Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. Yu gi oh is the property of its copyright holders Kazuki Takahashi Etc.

"I hope your heart won't have to hurt anymore

'Cause it's really not that sad from here

Because the moments I can feel you near."

-Finger, I'll Keep Your Memory Vague

Once You Speak my Name: The Pieces Come Together

It was yet another late night visit to the museum and Adam and Yugi were both back in the basement. This time searching selves for any record of someone discovering Atemu's tomb before Yugi did.

"For all the things in here you would think there wouldn't be such a severe lack of ladders, did you find anything yet?"

"No, and please try not to move around so much."

"Shouldn't I have been on top? You can lift more than me."

Yugi stopped moving things around on a shelf and glanced down.

"Just hold still."

Adam scowled and tried once more to shift Yugi's weight to a more comfortable position on his shoulders while making a mental note to start taking up weight training. This whole thing was stupid. If he would just admit who he truly was to Yugi he wouldn't be here being a human step-ladder, so why couldn't he be fully honest with Yugi? Because you don't want to lose him. There it was the simple answer to a complicated question. He didn't want to reveal who he was or reveal his true feelings for fear of destroying what they already built. It was more important to be with Yugi then even the safety of the world, Mr. Hopekkins was obviously up to something and any connection it had to his ancient kingdom and all the problems there in didn't bode well for anyone, but Adam was often times having difficulty caring about any of it. He couldn't even bring himself to continue his study of the growing connection between dream Yugi and this Yugi for fear of what he would think of the idea. It was only Yugi's opinion of him that mattered, Yugi himself had it seemed become Adam's whole world and that terrified him.

Yugi moved again his boot pushing Adam's earring against his neck. Adam cried out in annoyance.

"You know I am beginning to think this whole search is fruitless. By the time we find anything the whole tomb will have crumbled to dust!"

Yugi smiled as Adam's frustrations brought to mind an old song that he hummed to himself. Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see. Dust in the wind, all we are is dust the wind- his wandering thoughts were derailed as they slammed into a wall of realization.

"Of course that's it!"

Yugi quickly hopped down from Adam and began rummaging through his pockets.

"What's it? What did I say?"

"I can't believe I was so blind!"

Quickly Yugi found a notepad and pencil and started drawing.

"See here look. All tombs are broken down into different sections, possibly as a passage to the gods although that theory is still under study, anyway, we've been thinking that the stairway we found leads down to the first chamber, but what if the entrance we found isn't the true entrance to the tomb? What if it is the second section? I mean geological disturbances happen there all the time, part of the cliff it is carved into might have collapsed. That would also explain why we found so many broken artefacts around the tomb while everything else was intact in the other chambers and-"

"Any evidence of earlier entry would have been destroyed," Adam finished.

"Exactly."

Of course it all made sense now. This explained why the puzzle hadn't been there as he had expected, someone must have moved it, but were they friend or foe? If the puzzle had been stolen the consequences could be dire and where were the other items? Was that what those dreams all meant? Were they perhaps repressed memories of some battle to get back the items and put the items in a new location to keep them safe?

His thoughts were cut off by the sound of familiar footsteps on the stairs.

"Oh, not again."

"Does the man have nothing better to do with his time?"

Both of them quickly squeezed into a dark corner and waited. As Hopekkins came into view Adam went on the offensive, now far more comfortable in his body and his powers it was easy to move the shadows to obscure their presence and distract Hopekkins enough so he quickly turned around and went back the way he had come. There was only one complication. The tensing of the body beside him let him know that this time Yugi had seen him.

With Hopekkins gone Yugi wasted no time in getting away from Adam. He quickly backed away from him his eyes wide. Adam had never seen the man scared before.

"Yugi, please I, I can explain." He couldn't lose him not after all this.

"What the hell are you?"

"It's not, it's not really what I am, but who I am."

"Besides not human."

"I assure I am perfectly human. What you saw well…It's, it's just something I can do."

"Basketball is something you do. This is…is." Is something I can do. But if someone else could do what he did that meant something, something vital. Something that would make everything make sense if he could just…

At that moment he tripped over something on the floor and stumbled backwards without a thought Adam grabbed him yanking him back up. Their faces were now inches for each other Adam's hand rested against the small of his back and his hand on Adam's shoulder. They just stared at one another the entire argument completely forgotten. The thread of memory Yugi had been grasping at whisked away, and he couldn't begin to care.

"Sorry."

"Don't be."

Neither made a move to break the embrace Adam in fact pressed his hand further against Yugi's back.

"Thank you I-"

"You're welcome."

Yugi moved his hand away from Adam's shoulder so his fingers brushed against his hair.

"There really is something going on between us isn't there?"

"Yes I believe there is."

He looked deeply into Adam's eyes searching for the truth.

"You would never hurt me."

"Never."

Of course he wouldn't it wasn't his nature. The powers he displayed a moment ago, that was just something Adam did he knew that, had always known that, somehow.

"How about we go back to my place? We could talk and…stuff." Twenty-eight years old and I still have the relationship skills of a demented five year old it's a wonder Adam doesn't just drop me where I stand.

"I'd like that."

&&&

Not knowing exactly what to do about the night's events they fell back on their old past time and made coffee. Yugi poured the hot drink into two mugs and set them on the table. Adam took his and starting pouring a large amount of sugar in it.

"You put anymore sugar in that and you're going to rot your teeth."

Adam merely glanced up at Yugi before spooning two more heaping amounts of the sweet sand into his mug and stirring it.

"How long?" Yugi finally asked.

"Several weeks at least."

"Hmm, well then you're very good at hiding your emotions. You remained professional at all times for so long and…"

Here it came. Total rejection, everything he had worked for gone.

"And I'd be lying if I said I didn't reciprocate your attraction."

Adam put his cup down in shock, sloshing coffee over the sides. "What? You mean you actually…"

"How can I not? You're handsome, passionate, and an all around pleasant guy to be with. Don't have a clue why you like me though."

"Because you're amazing."

"Wow, don't be too subtle now."

"I mean it. You treat me like a person and not just some means to an end, you're driven and dedicated and everything I've looked for in a partner."

"Nothing in the looks department?"

He smirked. "And you're vain."

"Just a little bit."

"You're not bad to look at though I'll give you that."

"Thanks I think."

Yugi reached over the table and grasped his hand.

"Well do you want to do something about it?"

"I don't know."

"Why so hesitant? You just described me as what you've been looking for. We both have feelings for each other why shouldn't we pursue them?"

"Because it is unconventional and bordering on inappropriate."

"Why? It's only a two year age gap."

"That's not it."

"Then what is 'it'?"

"I am not good enough for you."

"Why don't I by the judge of that-"

"Because you are far too trusting."

"That trust got you a job."

"I know, which brings up another issue. Dating co-workers rarely turns out well."

"Well until further notice we are off the clock."

"Which you are doing everything in your power to correct."

"True, but I'd be willing to take a minimal break from that and we don't have to rush into this. After all I'm afraid I am a bit out of practice with the dating game."

"I wouldn't have pegged you for a man of celibacy."

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"There is a lot you don't know about yourself."

"Could say the same for you. You might have five other families stashed around the world for all you know."

Adam looked at Yugi in shock.

"Kidding. Look I remember enough things that I wish I could forget again, I feel ready to try this and if it doesn't work out I promise to send you with one of my colleges and we will never have to speak of it again if you don't want to."

Adam leaned back in his chair considering and then smiled. "Well with an offer like that, like you, how can I refuse?"

(End chapter 9)