Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh
Yugi woke up bright and early on December the first, glancing out the window to see a fresh blanket of snow had fallen during the night. Yugi grinned brightly before bounding out of his bedroom and into the room across the hall, which had become Yami's room falling his victory in the Ceremonial Duel three months before.
"Wake up Mou Hitori No Boku!" Yugi called out as he raced across Yami's still dark room and jumped onto Yami's sleeping form. Yami groaned.
"Yugi, what time is it?" Yami mumbled, without even opening his eyes.
Yugi ignored his partner's less than enthusiastic greeting knowing that Yami wasn't really much of a morning person. Or an evening person, come to think of it. "Mou Hitori No Boku, it snowed last night! We got to call the gang. We can go sledding, make snowmen, and have a massive snowball fight. And then when we're done we can curl up by the fire and sing Christmas carols while we drink hot chocolate. It'll be so much fun Mou Hitori No Boku." Yugi exclaimed.
Yugi loved the Christmas Season, but this year in particular it was more special than ever before because this was the first Christmas that he would be able to celebrate with Yami as a living breathing person. Yugi was going to do everything in his power to make Yami's first Christmas his best.
Yami groaned. "Yugi, if it's alright with you, I'd much rather just stay inside today. You are more than welcome to have a fun filled day with your friends, but I'd prefer not to participate." Yami mumbled.
"But Yaaami!" Yugi whined, "It won't be nearly as fun if you aren't there with us. Pleeeease." Yugi pleaded. Yami staying inside to mope would completely defeat the purpose.
Yami sighed, "Does the fact that I'd rather not spend the day in the cold matter at all?" Yami mumbled.
"Nope! Come on Yami, it'll be fun. I promise Mou Hitori No Boku." Yugi said, bouncing up and down excitedly on top of Yami making him groan once more.
Yami sighed once more, this time in defeat, "Okay Aibou, you win. Go call the gang and I'll be down in a little bit." Yami replied flatly.
"YES!" Yugi loudly exclaimed, "Thank you Mou Hitori No Boku, you won't regret it. I promise." Yugi replied, wrapping his arms tightly around Yami's shoulders hugging him as tightly as he could. Yami awkwardly embraced Yugi in return before he finally released Yami and bounded out of the room to go and call the gang.
"Don't take too long Yami! The gang will probably be here before too long. And we don't want to waste a second." Yugi called over his shoulder as he darted out of the room and down the stairs, whistling Let It Snow.
Yami sighed as he just laid in silence in the dark. Why does he let Yugi talk him into these things? He just wanted to stay inside, where it was warm and relax for the day. Alone. And perhaps, if he was feeling particularly motivated maybe make his way down to Domino Museum but none of that was going to happen now. Now, he was going to be stuck pretending to enjoy freezing to death in the snow.
Yami sighed once again as he forced himself to sit up. Yugi wasn't going to allow him to dawdle too much longer so he might as well get dressed so he would be ready to take part in all the 'fun'.
Yami trudged down the stairs heading into the living room just as Yugi hung up with the last member of the gang. "Everyone said that they'll meet us down at the park. So let's go Mou Hitori No Boku!" Yugi declared as he jogged over to Yami, grabbing his hand and tugging him over to the door where the boots, gloves and winter clothes were all hanging up.
"Yugi, Aibou, the snow isn't going to go anywhere you don't need to rush. I'm sure everyone else will wait for us." Yami advised.
Yugi chuckled, "Yami, Yami, Yami, that's not the point. The point is we only have so much time before the sun sets and we need to make the most of it." Yugi said.
Yami sighed, "If you say so Aibou." Yami conceded as he slipped on his boots and coat and slug a scarf around his neck. Yugi bundled up as well before he pushed open the front door, his gloved hand grabbing Yami's as he tugged the reluctant dark out into the frigid winter weather.
"Sleigh Bells Ring, are you listening. In the lane snow is glistening. A beautiful sight. We're happy tonight. Walking in a winter wonderland." Yugi sang as he lead the way down the street, his and Yami's clasped hang swinging between the pair as they made their way to the park.
The ceremonial duel three months ago had almost been the absolute worst day of his entire life. Had he won that match he would have lost his beloved darkness forever. Yugi had stayed up all night before the match going over countless strategies and card combos so he could defeat Yami. But when the time came for the match to begin, standing across the field from the man that Yugi had come to love Yugi couldn't do that. He couldn't send his best friend away.
He played his best, because he knew that he owed Yami at least that. But, he could have won the match. He had the chance to defeat Yami, if he had done as he planned and played the gold sarcophagus to seal monster reborn like he had planned, but when he actually played the card he sealed Kuriboh instead, knowing that Yami wouldn't use that card and that way he would have been able to still use his Monster Reborn, which Yami did. His Silent Magician fell to Slifer the Sky Dragon and his life points hit zero. Yami won the match.
His intentional misplay of the Gold Sarcophagus kept Yami here with him and turned what would have been the worst day of his life into the best day of his life. Because not only did Yami get to stay with him, but he was no longer a spirit trapped in the puzzle. He was a living, breathing person that Yugi could spend the rest of his life with. That didn't mean that Yugi had ever admitted to Yami he'd thrown the match because to be perfectly honest Yugi wasn't sure how Yami would have taken that news.
And yes, a part of Yugi knows that it was selfish of him to throw the match like he did. He knew from talking to Yami before the match that Yami really wanted to be reunited with his family and how much he missed them. But, Yugi was determined to show Yami that it was okay for him to miss his family and friends from the past but he has a new family and new friends who love him here in the present and that Yami can be just as happy here as he would have been in the afterlife. Yugi was sure of it, Yami just had to give it a chance.
And it would all start with making this Christmas season the best Yami ever celebrated. Yugi had it all planned out Yami was going to experience everything wonderful about the Christmas Season and Yugi would happily be his guide to all things wonderful and magical about the holiday season.
"Yug! Ova here buddy."
Yugi glanced up and grinned before waving back to Joey Wheeler. Yugi picked up his pace, dragging his darker half behind him as he jogged the rest of the way to the park.
"Yugi, slow down." Yami hissed, as his foot caught a slick patch and he almost did a header onto the pavement. Yugi didn't slow down and continued to tug Yami the rest of the way into the park only then to release Yami's almost numb hand.
Yugi smiled brightly at all his friends that had joined him in the park. Joey the loveable goofball. Anzu the group's morale booster. Honda the steadfast unshakable supported. Ryou the sweetheart and Otogi the playboy. Together they seemed to change from a group of misfits and became one unstoppable team.
"So, what are we going to do first Yugi?" Otogi asked as he leaned slightly against the sled he was holding. Yugi glanced over at the hill and saw that it actually wasn't too overcrowded which meant now would probably be the best opportunity to get some serious sledding down.
"How about sledding first. Then snowmen. Then a massive snowball fight." Yugi suggested.
"Sounds like a plan Yugi. Last one to the top of the hill is a rotten egg." Honda called out as he started jogging up the hill.
Yugi almost sprinted after him however, he paused when he noticed Yami was just kind of standing awkwardly behind him. Yugi trudged back over to Yami and grabbed his gloved hand. "Come on Mou Hitori No Boku. You and me and share a sled." Yugi suggested as he lightly tugged Yami over towards the hill.
Yami sighed, "You aren't giving me a choice in this, are you Yugi?" Yami whispered.
Yugi shook his head, "Nope. I know you've been kind of down for the last few months but the time for moping is over. This is the best time of the year. A time for making happy memories as you spend time with your family and friends. And you're a part of our family Yami. If you hang back you'll miss the best part of the Christmas season." Yugi said.
Yami glanced away from Yugi, a dark look overtaking his features. Yugi however tugged Yami's hand once again, "Come on Mou Hitori No Boku. This will be fun." Yugi prompted.
Yami just shrugged, "Whatever you say Yugi." Yami said flatly.
Yugi gave Yami another bright smile as he started to tug Yami up the hill. Yugi quickly ducked as he saw Joey lob a snowball at the dawdling pair. Yami, however was not so lucky and ended up getting smacked square in the chest with the snowball. He scowled but said nothing else in response.
"Hurry up you guys." Anzu called out.
"We're coming guys." Yugi hollered. It was slow going, tugging Yami up the hill but eventually the two made it to the top. Joey was standing beside one of the toboggan style sleds. "Alright ya two slow pokes. Cuz dis wus Yug's dea we decided ta be nice an let ya go first." Joey said.
Yugi smiled as he tugged Yami over to the sled. Yami scowled down at the piece of plastic sitting on the snow. Yugi slightly pushed his darker half onto the sled before he climbed on into the front, settling himself between Yami's legs. "Hold on tight Mou Hitori No Boku!" Yugi cautioned as he tightly gripped the sides of the sled, leaning back comfortably against Yami's torso.
Joey and Honda both grabbed onto the back of the sled and shoved as hard as they could to send the sled rocketing down the hill. Yugi smiled widly as the wind whipped his hair around as the pair zipped down the hill. Yugi leaned to the left, doing his best to steer the speeding sled over to a jump that had been built on the hill. It was a challenge but Yugi did manage to get the sled to hit the jump and the pair were airborne for five glorious seconds before the sled collided harshly back to earth, Yugi leaned a bit too hard to the right and the toboggan flipped, dumping both riders into the snow.
Yami had been tossed to that he landed practically on top of a laughing Yugi. Yami pushed himself up and quickly rolled off before Yugi even had an opportunity to even enjoy the close contact with his dark.
"You call those things fun Yugi? We could have broken our necks on that death trap?" Yami grumbled.
Yugi sat up. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the rest of his friends zipping down the hill themselves. "Come on Mou Hitori No Boku, help me drag this thing back up to the top of the hill." Yugi pleaded.
Yami shook his head, "You go and keep sledding Aibou. I've had enough sledding for now. I'll watch you from here. You go have fun with your friends." Yami said firmly. Before Yugi could protest further Yami turned and trudged away from the hill heading over to bench not too far away where he moodily sank down.
"Watch out Yug!"
Yugi turned just entire to see Joey and Anzu's sled mere inches away before his feet were taken out from under him and all three ended up in a laughing pile in the snow. Once the trio had untangled themselves and got back to their feet Joey noticed that Yami had wandered off.
"Don't tell me Yug, is he still bein' a grump?" Joey muttered.
Yugi sighed, "No, Joey he just…I guess he doesn't really care for sledding." Yugi muttered.
Anzu glanced over at the forlorn figure on the bench and back at Yugi's downcast face before she made a snap decision, "Joey, why don't you and Yugi go and sled some more. I'm going to take a bit of a break and keep Yami company. We'll join you guys in a little bit." Anzu said.
"Are ya sure 'zu?" Joey asked.
Anzu nodded, "Positive. You boys go and have some fun." Anzu said.
Joey nodded briskly before he turned to Yugi, "Wut do ya say Yug' be my partner in a race gainst Honda n Togi? Winners get ta be da captains fer da snowball fight." Joey said.
Yugi nodded, "Sounds great Joey. Count me in." Yugi said.
Anzu smiled as she watched the two make their way back up the hill before she turned and made her way over to the bench Yami had plopped down on. Personally, she thought this was a golden opportunity to talk to Yami. She knew that something was bothering him and had been meaning to talk to him about it for a while. Hopefully once she understood why he was so upset then maybe everyone could help him move forward.
Anzu sat down beside Yami who was starring moodily down at his boots. She lightly knocked her shoulder against Yami's, "Hey, looked like you and Yugi took quite the tumble. You didn't end up hurt, right?" Anzu asked. She didn't think either had been hurt but she figured it would be a harmless conversation starter, especially since lately Yami hadn't been much for conversation.
Yami shook his head, "No, I'm fine Anzu." Yami said briskly.
Anzu sighed, "Glad to hear you weren't hurt. But Yami, can you at least be honest with me. We both know you aren't fine. You haven't been fine for a while." Anzu said. There she said it. Said what everyone had been thinking but no one had wanted to call Yami out on. She knew Yugi was working so hard to make Yami happy again but if they didn't figure out what was eating Yami then Yugi's plans were all going to be doomed for failure.
Yami glanced up at Anzu, she could see he was surprised by the observation. Yami snorted, "You've noticed, huh. I probably shouldn't be surprised. You always have been the most observant in the group." Yami commented.
Anzu chuckled, "I don't know about observant Yami. Even Joey and Honda, as thick as those two numbskulls can be can tell that something has been eating you. I'm just the first one who's plucked up the courage to talk to you about it. So, mind telling me what's on your mind?" Anzu said.
Yami was quiet for a while as he starred off into the distance. Anzu lightly placed her hand on Yami's thigh to draw Yami's attention back onto the present, "You can talk to me Yami. I promise. I'll even keep it confidential if you would prefer. I just want to help you." Anzu said.
Yami sighed, "I guess it comes down to the fact that I really miss home." Yami mumbled.
Anzu's eyes widened slightly as she had some idea of why Yami had been so withdrawn lately. "Your memories." Anzu whispered.
Yami nodded, "My prize for winning the Shadow RPG against dark Bakura was that I finally unlocked my memories. I finally remember my friends. My family. When we were playing the game it was like I was among just characters. The names had almost no meaning to me. They were all just pieces on a board that I needed to move as needed to defeat my opponent. But, after I won the game and my memories were unlocked, so much came rushing back to me. Memories of what everyone in the game and those that weren't present meant to me." Yami said.
"You miss them. Don't you? Your friends?" Anzu asked.
Yami nodded once again, "I do miss my friends. Dearly. But even more than that I miss my family. And it is their loss that I am still grieving deeply for." Yami said.
"You mean your father?" Anzu prodded. She knew he had been an integral figure in Yami's story but she had never heard the whole story about the man. But as depressed as Yami had been the last three months the man must have meant even more to Yami than anyone else realized.
Yami sighed, "My father was a great man. Noble. Brave. Righteous. He lived to serve and protect the people of his kingdom. When he used to talk to Atemu and I when we were growing up he would often say that the role a Pharaoh was not unlike that of a parent. To guide and protect the people of Khemet, as though they were his children. To chastise them when need be. To provide for them. And that no matter what we faced when it was our duty to step into the role we needed to remember that above all else." Yami said.
Anzu frowned, "Wait, I'm confused I thought you were Atemu." Anzu said slowly. That was the name they had unlocked in the Shadow RPG, that had been the name that allowed for Zorc to be defeated. But, listening to Yami talk it was almost like Yami thought he was a different person.
Yami chuckled, "Yes, I can imagine how that might be confusing. Had I lost the ceremonial duel you would have heard my true name. But no, Atemu was many things. He was Pharaoh. He was God. He was my best friend. My brother. My protector. My lover and the father of our son." Yami said.
"Wha…how is that?" Anzu spluttered. None of that made any sense. Ishizu always referred to Yami as Pharaoh? But Yami said Atemu was Pharaoh.
Yami chuckled once again, "Atemu and I were twin sons of Pharaoh Aknamkanon. Atemu was born first. As is sometimes the case among siblings to keep the royal line pure Atemu and I wed when we were twelve summers old. A healer informed my father that I had been blessed by the gods to be able to carry a child. My father believed that was a sign that I was to marry Atemu. We shared the title Pharaoh and we ruled Khemet together, side by side as equals. We both fell to Zorc, Atemu before me. I was sealed into the puzzle however, as was often the case people had a hard time telling the two of us apart. When I completed the sealing I was wearing Atemu's cartouche because I wanted to keep him close to me, which led to the tomb keepers to believe that I was Atemu even though that was not the case. Ishizu and I have sense sorted out the truth." Yami explained.
"So you miss Atemu?" Anzu prompted lightly her head still spinning with the realization that Yami had been married. The fact it was to his brother she was ignoring for now, because she wasn't sure how she really felt about that. A cultural difference. She reminded herself. It may be immoral in this day and age but in Yami's time it was not. And Yami was a product of his culture.
Yami nodded, "I now know that losing my memories was a blessing. I could not have born those years in isolation knowing what I had lost. Having these memories back now, and knowing who was waiting for me in the field of reeds is very painful. I feel like I let my family down because I didn't do enough to prepare Yugi to be separate from me. I am here due to my own failing because I did not make Yugi strong enough to be on his own. He still needs me to protect him, a duty I will fulfill for the rest of my days. But for now I still mourn for what I have lost." Yami said.
Anzu pulled Yami into a hug, her heart breaking for the man. She loved her family dearly as well as each and every one of her friends. She had no idea how she would cope with suddenly losing every single person she held dear. Anzu also understood that Yami's pain had nothing to do with her and the gang. He cared about each and every one of them but just because there were other people he cared for doesn't lessen the overwhelming sense of loss. And Yami said he had a son. Anzu thought to herself but she refrained from asking about his son. She already could feel her jacket dampening as her friend silently wept onto her shoulder.
"Hey you guys, come on we're going to divide into teams for a snowball fight." Otogi called out.
Yami quickly pushed Anzu away, his hand quickly swiping across his face erasing the remnants of his tears. His face was still flushed but that could be attributed to the biting wind. Only Anzu and Yami knew differently.
"Hey, wait a second. I thought we agreed snowmen next." Anzu said as she rose to her feet, her arms crossed as she starred down at the boys.
Joey gave Anzu a cheeky grin, "Zu, we decided dat da snowball fight wus more portant an we can do da snowmen afta da snow baddle." Joey said.
Yugi gave Anzu a smile, "Don't worry Anzu. We'll still do both. After all, this is Yami's first holiday season. No way are we going to let him miss out on anything." Yugi vowed.
Joey rubbed his hands together in anticipation, "An sense Yug and I won da race we get ta be da team captains." Joey declared.
Anzu sighed, "Fine." Anzu conceded.
"Now, I'm first captain. And my first choice is Yami." Yugi declared firmly in a pick that surprised no one. Yami said nothing as he made his way over to stand beside Yugi.
Joey glanced around, "Alright, da first person on da winnin' team is…Zu!" Joey declared.
Anzu quirked a questioning brow before she made her way over to stand beside Joey. Yugi chose next, surprising everyone by picking Ryou. Joey picked Honda which left Otogi as the final member to join team Yugi.
Yugi led the way across the field to where his team was going to set up.
"Is anyone going to tell me the rules to this whole snowball fight thing?" Yami said suddenly as they came to a stop and Ryou, Otogi and Yugi started constructing their barricade.
Yugi kind of shrugged, "Oops, sorry Yami. Well, there actually aren't really any rules. We make a bunch of snowballs and chuck them at the other side until we both run out of snowballs. It's just for fun." Yugi said.
Ryou chuckled, "Of course the object is to get hit less than your opponent but other than that there isn't really anything else to the game. It's just something fun we do in the winter." Ryou added.
Yami nodded as he crouched down and started making something that vaguely resembled a snow ball. Yami didn't really see the enjoyment all this winter stuff but it seemed like it was important to Yugi so, he was going to try and do his best to make sure Yugi had fun, which was all that was important.
Once Yugi was satisfied they were armed with enough snowballs everyone was crouched down behind their makeshift structure. Waiting for what, Yami had no idea.
Out of the corner of his eye Yami saw a bush rustle before he caught a glimpse of Joey's green winter coat. Ah, a sneak attack. Yami realized before he tossed himself in front of Yugi, taking three hits as Anzu, Joey and Honda allow fired from the bushes at the unsuspecting team.
"We're under attack!" Otogi yelled before he started chucking snowballs at the group. Yugi and Ryou started firing as well. Yami crouched down and grabbed a couple snowballs of his own and chucked them in Joey's direction. At least one found its mark.
Almost 45 minutes later the battle came to a close. And now they were on to snowman building. Yami resisted the urge to groan. He was tired, he couldn't feel his fingers and he was cold. He wanted to be done for the day they'd been outside for over an hour. However, it seemed he was the only one who was ready to head inside.
"Yami, come on help me build a snowman." Yugi said as he kept rolling a ball of snow around on the ground. Yami said nothing in response but he did crouch down and start to make another snowball and tried to roll it around not unlike Yugi was.
Perhaps his disinterest in these winter games came from his advanced age. Even forgetting the 5,000 years he spent trapped in the puzzle he was 20 summers old when he was sealed, which put him at 4, in some cases five years older than the members of Yugi-tachi. Or perhaps, it was because his mind kept drifting to thoughts about his family. He could see Atemu having really enjoyed the snowball fight. He would have really gotten into the whole warfare aspect of the game, and given the masterful general Atemu had been Joey wouldn't have known what hit him.
I really need to stop thinking about them. Thinking about them won't bring them back. Nor will it change the fact that I won't see any of them for probably another 50 or so years. Yami thought to himself. He needed to remember that.
He and Yugi managed to stack three decent sized snowball onto of one another before Yugi grabbed a stick and started to try and carve away at the snow. At first Yami wasn't sure what Yugi was even doing before he saw the top ball start to have almost a star-shape. Yugi was trying to make the snowman look like one of them.
"Yami, hold still. I'm trying to make a snow statue of you." Yugi ordered, his face screwed up in concentration as he worked on slowly shaving the snow with his stick.
Yami was struck with a memory from back when he and Atemu had still been quite young, about fifteen years old themselves.
"Beloved, hold still. How can the sculptor be expect to capture your likeness when you keep fidgeting my dear?"
"But Ate."
"No buts beloved. Now hold still." Atemu had ordered.
Yami remembered that day like it was yesterday. Atemu had finally caved and allowed an official statue of the two of them to be designed, seated side by side outside the palace complex. Yami had been actually feeling a bit odd and hadn't been able to sit still for the life of him. The found out a week later why.
Yami shook the thought from his head before he brushed himself off. "I'm going home Aibou." Yami said firmly. He couldn't keep doing this. If he continued to stay much longer than he was going to end up ruining Yugi's day and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
"But Yamiii." Yugi whined.
"Have one of your friends take a picture of you beside the finished snowmen. You can show it to me when you get home. But I'm freezing Yugi, and I don't really fancy catching my death out here in the cold." Yami said. It wasn't entirely true, but he knew that in order to ever be able to see his family again the gods were expecting him to take care of himself. Staying out in the cold and courting death Yami didn't think would qualify.
Yugi watched his dark half trudge out of the park and head back for home. Joey scowled after Yami's departing form, "Don't worry Yug, yer real friends are here fer ya." Joey snarled.
Anzu jabbed Joey in the ribs, "That is highly insensitive Joey. Can't you see that Yami is hurting right now?" Anzu snapped.
"Course I've noticed im mopin round. He won da duel. Big deal. You'd tink he'd be happy ta stay wit his friends. But no he's mopin round like its da worst tink dat couldn't happened ta him. An I'm getting sick of it Zu. He's crushin' Yug wit dis an he needs ta stop." Joey snapped.
"Did it not occur to you that as far as he's concerned it probably feels like he just lost his entire family in one fell swoop? He just remembered the people that used to be closest to him and once he won the duel in that one instant he lost all of them. He's grieving Joey. Grieving a loss none of us can be expected to comprehend. So give him a break." Anzu snapped.
"An wut ya spect me ta ignore dat his mopin is hurtin' Yug? Yug loves da ungrateful bastard an all dis mopin needs ta stop. I get dat he's upset but he needs ta get ova it. When Yams was still in da puzzle he knew dat Yugi was wut was important. He needs ta stop being selfish an ta remember dat." Joey
"Guys stop!" Yugi yelled.
Joey and Anzu both stopped although they were both still starring daggers at one another. Both adamant that they were the one who was right and the other was just being pigheaded.
"Let's just go home. Have some hot chocolate. Okay guys." Yugi suggested.
Joey sighed, "Fine. If dat's wut ya wanna do Yug, den dats wut we'll do." Joey conceded.
"It is Joey." Yugi said.
The gang collected their sleds before they headed back to the Game Shop for some hot chocolate and some Christmas Carols by the fire. Today might not have turned out exactly how Yugi planned but he was determined that he would make this a wonderful Christmas for Yami. He just had to figure out the perfect gift.