It had been seven years and counting-

No. There would be no more counting. Not anymore.

It had been seven long years. It was even harder to keep track of such a thing in the afterlife. Time had no place in the afterlife. Time was merely an invention of man; created to ease the passing of sun and moonlight, created to ease life that had all boiled down into what time you should be where. In the afterlife there was no such thing as time. There was no passing of days, no seconds minutes or hours, no days, weeks or years. There was no hunger and there was no sleep. There was no sickness and there was no despair.

You had no ticking hand to alert you to how long your suffering was to continue. This place was not like earth. It was a better place. A place filled with your family and friends and your never ending happiness. Keeping track of time here was ridiculous and all too hard. Most spirits that had been here for three thousand years didn't even remember. For some it felt like the blink of an eye, for some it felt like eons. But one thing was for sure. No matter how they felt when asked, none of them cared. They were happy to be in this eternal bliss.

All but one.

Pharaoh Atem. He took it into his own hands to make sure he knew exactly what day it was and how many years had passed him by. That was seven today. The anniversary of his leaving was today. It was a day like any other in the afterlife; on earth it was raining. His watching over earth had been stressful, and at the five year mark he was disallowed. The spirit of everyone here had been affected by watching the forever-young King do nothing but watch. He missed his friends, his missed his rivals, he missed the game, and he missed his partner. It had only set in to him that walking away from that life might not have been what he had wanted to do after all.

The afterlife was nice, it was peaceful, and it was beautiful. But Atem had been programmed against these things for so, so long. Most of his life was chaotic and ugly. Whether by the choices he himself had made or the choices he was forced to make, and the penalties that had occurred from them. He was used to sorrow, he was used to pain- he was not used to boredom induced by a feeling of eternal peace. It was almost spite to the land itself, to his family and friends that had waited patiently for him to return to their arms.

It was all too clear that they would have waited for him as long as it took. Seeing him unhappy with merely being able to grab whispers of Yuugi's life, to be able to check in on Kaiba Corporation like a ghost behind glass; Atem was making everyone miserable by being so dissatisfied himself. They pained for him. So five years in, they took it away from him. No longer was he allowed to look in, to watch over, and to ache over a life that was abandoned behind. It seemed that everyone had moved on, as they should. Five years in, Atem turned his back on that world, but never forgot.

Son of the Gods, the human form of Horus on earth, Atem had tried to use his God-like status and his good deeds to meet with the Gods themselves. He was tempting a ride into eternal damnation with his behavior, and maybe he was quite well aware of it. But he had to try.

"I am by no means spurning this gift. I am grateful for where I have gone. But please... please..." Atem never begged for anything in his life, and he certainly had never begged for his own selfish gain.

Could it really be that the afterlife had turned him into something he was not? Could it really by that this young Pharaoh who had saved the world by sacrifice and learning was unsatisfied with his gift? Is this really not what he truly desired? Most of all, could it really be that the Gods owed Atem anything?

All people are the children of the Gods. Atem's title was only held dear to their heart because of his sacrifices. They loved all their children, no more so than the next. But this child was crying out in pain. This child was crying out in a realm where pain did not exist, and yet here he was, soul bleeding. If the afterlife was not Atem's gift, did he really want that mortal being once again? They weren't sure why he thought he hadn't suffered enough. But maybe this child of theirs had a penchant for pain. He'd certainly been born into a life of hardship. At least he had not once given up.

The light that shined down on him was intense. He had fallen to his knees, humbling himself in front of the Gods he was supposed to be a part of. He was shedding tears, fresh and warm against the bronze of his skin. Seven years in this place, and two without having any real bearing on the time had been hell. This was not heaven. This was pain. He'd realized it all too late to change anything.

Or so he had thought.

Suddenly that light shifted to one of intense freezing needles. Something was piercing his skin. It made him shiver, breathing out, hands curling in the ground.

Like a newborn child, Atem looked up, for the first time in seven years seeing gray clouds instead of endless blue skies. His first instinctive thought was that the Gods were angry. But then he realized as he stared upwards still, it was raining. Water clung to his form so quickly, to his eyelashes and his hair. He had not felt the sensation of wet coldness in quite some time. Crimson eyes closed against the new onslaught that was taking over his dulled and yet new senses. This was a new body.

Atem had returned to earth.

"Thank you..." He breathed out, his voice mixing with a loud clap of thunder. It was very much as if the Gods were giving a nod to him at the same time he was praising them. Their child, for the moment, was happy. They would continue to observe curiously and watch his journey. They were always watching.

Slowly he stood on shaky legs, almost a newborn fawn in this world again. The weight and burden returned to him fully. The afterlife had taken so much away, left so much to be desired. As his muscles grew accustomed to the weight of earth once more he raised his arms in a mirror movement. Up to the skies, tilting his head back, just letting the rain wash his new skin. It was raining so hard the water was pelting him, creating a red tinge to his pale body. Pale.

For a short moment he wondered if the Gods were laughing at him, but he knew better than that. They'd given him the body he'd left in. One that was more accustomed to this time. His Kingly image and presence was not for this life, but the last. Perhaps he would get it back should he die again. An inevitable fact of life, but he was hoping for a longer one in this, of course.

The wind was strong, blowing him back a few paces. It was only then he realized it was not trying to blow him away, but help him. Perhaps a playful hand of the Gods. He was beginning to wonder if he was their new pet-project. They certainly seemed to be having fun with him. When the gusts had died down he found himself draped in the leather and chains that had signified being locked up for so long. So, was he no longer free again? Or was he just taking too much meaning to this game?

Either way, he smirked. He would play. And he would win. Just like old times. Just like always.

Atem's pace was slow as he continued forward, narrowing his eyes against the continuous onslaught of the rain. His hair was beginning to dampen under these conditions, weighing itself down despite its natural anti-gravity properties. He looked to the horizon, spotting the buildings of Domino City. They had always been helpful landmarks to him, able to see the tallest ones no matter where he'd been. During Battle City they had been his aiding guide to where he wanted, and sometimes needed, to be.

Kaiba Corporation was standing tall. From this distance he almost imagined he could see Kaiba sitting in the top office, but of course he couldn't. That was way too far away. He was a silent hopeful to the fact that his rival was aware to his presence again. Hopeful, but probably ridiculous in doing so. When the time was right he would reveal himself to Kaiba once more. But there was a much more important and pressing matter at hand. With Kaiba Corporation at that juncture away, his eyes scanned the area. The Game Shop should have been close. Another nod to the Gods that had rebirthed him. It seemed like they were giving him the proper tools to succeed, as usual.

It only took him a few more minutes to get to that shop, memories flooding back to him in an instant. He was almost overwhelmed with them, stopping in his tracks. Another clap of thunder. He wasn't sure if he was putting on a show for his Gods- or maybe it was just coincidental by now. Or maybe they really were encouraging him onwards. Was everyone watching over him? Was this like a game to them, too? Were they rooting for him? Or were they against him? The thought made him grin. He was so used to the odds being against him.

His hand raised to the door after he was sheltered by the enlarged doorway of the shop. He knocked five times, proudly and loudly, not knowing if the store was open in business hours right now or not. He would not intrude. He would wait.

Ten minutes went by. Perhaps nobody was home. He raised his hand to knock again but the door was drawn open quick.

Yuugi stood in front of him, real, not just a vision, for the first time in seven years. There were no words as the two looked each other over. Yuugi had grown taller, not much, but at least an inch or two. His stance was straighter than Atem remembered, he was holding himself proudly. His partner was breathing harshly, his hair seemingly shiny from being wet, his violet eyes puffy and watering.

Atem smiled, a real and true smile, for the first time in those seven years. "Aibou," A word he had not spoken aloud in quite some time; it almost felt foreign.

Before he had a chance to really understand how foreign, Yuugi's arms wrapped around him, tackling him in a blinding and strong hug. "Don't." The younger's voice was a little different than he remembered, but it didn't matter.

He wrapped his arms around Yuugi, holding on tight, not ready to let go ever again. He didn't shed any more tears, though he definitely felt the light pin pricks behind his tightly closed eyes. This was no time for tears. It seemed Yuugi thought so too as he grabbed Atem's hand, leading him into the shop and upstairs.

Yuugi's old room had changed, too. It seemed that a lot of things had. There was so little time to think about it all, though, as he found the door to said room slamming, and Yuugi plainly shoving him up against the door and sealing any thoughts with a kiss. Atem wasn't sure what to make of it. This was the first human contact he'd had in a very long time, that barely passable touch seven years ago at the Ceremonial Duel being the last before then, and then three thousand years before that. His nerves were set aflame with conflicting messages.

He found his damp tresses grabbed at by slender fingers, Yuugi's hand sliding into his wet hair, one arm moving around his waist. There was a stilted puff of breath released from him before he couldn't fight anymore, before he decided not to care about what his body was saying or why. His mind had no place in this matter. It was the one thing that had been driving him crazy for so long. He was glad to finally have a way to shut it off. Who knew it would be in the solace of Yuugi's unusually bruising kiss?

Atem never had much time to think about what kind of lover Yuugi would have been like. There never had been room for thoughts like those. But now trapped like this, he knew he was confused. So that must have meant he imagined Yuugi to be such a kind and soft lover. This was unusual, even for a first time, confusing too. But some carnal part of him was drinking it all in, an arm wrapping around Yuugi's shoulders and holding him close. He felt his partner grin against his lips then. Had he made him happy with such reciprocation?

Suddenly an unexpected move was played against him as he felt Yuugi's hips move upwards and against his. It drew a blinding heat into his core, turning his head away from the kiss automatically to gasp. It was shocking and new and almost entirely too much. He had no time to rest as Yuugi's hand came to cup his groin, rotating in circles. Atem's eyes closed tight, body willing his center upwards into that hand, breathing quickly dissolving into shallow panting.

"I never thought..." Yuugi's voice came to whisper in his ear. Atem shuddered. "I never thought I'd see you again." This sentence was sealed with a nip to Atem's neck, teeth drawing a bruise to the surface of the skin. His tongue did most of the apology for the pain, swirling along the red mark he'd created.

Meanwhile Atem was becoming a mushy mess in Yuugi's oh-so-delicate care. He was bracing the door for support, pretty much all he could do as his knees shook with the effort to stay on his feet. His moans had already sounded a few times within the small space of the room. "Aibou..."

"Say my name." Yuugi whispered this harshly as he bit Atem's skin again, fingers trailing the zipper of Atem's pants downward.

"What?" He couldn't think. He couldn't do much of anything pinned like he was. Whatever he was expecting as a 'welcome home', this had obviously been last on his list.

Insistent hands wiggled Atem's pants down those slim and pleasing hips of his. His hand found his new lover's cock, stroking very slowly. Violet eyes opened, hazed, not so innocent anymore. "In all our time you've always called me your partner. I want you to call me by my real name."

Said hips jerked hard, his head banging back against the door as his hand gripped down on Yuugi's shoulder. He couldn't keep his eyes open for long enough, but he did see that look in his partner's eyes. It made this all too real. "Y-Yuugi..." His voice quivered with a moan in the shape of the name. There was something winding up so quick inside him, so very tightly. He had no idea what it was but he didn't want it to stop.

Yuugi's thumb moved over the head with each pump. "I needed this... I needed you, Atem." Playing by his own rules it seemed as he moaned Atem's name without any real reason. Atem wasn't touching him, too caught up in what was being done to him to even be aware of how to reciprocate it right now. His lips found Atem's again, tongue stroking the older's tongue as he continued to play.

His hips continued to move up, counterpoint to each thrust Yuugi was giving him. There was blinding pleasure in his veins, all over his body; hot flashes reaching their peak. He held on with every last fiber of his strength, clutching close. Again he was the one to break from the kiss, breath hitching. "I-I..." Something was happening and he was trying to warn Yuugi.

But his partner just went faster. "Let go. Let me make you-"

Before any last words could be uttered, Atem did presumable exactly what Yuugi wanted him too; coming harshly with a loud cry, hips bucking up a few last times before he fell against the door again. There was no time to think as Yuugi kissed him hard again, both tongues moving against each other's. Atem's movements were weaker, of course. Between the space of the door and the rest of the room, the world blanked out around him. Before he really understood what was going on, he found himself on the bed, Yuugi kissing him still.

His fingers wandered down Yuugi's back, making the younger shiver against him. He found he liked it. "Yuugi, what-" He thought it might have been as good a time as any to ask what the hell had gotten into his partner.

"I was so lost. Lost everything and hadn't realized it until it was too late." Yuugi answered without hearing the full question. He moved to lie next to Atem, giving him an expectant look. "I loved you and couldn't say it then. I thought I'd lost you forever."

Atem rolled over, feeling a new vigor fill him. Moving on top of Yuugi, he kissed the smaller's neck, lavishing it with soft nips and sucks. Yuugi was so completely into everything, bucking up against him, holding on tightly. Atem was never one to be outdone, though. But Yuugi pushed him away, he recoiled curiously. The younger reached up, taking his shirt off and then removing Atem's for him. The pants were next. It was soon that they were pressing their skin together, savoring the warmth and different fit of their bodies together.

The older of the two was harder again so quickly, ready for another round but not exactly sure how to go about that. He moved to copy Yuugi's movements earlier, fingers stroking Yuugi's length curiously. The bed side table was opened, a bottle of lube thrust into Atem's free hand. He directed a quizzical gaze into those violet eyes.

"I need this. I need you." Was Yuugi's only explanation. But Atem was pleased when he decided to show through actions as well. He opened the cap of the bottle, pouring some of the liquid onto Atem's fingers and grabbed Atem's wrist. He then directed Atem's hand downwards. "Like this..." The younger breathed out, closing his eyes.

He didn't need much more instruction than that, easing one finger upwards into Yuugi's body. The reaction was so pleasing, Yuugi arching up with such a deep moan. Violet eyes had long since closed. As soon as he was sure, though it was hard with Yuugi's constant want and rush for him to continue on, he added another finger and then another. He was already panting himself, wanting this so bad, almost needing it at this point. He'd never thought much on his sexual need, and never thought about Yuugi that way until the moment he had been shoved against the door.

But he was too deep in this now to second guess himself or question what was going on. Later. For now, this was as good as a first time ever got. Especially when he'd just wandered back to earth's surface once more.

The lube was drizzled along his cock, positioning himself against Yuugi. "Aibou..."

Yuugi's displeasure almost ruined the moment. "Please- not that..."

The two of them were lucky Atem's mind was completely gone at this point. All he knew was Yuugi didn't want the name, and that was all that mattered. The why was hardly a concern. "Yuugi." He moaned as he moved inside the younger's body with one easy thrust.

"Yes. Gods..." Yuugi breathed out, arms wrapping around Atem's neck.

A steady and quick rhythm was instituted, Atem too new a lover to be able to understand patience with this sort of thing. His body was just seeking out as much pleasure as it could get right now. Yuugi didn't seem to mind, bucking up to match each strike and moaning just as loud as Atem was. Sweat clung to their skin as they moved together. Yuugi bit down into the crook of Atem's shoulder. "Tell me I'm not dreaming..." The smaller whispered almost tearfully.

Atem didn't even hear him, too lost in Yuugi's body and the feeling to understand. All he knew was that tone, his only way of trying to fix it was with a kiss. The two continued deeply for a few moments before he felt Yuugi clawing his back, hips moving up harder against every strike. "Yuugi... I..." It seemed that Yuugi was not the only one getting antsy, Atem's body trying to warn him yet again that he was going to spill. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Me too- I..."

Atem grit his teeth, trying to find a way to hold on. It only made sense that Yuugi should come first, now. The smaller clutched to him, hips moving up one last time, Atem feeling a spurt of warmth across his stomach-

"SETO!"

Everything went away in that moment. The heat of the room and their bodies completely vanished as Atem felt he was thrown into a pool of ice cold water. His eyes were wide, his breathing only out of control by way of their activities. Yuugi seemed completely unaffected, riding out the wave of his orgasm, unaware of what had just happened. Atem moved out of him, sitting on the edge of the bed. His body protested, being so close to the brink it almost hurt. It would later.

Yuugi waited five minutes before regaining his senses. Even then it seemed that not much was registering to him. His hand reached up, fingers moving along Atem's back. The older of the two jerked away. "How did you make it back?" Yuugi's voice was tired.

Atem didn't answer as he stood, getting dressed again. There was a stabbing pain in his stomach. He couldn't decide if that was from betrayal or being denied release. He disliked both options. His chest was heavy with hurt. Soon it was all too clear that Yuugi's breathing had deepened. He turned to get a look at the other; his partner had fallen asleep, hand hanging off the edge of the bed.

For just a moment longer he stood all alone in the center of the room. Then he left, closing the door quietly. Back into the rain. And now he was uncertain of what he was doing here at all.