Tea smiled at Yugi, they had just been at the movies and on their way home when it had started to pour. Unfortunately neither had an umbrella on them and so they were forced to run home in the rain drenched and chilled to the bone. Tea had decided to walk Yugi to the shop since it was on the way to her house.

She smiled at Yugi; he'd been trying so hard not to let anyone know how he was feeling. She thought for a second, it had been nearly a year and a half since Atemu had left. Yugi had been fine for the first few months, either the reality of the situation hadn't gotten to him yet or he'd thought that Atemu still might come back to him... but after Yugi's birthday he had started to be more reclusive. He would only go out with his friends on rare occasions and he hardly ate, this was obvious by the fact that all his ribs protruded through all his shirts - Yugi had kept more of a dark look and was always wearing tight clothes nowadays. She watched as he slid off his shirt, revealing just how skinny he was. She sighed as he slid on a new baggy one and handed her a towel. "Thanks." she mumbled. Yugi gave her a smile that made her heart drop; he didn't realize just how much his sadness showed through.

"Here's an umbrella." Yugi said as he handed it to her, it was red and black and she sighed, 'Of course.'

Tea wished she could do something for her friend but everyone had already tried, she remembered when Joey had tried to cheer him up. Yugi had ended up screaming at him, saying that nothing was wrong with him and that he didn't want Joey to bring up Yami again.

She smiled, "Thanks."

Yugi shrugged.

"Yugi?"

"Hmm?"

"Since it's the weekend so how about we hang out again tomorrow? We could rent a bunch of movies and invite Tristan and Joey over. C'mon, it'd be fun."

"Sorry Tea, I've got plans. Grandpa said he needed help around the shop tomorrow, we're going to reorganize the shelves."

Tea nodded, though she knew it was a full out lie- Yugi's grandpa hadn't asked him for anything since Yami had left.

With slight mournful hesitation, she smiled, "I guess I'll go then, bye Yugi."

"See ya." Yugi ended unenthusiastically.

Yugi cuddled the millennium puzzle to his chest before he pulled off his tight, (soaked) leather pants and replaced them with a warm dry pair of pajamas straight from the laundry. He grabbed a soft blanket that had also been in there before he headed up to his room.

Once in his room Yugi found a roughly scrawled note from Grandpa:

Yugi,

Sorry, I got called out on a last minute dig. Apparently they've already uncovered some ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and they've requested that I go decipher them. Doesn't it sound fun!? Have fun and be careful this weekend, you should go play with your friends- I'm sure they'd enjoy that. I'll be gone for at least two weeks so I left 300 in emergency money in the fridge next to some of the microwaveable dinners, don't forget to eat, okay?

Love,
Grandpa

Yugi gave a slight smile and sighed as he set the note on his nightstand before reaching in the drawer and pulling out his CD player. The headphones pumped to full volume before he allowed himself to finally cry as he sat in the corner on his bed, cuddling with his pillow and allowing the music to drown out his thoughts as he cried for Yami.

It was easier this way. Yugi had discovered this the day after his birthday after receiving a CD from Joey. Of course the music hadn't really suited his taste but he was just fine, anything that drowned out his thoughts helped. He just couldn't stand thinking about Yami anymore. It just hurt so much.

Yami squinted at the bright lights.

"Welcome back Pharaoh Atemu."

Yami kneeled before the gods, this was his final judgment. A year and a half had passed since his duel with Yugi though to him it only seemed like seconds.

Ra smiled at him, "Ready for your final judgment?"

Yami looked up at the wondrous god, "Yes."

Horus looked at Ra quizzically; apparently the two were having some conversation that Yami was neither able to hear nor take part in.

Ra smiled as Yami's soul was placed on the side of the scale opposite the feather. Slowly but surely the side with the feather started to sink.

Yami couldn't help but be happy, he was finally going to go to a paradise he was finally going to relax. He was finally. Never going to see Yugi again...

Yami's heart sank as Ra looked at him, "Do you not want to go to paradise?"

Yami quickly looked up, "No it's not that. It's just. I."

"Well?" Ra probed.

Yami looked back down, "It's nothing."

"Oh?" Horus asked.

Ra smiled-wait, was that a smirk?, and raised a hand, "Welcome to paradise" he flourished, "Yami."

Yami looked up, but too late. Everything was dark and his body tingled, 'Wait- body?'

Yami started to search around, there was no light wherever he was, nothing but cold darkness. Not that he minded the dark but what this was - this was beyond dark.

Yami head a crash and a thud and instinctively he froze. He noticed a faint tinkling that sounded like - 'Music?!'

Yami heard a click and the music stopped. He held his breath. Another click- he could see that a light had been turned on behind him.

"Who's there?" A small voice croaked.

Yami turned around and stared wide eyed at the figure on the bed.

"Yugi?"