Just to clear things up, Yugi and Atem are NOT together, at least, not at the moment. They just have special names for each other. That will be explained within the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Tea had never been so worried in her life. Yugi had been getting ready to duel some random challenger, and then he had suddenly collapsed onto the console, sliding limply to the floor.

The three friends had run up there, Joey calling an ambulance. They had found thick blood splattered over the screens, Yugi boneless on the floor with blood leaking from the corners of his lips.

Tristan had instantly lifted his smaller friend, running from the room with panic in his face and eyes. Tea had followed, but as she had gone she had heard Yugi moan.

She was shocked as she recognized the voice of Atem, deeper than Yugi's. 'You mean that's the Pharaoh?.! Not Yugi?.! What's going on?.!'

Now the brown-haired girl sat worriedly beside the white bed, watching as her friend panted for air. The doctor's had already examined him, and were working on a diagnosis. In the meantime, Joey and Tristan were waiting for Grandpa, while Tea was left with Atem.

Now that she suspected that it was the Pharaoh rather than Yugi, she could easily see the difference. She could pick out Atem's slightly shaper features, wilder hair, and older visage. Atem was also taller than Yugi, which was harder to see because he was lying down.

Tea sighed, feeling helpless. She had no idea what to do. She was scared, and worried out of her mind. What could possibly have Yugi, no, Atem, coughing up blood?

At that moment Grandpa came inside, followed by Joey, Tristan, and the tall doctor that had examined Atem. Tea jumped to her feet, wringing her hands.

The doctor sighed. "We've reached a diagnosis." He looked up. "Your friend has tuberculosis."

"Tuberculosis?" Tea whispered fearfully.

Joey seemed excited. "But that's curable, right? You can make it go away!"

The doctor sighed again. "Unfortunately I don't know that. We can give him doses of rifampicin and isoniazid, which are standard medications for this, but with how far this is, I don't know how effective they will be. It's amazing that he's had no symptoms up till this point. We can treat him, but there's no guarentee that it will work."

It was literally possible to watch Joey's face crumple. Grandpa made a soft sound of distress, and Tea felt her heart stop.

And somewhere in the rooms of the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi wept.

"Atem? Atem please, wake up…"

Atem frowned as the words ended in a sob, soft cries echoing in his mind. The Pharaoh struggled to open his eyes, some part of him not wanting this mysterious person to cry.

He moaned faintly, and then managed to pry his eyes open. He met concerned, teary, scared violet eyes. "Y-Yugi?"

Yugi brushed his fingers over Atem's face, smiling slightly. "Hey Atem…"

Atem moaned again, putting a shaky hand to his head. "What happened?"

"You fainted. God, I was so scared, Atem… You were coughing up blood, so we were taken to the hospital." Yugi murmured, stroking Atem's face gently. "They said…" he sniffled. "That you have tuberculosis."

Atem blinked. "D-Does that mean that you will too?"

Yugi nodded with a watery smile. "Yes. It is my body, our body. We will die as one, mou hitori no boku."

Atem flinched, sitting up sharply. "No! You can't, aibou! I won't let it!"

Yugi shook his head, cupping Atem's face in both hands, his thumbs wiping away tears that were flowing freely from those crimson orbs. "There's nothing you can do, mine only. We are one, you and I."

Atem shook his head again. "No… No…This disease, it will kill us…I had it, this lung eating sickness, when I was Pharaoh…"

Yugi blinked back tears. "Did it kill you?"

"N-No… The Puzzle… But it would have…" Atem sobbed out. "Ra showed me the moment of my death, I know…"

Yugi frowned, and then placed his forehead against his yami's. "Show me, mine only. Show me."

Atem closed his eyes, and then opened them again, revealing pitch black orbs that swirled with purple; the darkness of the Shadow Realm.

Reality fled.

"My Pharaoh, are you sure?"

Yugi opened his eyes to see the High Priest Seth standing in front of him, his hand clenched around the Millennium Rod. He looked around for his Pharaoh, and then his hands flew to mouth.

Atem was in front of him, wrapped only in a white gown that fell to his feet. The jewelry was gone; only the Puzzle remained. He was bent over, his face deathly pale, crimson eyes dull. Yugi could see that he was shaking, and there was sheen of sweat over his features.

"I must, Seth…" Atem said weakly, stumbling as he took a step towards the alter in front of him. His voice was little more a whisper, hoarse and gravelly.

Seth ran forward as Atem started coughing, a hand over his mouth as he sank to his knees. Yugi saw blood leaking through his fingers, and then he straightened again wiping, his hand and leaving a bloody streak across his white gown.

Yugi could only watch as the Pharaoh grabbed his Puzzle, raising it and chanting in his Ancient tongue. There was a roar, and then the Pharaoh collapsed bonelessly, the Puzzle shattering on the rock floor. Seth ran forward with a cry, catching Atem before he hit the floor.

The monarch's head flopped back to reveal wide sightless eyes, an open mouth filled with blood, and a look of pain across the magnificent features.

Yugi let out a sob, and then fell back into the powerful embrace of Atem's mind.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Yugi could feel tears dripping on his face, and he woke to find his head in Atem's lap. He sat up, hugging the crying spirit gently. "Oh, please, yami mine, don't cry. It's not your fault, and I'm not sad. I would die with you, I promise, it's not your fault."

Atem suddenly set his face. "No. I won't allow this to happen."

Yugi blinked. "Mou hitori no boku?"

The Eye of Udjat flared to life on Atem's forehead, and then consciousness fled, taking Yugi into darkness.

Joey let out a cry of shock as Yugi's body suddenly convulsed, the heart monitor going crazy. Blood poured from his mouth, and then there was brilliant light.

When it dimmed Joey could see two bodies there, one coughing and shaking, the other sitting up. "Atem!"

Joey blinked as he saw Yugi pull the form of the Pharaoh himself, who was coughing, blood spotting his lips, into his lap.

"Atem, please, what have you done!.? You're going to make yourself worse!" Yugi cried, shaking the limp body lying against him.

There was no response from the spirit, only a faint choking sound. Yugi cried out again, turning Atem onto his side as he began to choke on his own blood.

Joey leapt to his feet, throwing open the door. "Help! Someone help!"

Doctors ran into the room, pushing Yugi out of the way as they tried to help Atem. Yugi stumbled back into Joey, reaching for his other even as Joey held him back.

"ATEM!"