YD: This is my present to Mutou Yuugi and my hikari. They have the same birthday!

HS: It's like I was destined to like Yuugiou…

Disclaimer: I don't own Yuugiou. Duh…

Rated: K+

Happy Birthday: Year One

A dejected looking Yuugi sat in front of his window. He wondered what he had done to make Yami avoid him lately. Come to think of it, all his friends had been avoiding him. Yuugi groaned and leaned against the cold window. The rain outside mirrored his feelings exactly. And he was supposed to be happy. His birthday was tomorrow.

"Well, happy birthday to me." Yuugi muttered. His breath misted across the cold window, making it condense. Out of habit, Yuugi played the Puzzle around his neck, tracing the Eye.

Outside the room, Yami gasped inaudibly. He had completely forgotten his partner's birthday was tomorrow. Yami had been so caught up in enjoying life; he had forgotten the one person responsible for giving him that life.

Yami silently walked away from the room. He had been debating whether to tell his Light about his feelings for so long. Tomorrow would be the perfect time. The rain lashed out at the window, warning Yami not to come out or be drenched. Calmly, Yami tapped into his power and put up a shield to block the rain. The droplets rolled off the shield harmlessly. He knew exactly what he was going to get.

Yuugi stared at a picture of the gang avidly. He still wondered what he had done to make everyone ignore him and go after Yami instead. He could handle being left out by friends but why did Yami abandon him?

"I don't know what to do…" He dragged himself out of the seat and prepared for bed. Sure it was early but he had nothing to do other than wallow in self-pity. And he didn't want to do that either.

Half an hour later, Yuugi lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, tears making their way down and hitting the pillow. Miserable thoughts kept flowing through him, making him doubt everything. Yuugi cried himself to sleep.

Yami walked home, wallet a lot lighter. But he didn't care about that. All Yami currently cared about was how to make it up to his little Light. He just hoped Yuugi didn't hate him.

Stopping, he noticed something, actually someone, two people to be exact. At first, Yami was sure he was dreaming. Kaiba and Jounouchi were kissing in the rain. But when he accidentally let the shield drop in shock he was drenched instantly. He knew it couldn't be a dream. Once the shock wore off, the sheer cuteness of the scene hit. An intense wave of jealousy hit Yami as he watched the two.

"Lucky you…" Kaiba, being the alert one, heard Yami. Instead of jumping away, he stood in front of Jounouchi protectively, the same stance that Yami would use to protect his aibou.

"What do you want?" he hissed. Yami looked at Kaiba pleadingly.

"Tell me what you said to make Jounouchi love you. I've been neglecting my hikari and I want to make it up to him. I never meant to ignore him." The proud pharaoh stood there, soaking wet and asking for advice. It was truly a pitiful sight. Kaiba grinned.

"Get down on your knees and beg for it." Yami complied.

"Help me please, Kaiba!" Jounouchi looked disturbed.

"Get up, Yami. We'll help you." Jounouchi offered a hand up and Yami took it. "You can stay at the mansion so we can coach you."

"We?" Kaiba asked. Jounouchi glared at him.

"We, Seto. Or else your bed will be cold tonight." Jounouchi threatened. Kaiba looked uncomfortable before he caved.

"Fine, but you owe me for this, puppy."

Later that night when Yami returned home, he immediately checked up on Yuugi. Since it was past twelve, Yami knew his little Light had to been asleep. He still entered silently, just to be sure. The first thing Yami noticed was the tears trails and the fact that his eyes were clenched shut. Yuugi was not in a peaceful sleep. The ex-pharaoh instantly felt guilty.

He sat down next to his Light and concentrated. Soon, Yami was inside Yuugi's dream.

"Please, don't go! I'm sorry, just don't go!"

"You little shrimp. We never cared for you at all. You're just a pathetic little weakling that needs someone else to take care of him." Jounouchi taunted.

"Why don't you just go back to Pre-K where you belong? You'd certainly fit in!" Anzu jeered nastily.

"As far as I'm concerned, you never had any friends. You're too small and weak to live." Honda insulted.

"I'm so ashamed of you, aibou. You're too pathetic to be my Light. You don't deserve the power of the Puzzle. Get out of our lives and go back to the dump from which you came." Yami scorned.

"Please, I'll do anything! Just don't leave me! I don't want to go back to the dark all alone. Please, Yami, help me!" Yuugi begged. His friends just laughed cruelly. They left the Light all alone, crying.

"Yuugi…" A new voice called. This voice was warm and comforting. It sounded like Yami only different.

"Are you going to hurt me and leave?" Yuugi asked bitterly, still hurting inside. The real Yami leaned down and hugged the Dream Yuugi.

"No, aibou. I'm sorry for ever leaving you in the shadows. You don't deserve that. You're special and you're everything to me."

"I wish that this was real. Once you're gone, everything will be back to the way it was. Everyone will hate me again." Fresh tears erupted from his eyes. "I just don't want to be alone! I hate being alone."

"Everything is going to be alright, my Light. You're going to be safe and loved."

"But when?" Yuugi asked, distraught.

"Today, little love. When you wake up, all will be well." Yami traced small circles on Yuugi's back, trying to comfort the love of his life. Yuugi sobbed lightly in Yami's shoulder, trying to trust the very person who broke his heart.

"I… I believe you. Being loved would be so nice. I wouldn't have to be alone anymore." Tear-stained eyes bore into Yami's crimson eyes. Yami felt his protective side possess him.

"I promise, aibou. Today will be everything you ever dreamed of. Just wake up." Yuugi closed his eyes and slowly, the scene faded away.

Yuugi awoke with a start. That dream had seemed so real! He sighed, if only it were true. Yuugi fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. He never noticed Yami smile and exit the room.

Yuugi glanced at the clock beside his bed. It read 3:56 AM. He groaned and rolled out of bed.

"Can't I ever get a good night's rest?" he asked himself. No one answered him so Yuugi just lay there, staring at the ceiling until six. He never noticed Yami entering his room. He never noticed Yami kneeling next to him. However, he did feel Yami's warm breath caressing his ear.

"I know you're in there somewhere, Yuugi. Wake up to the world." Yuugi turned to look at his guardian and darker half. This was the first time a long time that Yami even looked at him, let along talk.

"Are you really here, or am I asleep again?" Yuugi asked softly. Actually, it was more of a rhetorical question rather than a question question. But Yami answered him anyways.

"No, little hikari, you're not dreaming. Besides, if you were dreaming, would you feel this?" Before Yuugi could ask what 'this' was, Yami's lips touched his in a soul-searing kiss. In an instant, Yuugi responded eagerly, trying to hold on to what he thought was a dream.

"I don't ever want to wake up now." Yuugi breathed, eyes glazed over. Yami sighed.

"This isn't a dream, my beautiful little Light." Yami gave him another kiss, tongue tracing Yuugi's lips. Yuugi complied with the silent request and opened his mouth, allowing Yami's tongue to dive in and map out every detail.

"Is this real?" Yuugi asked breathlessly. Yami smiled and leaned closer so that their noses were touching.

"Happy birthday, koishii." Yuugi leaned against Yami and listened to his heartbeat. He felt the warmth from his body and saw the tenderness in his eyes.

"Yami?"

"Yes, my precious Yuugi?"

"Are you ever going to leave me again?" Yami smiled.

"No, little love. You hold the key to my heart." Before Yuugi could question what Yami meant, he held up a chain bracelet. There was a small key on it. Yami pointed to a locket around his neck. It was heart-shaped and had a keyhole.

"May I?" Yuugi asked timidly. Yami reached behind his neck and released the clasp. It came off and he handed it to Yuugi.

"Only you can unlock my heart, little one." Yami remarked tenderly. "Open it." Yuugi slid the key into its designated hole and turned it slightly. An almost inaudible click announced that it could be opened. Yami noticed that Yuugi's hands were shaking slightly.

"I'm nervous." Yuugi admitted. Yami placed hand on his. Warmth filled his senses. Together, they opened the golden locket. On one side of the heart, there was a picture of Yuugi. His radiant smile could light up the darkest room of the darkest hour. On the other side, there was a picture of Yami.

"Yuugi, my beautiful koi, will you be my boyfriend?" Yuugi stared at the locket. Slowly, he raised his eyes to meet Yami's.

"Only after you kiss me again." Yuugi said slyly. Yami smiled and leaned forward.

"Beautiful Yuugi, you're mine now." Yami pushed his Light onto the bed and kissed him. Nothing but pure love fueled the kiss. There was no trace of anything else in his expression.

"And you're mine, Yami." Yuugi fastened the locket around Yami's neck and Yami secured the bracelet around Yuugi's wrist.

"I love you, my Light. Happy birthday."

"This is the best birthday I've ever had and I'm sharing it with the one I love. Thank you, Yami, for everything."

"No, aibou, thank you for letting me share my feelings."

It didn't matter that Yuugi's friends didn't remember. It didn't matter that Jii-chan didn't call to say happy birthday. All that mattered to Yami and to Yuugi was that they were together. And nothing in the world could break them apart.

Happy birthday, Mutou Yuugi!

Owari

YD: My tribute to Yuugi and to my hikari. No one can say I didn't give them a present now!

HS: (singing in the background)

YD: Well goodbye. The sixth chapter for my runaway story should be up soon. My new one-shot should be posted soon as well.

HS: As an additional birthday present, will you review? Onegai?