If you still wish to know more, I will show you the other.

Don't hate me, other me. For as you watch my story unfold, I relive it once again. This is the sacrifice I make for you. The sacrifice I make for dreaming that you will still love me.

If you see me for the monster I truly am, please, do not leave me. Do not forsake me forever. Just tell me you no longer desire me and that will be enough. Just… don't leave me. I know I do not deserve this request, but I fear this could be the last time you would listen to my words with an open heart.

Will it hurt you, other me? Will it hurt for you to relive your past?

Yes. It hurts just thinking about it, partner. But I will endure it for you. I have no need for any other reason.

And so… if this is the last time you ever hear my words in your heart: I love you, partner.

---

The sun set over the land of Egypt as the Pharaoh stood watching over his land. His warm eyes looked over the desert land. It wasn't much. It was brimming with life and festivities aplenty, but he himself had no life. He was the ruler. He was a god.

He was foolishly in love.

He had fallen for a woman of low upbringing, nonetheless. He had risked his life to sneak out to meet with her; for he knew the dangers that awaited him outside the palace walls. He tried to carry on as a normal man would.

And tonight was no different. He snuck out through a room on the ground floor. He could easily get by the guards. He sometimes wondered why such guards were hired if they could not see him pass by. He wondered how many assassins might have gotten past them just to be stopped by his personal guard.

They had met at the local tavern as usual, her smile always making his heart lift, no matter how saddened or frustrated he was any given day. He sat down next to her, keeping his voice low and soft. "How are you faring today?"

He heard her gentle laughter and laid her hand on top of his. "I am much better now that you are here." He looks up to her, a smile playing on his lips. "And how are you, milord?"

He shakes his head and moves his hand over to intertwine their fingers together. "I would be much better if you remembered what my name is, Kilah."

"Of course, but you are-"

He places two fingers of his other hand upon her lips, silencing her next words. "I am Atemu to you and to you only." He drops his hand to lie on top of their joined hands.

She looked down, her jet black hair falling into her eyes. "Forgive me… Atemu."

He laughs and stands up as the group of gypsies begins a new song. Holding out a tanned hand, she looked up at his face. "Treat me to a dance?"

She nodded, meeting his eyes and stood up, putting her calloused in his. Together they swirled and turned around other couples. The world around them meant nothing as the music slowed into a gentle rhythm that both their souls followed. He pulled her close to him, allowing their bodies to feel the heat of each other.

"Atemu… is this real? I feel as though Ra himself had come down and gave me the pleasure of meeting you."

He smiles at her words and bends down to brush his lips against Kilah's. "If this is a dream, I wish never to be awoken from it." He feels her head lay on his chest as they continued swaying. "I will find a way to marry you. I swear it on my life."

---

What is so bad about what you have done, other me? You have simply loved. I cannot blame you for that.

That is not the end. I am nowhere near the end. I am merely pausing, it's hurting much more than I expected it to.

Don't let me force you. I don't want you to hurt anymore, other me.

I need to show you. I have to show you. It would be cruel if I did not. You deserve to know what has happened to me. You deserve to know what I have done. And so I will continue. I must.

---

"A-Are you sure, Atemu?"

The Pharaoh nods his head and smiles. "Do not worry. I have made sure no one has any reason to question why you are here."

Kilah closes her eyes and sighs in relief. Her dressing had changed. Instead of old hand-me-downs from her older sister, she was now adorned with the best garments that could be found. Her hair, instead of loosely falling down her back, was styled fashionably. "I'm glad. We can finally be together; just like we wanted to be."

Atemu merely nods once more and bows. "As much as I hate to leave, there is some important business I have to have an ear in. Please excuse me. I will return to our room as soon as I am able and you shan't be alone for long. Your sister is visiting today, remember?"

She nods, smiling her red painted lips and bows low, as a sign of respect. Her eyes watch him turn and head in the opposite direction toward the throne room.

---

Other me?

I am sorry, partner. I will try to stop delaying.

Other me, please stop. I can feel your pain. Just as you do not want to cause me pain, I do not wish to cause you pain as well.

My past is pain, partner. Through and through. You wish to know, I know you do. I am causing my own suffering this time. I allowed what happened, I chose to ignore it.

Other me…

---

Atemu sighed a long sigh, managing to escape quickly and unharmed from his high priests. He has other things on his mind. Or rather, a certain person on his mind. They had warned him today, them being the only ones who knew of Kilah's true identify, that she was up to know good. He acted reasonably, telling them he respected their claims and advice. He argued that he knew Kilah and knew she would never betray him.

He reached the end of the corridor where her room was. The door was slightly ajar and he listened for any sounds, wondering if she were in their with her sister.

"—proud of you!"

"I know! But mother could never dream that this would happen. She was always the one putting me down. But here I am, soon to be the Pharaoh's wife. Mother would turn in her grave if she knew." Kilah's voice pitched when nearing the end of her sentence, Atemu realizing the happiness he heard in Kilah's voice. But… something felt wrong.

"Father has sent his best wishes to you."

There was a pause and silence filled the room. Atemu was about to walk in. When Kilah's low, heated voice ran in his ears. "And I will need them. I have a plan, sister. One that will get you and father out of that mangy shack I called a home."

"What do you mean?"

"You do know what happens when the Pharaoh dies, do you not? His wife takes over as ruler and chooses a husband. If he were to die, I would be able to control the land. I would decide who lives and dies. I would be able to find a more suitable home for my family."

"Then do you not love him? I have seen the way of your eyes when you speak of him."

"No… I do not believe I have loved him. Lust, however is where my feelings truly lie. I will not lie to you, dear sister. He is handsome, smart and nice beyond all reason. But I can see, that in the end, he only cares for himself."

Red crept into the ruler's face as he heard the words flow from her mouth. It was just minutes ago that his priests had told him that this very thing would happen.

He was fooled. His own heart fooled him. He lowered his eyes, feeling the touch of cold sadness being washed away by hot anger and burning desire for revenge.

He would make her pay.

He would make her pay in the most appalling way.

---

You have been hurt, Atemu, but is that a reason why I wouldn't love you? You would have to be an emotionless soul not to feel what you did.

True, my partner. But unlike so many, I acted upon it. I acted upon my rage, upon my hatred. I turned myself into a monster.

And it was over this. Something that could have been so much easier solved. But I wanted her to suffer, partner. I wanted her to feel the pain of her heart being ripped out while still beating.

I am a dark being, my little one. There are good reasons why I was sealed away. Reasons that I have never told a soul.

So, you had her killed, right? What she did was attempted murder, other me! In this era she would have gotten life behind bars, but since I know that in Ancient Egypt, punishments more harsh were accepted easier. Do you blame yourself for sentencing her to death? When she was thinking about being the cause of your own?

You still do not understand. Yes, she did die by my command; by my very own hand. I enjoyed it. I relished her screams, her pleas for mercy. I enjoyed watching her blood flow down my knife, down my arm and onto our bed.

I was thrilled to kill her, partner. I was happy to she her last breath leave her lips. Tears trailing down her cheeks. I didn't care. I didn't care I had stolen someone's life.

That I had stolen her innocence.

This is what I have dreaded telling you, little one. And now I have. I feel your shock. I can feel how sick you feel at my actions. And I've only told you about them. And soon, those feelings coursing through your body will bottle up into fear. Fear for me, fear of me. Either way, I have lost you, partner.

I have lost everything I wished so hard to retain.

I do not blame you for this. You merely wished to know, and with so many secrets I keep, I could not blame you for wanting to know.

You love me, but you fear me. And with that small word 'but,' everything before that does not matter. It does not matter how strong your feelings are for me. It doesn't matter that you have promised you would stand by me no matter what. It no longer matters that we have been through many years of hardships together, working side-by-side. What we have told each yesterday and this morning will never matter again.

It doesn't matter anymore. Because it will all come down to the fact that you fear me.

Do not try to hide it. I've always been able to see your emotions no matter how hard you've tried to hide or suppress them.

And right now you fear being in my arms. You fear what I might do during one night.

And most of all…

You fear my love.

My love has always been cursed with unhappiness. With melancholy and deceit. This time, it is no different.

I lost you.

And it is my fault. It is my fault I seeked to not only kill her, but make her suffer until the end. I made sure she knew that she was going to die. I told her what I was going to do to her. And I did.

I cannot be trusted with love, partner. Whether it's my love for someone or their love for me.

I asked you before you had learned my past, if you would still let me stay with you no matter what you saw. But that was an unfair request. One made out of desperation. And you have no obligations to fulfill my wish. But I want to ask you again. Now that you know. Now that you know what kind of monster I am.

Will you let me stay by you? Will you allow me to at least watch you, if never to talk to you again?

---To Be Continued…

---Yami-Atemu 12-22-04 23:33