Rated M for future chapters to avoid disappointment. This story will have Seme!Yugi and Uke!Yami. The cover artwork was done by the gorgeous marmalade-melody. First fic ever posted- written for a friend so adheres to their character preferences. For story telling purposes, Yami has his own body outside of the puzzle. Hope you guys enjoy it- feedback and reviews are welcome~ X

Yugi shuffled his deck once more. He'd been sat contently at his desk working by the lamplight, humming softly to himself. Yami, meanwhile, had been observing his partner with a subdued kind of interest. He loved to watch the other in this lax, homely kind of state. Out in the big city with his friends, he was exuberant and bubbly, and Yami enjoyed watching him then too... But here was different. Though they were never apart, it wasn't until they were alone in Yugi's little attic room that they were truly together.

Yugi placed his deck in its container and slid it neatly to the edge of the desk so that it was in keeping with his notebook and pencil pot. He spun round in his chair then to gaze out of the window above, locking his fingers together and resting them across his chest. His soft, juvenile face was set with a gentle, wistful gaze. The boy rarely ever wore anything but a kind mien; his good nature was unshakeable, Yami thought, as he continued to observe silently.

Yami had learned much from Yugi in the time they'd been together. He enjoyed the trivial things most. Things such as eating modern food, listening to new music, Yugi's fashion sense and the subjects he learned in school- he'd been fascinated by Anzu's camera phone, and Jou's often crass phrases never failed to amuse him. But he'd also learned some very important lessons too. Like the strength in having friendships, how it felt to win, and to lose… And perhaps most significantly, he'd learned how to care for someone more than himself.

He glanced up at Yugi fondly.
It hadn't been happening for very long, but Yami sometimes experienced some very new sensations when he looked at Yugi- things he hadn't felt before their first adventure together. It made him feel as though perhaps he hadn't learned everything he could just yet. Was there more to modern life that he had not been able to experience through Yugi?

His contemplations were interrupted by the stirring sound of Yugi's voice. It had become rather magnetic to Yami now. He felt himself often attempt to sharpen up at the sound of it… like a dog; ever eager to hear what his master had to say.

"Something wrong?" The smaller boy inquired.
"Hm?"
"I asked if you were ready for bed." He chuckled softly, "It looks like you were somewhere else."

Yami felt a little embarrassed to have been caught daydreaming. Normally he would share his thoughts with Yugi, but for some reason he was hesitant about this.
"Yes." He nodded with a concealing smile, getting up and preparing to return to the puzzle.
Yugi put a hand out to oppose, though. The taller boy cocked his head a little to inquire for an explanation.

"You don't have to go in the puzzle to sleep, other me." He kindly elaborated.
Yami looked a little surprised, though this wasn't exactly an irregular thing- Yugi often encouraged Yami to sleep in his bed; in fact, when Yami was first released, Yugi would often take his place in the puzzle simply so that the other could rest comfortably.
"Mm." Yami nodded concurrently.

He did question whether Yugi's behaviour had anything to do with his feelings. He had always been affectionate with him; doing what he could to make him comfortable and such, but recently he felt a change. The other lay awake, watching his hikari as he slept soundly. Perhaps it was the closeness he felt to Yugi, but he longed to reach over and touch him.

"Aibou?" He whispered.
Yugi frowned a little and made a breathy sound of acknowledgment.
"Aibou… I want to tell you some-"
Yugi rolled over onto his side to face Yami, but didn't open his eyes. He hushed the other softly and offered him his hand.
"We'll talk tomorrow… other me." He sighed. "It's time to sleep."
"I can't sleep." Yami informed, taking Yugi's hand and shuffling deeper under the covers to be closer to him. "Aibou." He said again, trying to keep Yugi's attention.
"Mmm. Yes Alright." The boy muttered tiredly. He wasn't hearing him, not really.
Yami sighed and brought Yugi's hand up to his face, holding his relaxed palm against his cheek.

It appeared the other wasn't completely numb to the conscious world; his thumb started to delicately rub in little circles over his partner's cheekbone and Yami smiled boyishly at the tender action. Eventually, this ritual movement was enough to coax him off to sleep and Yugi opened one eye to assure himself that the other was finally resting, smiling briefly and retracting his hand. He could sleep peacefully now too: at last.