About this story:

1) It is set in an alternate universe (AU).

2) It is yaoi.

3) There will be some profanity in future chapters.

4) The usual disclaimers apply.

1. Unaccountable Extravagance

"Why this shop?" Atem asked Anzu. He was a little annoyed, frankly. It seemed as though Anzu was dragging him into every little curio and antique shop in Old Town. He'd agreed to go on this outing with her because they were friends and it seemed like they'd done nothing but shop. Anzu hadn't really talked to him about anything he was interested in at all. By now he was completely bored by all the costume jewelry, cute china, knickknacks, and assorted clothing that the shops had to offer. "I'm getting hungry. Can't we go to lunch now?"

"But this was the shop that Shizuka liked the best! Come on, Atem, it'll be fun!" Anzu grabbed his hand and pulled him into the store, her other hand clutching the several bags that contained her purchases.

Atem sighed. Why didn't you ask Shizuka to come with you today? he wondered, looking around. She would actually enjoy the shopping trip. He could feel his eyes glaze over as he was confronted with yet another array of antiques.

Good god.

Anzu quickly disappeared around a display case stuffed to the brim with assorted jewelry, leaving Atem alone to ponder his fate. He wondered if there might be any antique games lying about … preferably without missing pieces.

"Is there anything in particular that would suit your interest, sir?" said a voice behind him.

"Excuse me?"

Atem turned. The man was bizarre, to say the least. He was effete, his long, platinum hair carefully cut and styled so that it concealed one eye. Atem was sure there was something a little off about that eye, but he couldn't quite make it out. Not only that, he wore a magenta suit of velvet—velvet!

"I try to select items for every taste, sir," the man continued, pretending he didn't notice Atem's stares. The odd thing was, Atem felt as though the proprietor was staring at him as well … no, make that through him. The man put out a hand. "Pegasus J Crawford," he said. "Call me Pegasus."

The Pegasus Selection … that's right. That's what this place was.

Atem reluctantly shook the offered hand. It was slightly limp.

"No, don't tell me!" the man said. "Let me guess." He smiled and looked Atem up and down. "I pride myself on my ability to read people. I want to suggest the perfect item for you. You don't need a gift for anyone right now … but you're looking … yes. I have just the thing! This way."

Atem sighed. Oh well, I might as well humor the man. It's more entertaining than looking around myself, at least, he thought. As he followed Pegasus he looked around, wondering where Anzu had gotten.

The store seemed much bigger on the inside than it did on the outside. Just how far back did it go, anyway? And there was merchandise on at least two upper floors as well. It was as though a short walk through a store was becoming a trek through a jungle … if a jungle could be filled with cast-off junk instead of trees. Atem followed Pegasus up a stairway and opened his mouth to ask what his square footage was, when it caught his eye and he stopped stock still.

"I thought you would like that," said Pegasus a little smugly. Before him, leaning on a large chair, sat a large portrait of a man in a simple frame. It couldn't be of a real person because the man was dressed as a pharaoh, his large headdress low over his eyes.

And what eyes they were! Filled with intelligence, they were of a dark blue that Atem hadn't believed was possible—could this simply be the artist's license? Or perhaps he did not paint his model from life, but this man existed merely in his imagination. How could they be made of mere pigment on canvas when they pierced him so?

Tearing his attention from the man's eyes, Atem stepped closer to examine the man's face more closely. Careful brushstrokes revealed a handsome face with high cheekbones and clean, strong jawline. His brow was effectively hidden by the headdress and his expression regal and guarded.

He appeared to be standing on some sort of balcony, with a view of the Nile and ruins of some sort behind him. You could see down to where his hand lay on the stone railing of the balcony, just above where the portrait cut off around the level of his hip.

His clothing was ostentatious, mostly turquoise, opulently embellished with gold. The tones contrasted with the dark, sun-kissed bronze of his skin.

"He's really something, isn't he?"

Atem nearly jumped out of his skin. Mesmerized by the sight of the man in the painting, he'd completely forgotten that the proprietor of the shop was standing right behind him.

Shit, he thought. I'm never going to get a good price for this now. Attempting to sound nonchalant, he said, "What are you asking for this?" He looked closely. "It appears to be unsigned. Do you know who the artist is?"

"Sadly, no, the artist is, apparently, anonymous, and I haven't been able to identify who it could have been from the technique. None of my gallery friends have identified it, either."

"Then, you—"

"No, I have no information about the model, if there was one."

Atem frowned a little. How could this man read him so easily? Wasn't that supposed to be his own strength? How annoying it was to have the shoe on the other foot!

As if catching Atem's thought, Pegasus chuckled. "Weren't we talking price? Ordinarily, I wouldn't accept less than 450,000 yen for this. For you, however, I'll make a special deal. Shall we say … half price?"

Atem turned to face Pegasus, confounded.

Why is he so keen to sell? Surely he saw! There's no way I'm going to walk out without it, even for that ridiculous price! Unsigned, unknown artist, unknown model … there's no knowing how valuable it might be, but he knows he's got me on the hook.

Pegasus shrugged. "Forget it," he said. "Let's just say you caught me in a giving mood and leave it at that?"

"Fine," Atem said, almost angrily. He was almost sure he'd regret the purchase later, half-price or not. He leaned forward.

"Here, let me," offered Pegasus, lifting the painting. "I'll set this aside and have it wrapped and delivered for you. Just leave your address at the counter. That way you won't have to lug it with you for the remainder of the day."

"That will actually work out best for me. Thank you."

The two threaded their way back down to the front of the store.

"Atem! Where have you been all this time?" Anzu exclaimed.

"I kind of got lost in the back there," he said. He was afraid he might be blushing a little, but if Anzu noticed, she didn't show any sign of it.

Instead, she giggled. "This shop is incredible! I could stay here all day!—but I won't," she added quickly, before Atem could begin to voice the groan he felt coming on. She placed several odds and ends on the counter and said to Pegasus, "Are you the shop owner? There are several pieces of jewelry I'd like to see, if I could—"

"Most certainly, my dear, but first I have to check out your friend here."

Anzu turned to stare at Atem. "You're buying something?" she asked incredulously.

"I do have money," he said. "I spend some every now and then."

"On non-gaming items?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, don't laugh!" He turned to the counter and settled with Pegasus.

Anzu couldn't stop staring. After she made her purchases, she latched onto Atem's arm and fairly hustled him from the shop. "Over 200,000 yen? What did you buy that could possibly cost so much?!"

"A painting—and I'm regretting it already," he claimed.

"A painting? What of … and why? I never knew that you were an art connoisseur, Atem!"

"It …" Why exactly had he needed to buy it so badly? He wasn't exactly sure, really, but it had something to do with those eyes—he was almost sure of it. He laughed. "You know? I'm not exactly sure why I got it, but I have that blank space near the stairs—you know it—I think it would fit perfectly."

"It better for that price. Funny, I never pegged you as an impulse buyer."

"Me neither … but let's go spend some money on lunch. I'm starved."

"Let me treat. You're broke after that."

"The way you've been shopping?"

"You blew your budget on one purchase, Atem!"

He sighed. "Don't remind me."

Anzu grabbed his hand, pointing toward a restaurant and skipping toward it. "Let's eat there!" she cried enthusiastically.

Atem chuckled at her excess and stumbled after her.

Author's notes ...

Hello, I'm back to the wonderful world of DM after several moons in 5D's. I'm actually working a 5D's story (and a different, heavier DM story) as well, but this story interrupted all that, and I really want to go ahead and start posting it! (I'm really addicted to posting and I hate it when I don't have anything in progress!) I haven't completely finished up, but I've gotten to the point that I'm pretty certain that I won't want to come back and change the beginning, so here goes nothing! Hope you like it! Please let me know (of course, reviews only encourage me ... ;) )!

If you haven't noticed, I'm warning you, this will be a fairly lightweight entry, although there will be a little angsty goodness sprinkled in here and there. On with the notes:

Old Town: I believe many cities have an "old town" district where the older buildings have been renovated and turned into shops and such. In San Diego (and, I believe, in other cities) it's actually called Old Town.

450,000 yen: $5000, more or less (less, right now).

Preview of chapter 2!

Ignoring that, Atem said, "It's a little big, sure, but what's so wrong with it?"

"He looks … judgmental … or something."

"I guess he is rather intense," Atem allowed. Glancing at the painting, the expression seemed more intense—and now, for some reason, judgmental—than ever.

Jounouchi plays art critic and Atem discovers he can't quite leave his new painting alone.