It was strangely quiet aboard the plane as Yugi and Téa sat beside each other, each peering out to look at the passenger window. This experience was different than all the other ones. The pharaoh was gone and each of their friends had been affected differently. It was these two however, that were affected the most and therefore would be likely to feel the most pain and remorse over the passage of their dear friend to the afterlife.

Yugi found this silence unsettling. There was no voice inside his head and he found it empty and barren. It was a strange thing for him. The last four years of his life was spent with someone inside his head and someone taking over his body ever so often. He didn't know how he would deal with the absence of his other half. It would be difficult to adjust. His thoughts drifted to how the others would deal with it. He was sure the others would take it alright in due time...Joey, Tristan; but then his thoughts drifted to the only female member of their group of friends who accompanied them on this expedition. The brown-haired girl was sitting right beside him on his right. She was obviously in thought like him. Perhaps he should ask how she was feeling?

Yugi turned and tentatively looked at Téa. Téa noticed his gaze a couple moments later and gave his a questionable gaze as she pursued her lips outward. "Yugi?"

"Are you mad at me?" He blurted out. He was afraid that this event would affect the girl so terribly that she would want to distance herself from him.

"Mad at you? Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I made him go away." He pressed his lips together.

Téa was genuinely surprised. "Yugi..." She closed her eyes and then reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Of course I'm not mad at you." She gazed at him deeply. "Atem, he..." Téa tried to get the right words out as a sharp pain went through her stomach. This was still a painful topic. "He deserves to go where he belongs. He's done so much for the world and now he'll be at peace." She gave a small smile and was glad to see Yugi returned the gesture. She removed her hand from his shoulder.

"Besides..." she added, shifting back from her forward leaned posture as she settled more comfortably in her seat. "Like you said, this is a new beginning." She smiled more warmly this time and hesitantly reached out to Yugi's hand and intertwined his with hers. "A new beginning for all of us..." She said gently placing her head ever so gently on Yugi's shoulder. Yugi responded to the gesture and placed his head on Téa's, sighing deeply.

"Téa..." He said a few moments later. "I don't know if this...is you know... what you want." he stuttered. Téa tilted her head slightly and gave a soft, warm smile.

"Yugi..." She said affectionately as she removed her head from his shoulder and turned. "This is what I want." She confirmed without stuttering as she gazed into his eyes.

He looked to the side. "I just don't want you to think that you have to... and I know how you felt about him..."

Téa frowned for a second and then reached her hand over to gently turn his face. "Yugi." She tenderly said.

In return, he took a deep breath, "Atem also told me about what happened last night." He said softly, looking down.

Téa followed in the suit and gave a weak smile. "I figured as much." She had guessed that Atem would have told him. She actually expected him to tell him really. Yugi knowing of yesterday's events was no surprise to her. It was the right thing to do. It had been Yugi's body all along that Atem had used that night, even if the only thing they had done was kiss.

"I truly didn't mind because I know how much you two loved each other..." Yugi looked deeply into her eyes. "I could obviously tell from sharing the same body as Atem how much he cared for you, no matter how much he tried to deny it. I encouraged him and told him he could have privacy for the rest of the night in visiting you. I could tell that you felt the same way about him too."

"I did love him and I still love him." Téa confirmed using a soft, gentle voice. Yugi breathed out in response. "But..." She added, slightly rubbing her thumb against his cheek, lovingly, "That doesn't mean I love you any less." She slowly let go of her hand from his face and looked down. She pulled back a strand of her hair and tucked it in, another nervous habit she indulged in.

"You and Atem...you're both alike in so many ways." She smiled, momentarily closing her eyes. "In other ways you're so different..." She sighed. "I think part of the reason I fell for him so hard was because he reminded me so much of you." She turned to glance at him. "I thought it was too taboo to fall in love with your best friend. There would be so many complications and... I was afraid." Yugi widened his eyes.

She sighed again and bit her lip, looking down."I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though I love you both, I love you distinctly as well. I love you just as my Yugi, my very best friend from the start and more." Téa turned to look up and see Yugi's expression, but instead she was abruptly met with Yugi's own lips on hers. She widened her eyes in shock.

This completely and utterly left her off guard! It wasn't like the kiss she had with Atem when she knew what Atem's intentions were, but she had still been shaken up by it a little. Yugi had completely taken her by surprise! It didn't take her long to completely melt into the kiss. This kiss was different than the one she had with Atem, although both were equally as pleasurable. Yugi's lips were soft, smooth and warm, unlike Atem's also soft, but slightly colder ones. Yugi was also a bit gentler, gradually building up the intensity of the kiss and Téa felt at ease with him. Téa reached up to cup his face with her palms as he held her tightly causing her to feel secure in his arms. The both inwardly leaned forward to one another. They perfectly molded into one another.

Téa felt oddly comfortable and she knew this was what she truly wanted and needed. She had loved Yugi ever since she met him. At first it was of friendship, but it gradually grew into something more. Although she felt she couldn't love him anymore than she could now, she felt that there were some things that would develop their love even more and she would look forward to that. She loved Yugi. There was no one who could tell her otherwise. Their love and relationship was a strange one and they had danced around each other a lot while battling evil and fighting shadow magic, but it was their special story.

They slowly withdrew from each other and Téa fluttered her eyes open. "That was all I ever wanted to hear." Yugi whispered, his face merely inches away from hers. Téa gave him a shy, but warm smile in return. "Besides..." Yugi added, smirking. "Atem has Teana anyways!"

"Wait, what?!"

She received no response as Yugi once more covered his mouth over hers and the question flew from her mind...she'd ask him later... maybe.

As for now...she was going to enjoy this kiss. Everything else didn't matter right now, not when Yugi's mouth was on her own and he was kissing her with this degree of passion... Both her and Yugi's surroundings were a blur, as all senses focused in on the touch and warmth each received from the other's lips, hands and arms. This moment for them was spent in each other's arm and in bliss. It was also at that moment Tristan and Joey conveniently came back from getting some food from the snack cart, conveniently passing by Yugi and Téa. Upon noticing their friends, both of them nearly dropped their food items in initial shock as their mouths dropped open.

"Wooh, yeah Yuge!" Joey yelled.

"Way to go! Fi-nally!" Tristan praised, thanking the gods that this occurrence finally, finally, finally...happened.

The couple departed in their own shock at the intrusion, forgetting where they were as they turned to look at the unwanted intruders. Téa tilted her head to them and rolled her eyes and sent Joey and Tristan a threatening glare that let them know that they were in trouble. They both gulped. Yugi tried to keep in his laughter.

"Uh... I got to go..." Tristan said nervously, edging away and giving an overly fake smile.

"You know what?" Joey added pulling at his neckline of his shirt. "Me too!" He said as Téa threw another glare their way. "RUN!" He yelled as both he and Tristan dashed away in fear of Téa's wrath.

Yugi finally dared to let his laughter escape as Téa just shook her head with her hand at her forehead. "Some things will never change." She groaned.

Yugi smiled, looking down. "Yes..." he agreed, but tilted Téa's chin so she would return to facing him. "But hopefully some things will." He said leaning in once more.

"Yes." Téa murmured. "Hopefully they will." She said melting into Yugi's arms as he kissed her again.

Some things wouldn't change, but this was a new beginning for all of them.

Not just for their friends, but specifically for both of them.

Because love is a beginning.

THE END.

There you have it everyone. The final conclusion. Thank you to all my followers and reviewers, especially those who gave me feedback. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out and I thank everyone for the support. The Spiritshipping love triangle (YugixAnzuxYami) is a heavily complicated love triangle with different interpretations and this story includes a good amount of some of the interpretations/headcanons I have for this pairing. I'm absolutely obsessed with Peachshipping and Revolutionshipping/Vanishshipping as they're my OTPs even though many of the fans for each respective pairing aren't fond of the other. I'm also so happy that I've finished a multi-chaptered fanfic for the first time. ^_^

I hope you all noticed the subtle hints of the intensity of Yugi and Atem's bond here. Téa knew that yesterday's secret wasn't one that Yugi would be left out of. Yugi and Atem have one of those bonds that are so unique and special. It's one that they completely trust each other in. They only want the best for each other and to keep one another happy. Also that Teana reference... ;) lol

As always, your inputs and thoughts are much appreciated and thanked. I read every single one of my reviews even if I don't reply and take them too heart. If there is also anything you wish to ask I will also be happy to reply.

Much obliged.

~Startistica