The wind blew Yuugi's hair around, tangling it, he was sure. His bangs abruptly whipped him across the face, and he laughed as he pushed them back, trying to tame the wild. The radio blasted a rhythmic beat while a guitar riff soared through the air as he sat in the passenger side of a sleek, red convertible that was racing down the highway. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, feeling the vibrations in his seat from the speakers. He threw his arms wide, welcoming the breeze. He rode it; there was no barrier between the sky and he. If he wanted to, any moment he could float away, out of the car and into space. The music helped weigh him down, it anchored his soul to the earth.

A warm hand brushed against over his. Their fingers snagged, then interlocked. There was light pressure, and Yuugi squeezed back. He opened his eyes and turned his head to the driver, pulling their joined hands up to his lips. Yami grinned back at him. He made Yuugi feel alive in ways he had never known until then.

The music faltered and sputtered out. Only for a split-second, but Yuugi knew it had happened. He blinked, the bliss falling from his face. Yami didn't notice, he was still smiling brightly at him. So Yuugi smiled back once more, relaxing. That small stutter in the beat…it was not important, he decided.

"Let's take a detour." Yami said. Despite the wind roaring in his ears, Yuugi heard him perfectly. His words resonated deep in his chest. They blossomed and filled him. Yuugi nodded, and the music faded away. A new song began, but it had the same driving urgency behind the rhythm. The car slowed, and then came to an eventual stop. The scenery around them had changed from an endless highway to a classic diner parking lot. When they got inside, Yuugi looked around, taking in the kitschy décor. There were white and blue walls, plastic covered menus, and pink round vinyl tables. It carried a warm, homey feeling. A jukebox was playing in the far corner by the bathroom doors, and the song echoed throughout the small diner: 'I only have eyes…for youuu…'

They sat down at one of the booths lining underneath the windows and Yami took his hand over the table. He flipped it so Yuugi's palm was facing up, and he traced the creases. Yuugi let him draw. And why wouldn't he? It felt nice. Yami looked up at him from under his eyelashes with a sly grin.

"Would you like to dance?"

Yuugi laughed. No one had ever asked him to dance before.
"Sure." He replied, standing. "Why not?"

They walked to the jukebox, and Yami stood in front of him, wrapping an arm around his back. He pulled him close and stepped forward, and Yuugi followed the lead. The music was louder there next to the jukebox. Yuugi glanced around, and he noticed for the first time that no one else was in the diner. No waiters, staff, or cooks…not even other customers. He was sidetracked by this until Yami pulled him in tighter. Yuugi looked back to the man in his arms, deciding that the emptiness didn't matter. What really mattered was this; being here with Yami. Him searching into Yuugi's eyes with that look and touching him like so. The way Yuugi wanted Yami was something he couldn't describe. Not with words.

As they slowly glided across the black-and-white checkered linoleum, Yuugi laughed to himself. They were just holding each other and swaying back-and-forth, not exactly dancing... But that was okay. He didn't mind. They moved closer to the corner of the room that was hidden from view by the register, counter, and kitchen. The music began to feel like it was pushing in on Yuugi's ears, and he noticed the song had been playing on a loop. Yami quickly spun Yuugi, slamming him back against a wall. Yuugi was dizzy and out of breath from the twirl. He watched as Yami stepped closer, eyes never leaving his.

"You are amazing." Yami said, not even remotely embarrassed. "Have I ever told you that?"

"This would be the first."

The tips of his shoes nudged Yuugi's, and he pressed back into the wall, anticipating. Yami leaned forward so he was against Yuugi, not allowing the shorter to escape. Yuugi smiled. It felt good, it felt right. Nothing else mattered. Yuugi brushed his fingers against Yami's waist, toying with the hem of his shirt. Yami caught his hands and pinned them to the wall. Yuugi knew he was helpless in his grip, but he didn't feel trapped. He was anxious, he knew it was coming - that moment that had been pulling at them both for so long, the moment they always came so close to, but never achieved.

Yami placed his lips against Yuugi's cheek in a careful, chaste kiss. Gauging the given reaction. Yuugi sighed; how could Yami still not know how much Yuugi wanted him? How could Yami think that he would turn this down? His skin burned where Yami's lips had touched. But it wasn't enough. Yami bent down, kissing Yuugi's neck. His knees went weak, and he held back a frustrated sound. Was Yami trying to make him beg?

"Yuugi…" Yami murmured, and Yuugi felt his nose skim against his collarbone. He didn't mind it when the music started yet another loop: '…I only have eyes…for youuu.' His heart thumped in time with Yami's soothing words of "Yuugi…Yuugi…"

"Heba."

Yuugi's eyes snapped open, and he recoiled from Yami.
"What did you just call me?!"

"Yuugi?" Yami replied, absolutely bewildered. Yuugi stared at him, searching. His mind was just playing tricks on him. That had to be it.

"What's wrong?" Yami leaned forward, questioning. "Would you rather I call you amazing again? Or how about my only? Or all that I desire? I'd gladly name you those things." A shiver ran down Yuugi's spine, and he melted completely, allowing himself to be wrapped into Yami's arms again.

Yuugi slid his hands up Yami's chest and looped them around his neck.
"I like 'my only'." He joked, and Yami grinned.

"My only it is, then." He muttered, tan fingers trailing over Yuugi's cheek.

Wait - what? Horror clawed its way up from Yuugi's stomach and lodged itself in his throat. He blinked rapidly, squeezing his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, ruby eyes surrounded by pale skin were staring back at him, shocked.

"Yuugi, what—"

"Why did you do that?!" Yuugi yelled.

"Do what?"

Change yourself! Yuugi's mind screamed, but he couldn't say it. It sounded so crazy, but he had seen it. Yuugi shook his head. Nonsense. It was Yami. Ivory skin, deep set ruby eyes, wild hair… it was him. They were finally together, and he should be beyond happy. So why was Yuugi so jumpy? Why was he seeing and hearing things that were not there?

Yami carefully enveloped me in his arms again, looking concerned. "Are you—"

"Shh." Yuugi hushed him, shaking his head. "Forget it. I'm sorry. It's just a...bad dream."

"Are you sure?"

"Completely." Yuugi murmured. Yami bent his head down once more and caught Yuugi's lips. Yuugi reached up and twined his fingers in Yami's hair, pulling the taller down more. He tried to lose himself in the moment, but he couldn't. This was all he'd been waiting for, but something felt wrong.

Yuugi opened his eyes a fraction, and he saw that Yami was weaving in and out of existence again. Changing from light to dark, then back. But the feel of his mouth against Yuugi's didn't change. Yuugi couldn't help but moan in frustration, and a small moan came from Yami, too. His avid hands came up to Yuugi's neck, thumbs pushing against the underside of his jaw, tilting Yuugi's head up. It was like the world was ending, and they were two lovers having their last kiss together. Yuugi gripped Yami's arms tightly, and when he opened his eyes again, the Pharaoh was there again, kissing him with urgency.

Yuugi lost control. He pressed against him, teasing the edge of the Pharaoh's lip with his tongue. Almost instantly, he granted Yuugi entry, and their tongues met, slick and needy. Yuugi's mind exploded in pleasure and he clutched the back of Yami's - the Pharaoh's? - shirt. Ah, whatever. Yuugi no longer knew which one it was. He didn't care. There was no way to tell where one ended and where one began. He wasn't going to waste his time figuring it out anymore. It made no difference. They were the same, so how was it wrong to love them both?

Yuugi tore himself away, covering his face with his hands.
"I'm sorry - I can't - we - " He stopped, not bothering to finish.

Yuugi left Yami standing there in the diner. H got into the car and slammed the door shut behind him. Pulling his feet up onto the seat so his could bury his face in his knees. He wondered if he were finally going insane. He couldn't do anything without hurting himself or someone else. In the end, that just how it always was.

The car roared to life, and Yuugi peeked over to see Yami sitting behind the wheel, face passive. He didn't say anything, and neither did Yuugi. They didn't have to. The silence said it all. The music went staticy and died, and Yami became the Pharaoh once more.

"Why is this happening?" Yuugi asked, voice scratchy. "Why did we met? Why me?"

The Pharaoh didn't reply, but his face contorted liek he was feeling a physical pain. He punched the radio, and it whizzed back to life. A new song played, different from the previous hip-hop it was blasting. A violin wept in sadness, and a feminine voice softly sang, 'I have been wanting so long for you… My long, dark days spent just for you…' As more violins echoed the singers pain, Yami turned his gaze to Yuugi, eyes wet with tears. He sang with the female as the song died, and Yuugi's heart broke.

"I have been waiting…waiting for you…"

Yuugi awoke, chest heaving as his breath sawed in and out of his dry mouth. His hair was clinging to his damp face – whether it was wet because of sweat or tears, he didn't know. His pulse raged, making his whole body pulse. He couldn't make himself move. He lay there in the bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to slow his lungs.

Another nightmare. Yuugi should be accustomed to them by now, but this was different. He would have thought that he'd be happy when he dreamt something other than the war, but this had been worse. A pain that stabbed him deeper than anything in a war could. It had given him a glimpse of happiness, only to tear it away, leaving him with nothing but an ache in his chest and more questions. Finally, Yuugi was able to breathe slowly and scoot himself up to a sitting position. Something tugged at his hand, and he looked down to see the Pharaoh draped over the side of the bed. He must have carried Yuugi here when he had fallen asleep and then...what? Fell asleep himself while sitting next to the bed? Yuugi felt his face burn at the cliché.

Yuugi leaned over, watching how relaxed the Pharaoh looked in sleep. Yuugi poked his cheek with enough force to wake someone, but the Pharaoh just wrinkled his nose and turned his face the other way with a bothered groan. Yuugi raised an eyebrow and carefully pulled his arm away. As soon as he was free, the Pharaoh started slipping down, and Yuugi flung his arms out to catch him, but it was too late. THe Pharaoh fell against the floor with a heavy thud, and Yuugi snorted as he tried to keep himself from laughing.

The Pharaoh jerked awake, sitting up with a dazed expression. Yuugi couldn't hold it in anymore, he exploded with laughter.
"Oh, god! I don't mean to - to - ! But you're...you're face!" He cried, clutching his ribs. "I can't -!"

"How did I end up on the floor?" The Pharaoh asked, watching as the question ignited another fit of giggles from Yuugi.

"How did I end up - here on the bed?" Yuugi managed to ask once his laughter had died down.

The Pharaoh didn't answer as he got to his feet.
"Did you sleep well?"

"I slept." Yuugi answered, avoiding the truth with finesse. "What happened last night?"

"You were thrown off a horse three times -"

"Yes, yes - I remember that, funnily enough." Yuugi said darkly. "I mean, when did I fall asleep?"

"After you proved your...ineptitude at horseback riding -" The Pharaoh shot Yuugi a rueful grin, "- Mana and I played Senet. You fell asleep during the first game, but we played three - since she was trying to prove I was cheating. Which I was not."

"Commendable." Yuugi replied, nodding to him.

"After that, I carried you to your chambers and I ended up falling asleep, too, it would appear."

"You didn't watch me sleep...did you?"

"Of course not." The Pharaoh replied swiftly.

"Oh, god!" Yuugi pressed on his cheeks with his palms. "You did! How lame!"

"All right! Yes, I did. I just was making sure you were not going to wake up from another nightmare."

"Did Heba usually have nightmares?"

The Pharaoh blinked. "Not usually...not since..." He frowned. "Why would I think you would have one...?" Yuugi peered at the Pharaoh, knowing that he was once more experiencing something from Yami's memories. He knew Yuugi had been suffereing nightmares, but he didn't know how he knew it. Yuugi sighed, deciding not to press the issue. It would do him no good to obsess over these things. "Are you feeling all right?" The Pharaoh asked now, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I'm fine." Yuugi said, curt.

"Sure." The other answered. Yuugi glanced over at him, and he felt his jaw drop.

"Are you pouting?"

"Of course not." The Pharaoh replied, that god damn bottom lip protruding even more.

"You totally are." Yuugi smiled in spite of himself. "What are you? Three?"

"The Pharaoh may pout if he wises so." He said simply, but there was a playful look his his eye. Yuugi rolled his own, still smiling.

"Good morning!" Mana sang as she walked into the room. Another man followed close behind her. He was very tall, Yuugi noted right away. A coy smile spread along Mana's face when she saw that the Pharaoh was there. "Oh, ho? Why is our king here in your room, hmm?"

"Mana." Both he and Yuugi complained.

"Check out that bed head!" She cried, gleeful, descending upon the Pharaoh and messing with his wild hair, much to his protest.

"Mana." The new man said sharply, looking at her with his cool blue eyes. "You know not to be so familiar with the Pharaoh."

"Do please come down from your mighty pedestal, Seto." The Pharaoh said, looking annoyed as he tugged Mana down onto the bed by her waist.

"Most disrespectful, my king - but I shall try." The man said, looking unabashed. "I trust you slept well?"

"I suppose you could say that." He said, shrugging. Yuugi failed at hiding his renewed laughter. Seto stared at him, and Yuugi felt compelled to explain.

"Sorry. I just...it's funny because he fell on the floor."

Seto closed his eyes, letting out a long exhale.
"And pray tell: why was the Pharaoh on the floor?"

"He put me to bed last night. I fell asleep while Mana and he were playing Senet." Yuugi answered. Something about Seto made him feel rigid.

"Pharaoh," Seto began, probably not even registering that Yuugi had answered his previous question. "The council wishes to speak with you."

"What about?"

"Bakura has pillaged a town in the South." Seto replied, looking tense. "He attacked in the dead of night and left it in flames. Isis just sent her Elf here with news; she and Karim are on their way back with a survivor." Seto looked repulsed. "A village of about a hundred, and they only found one alive." The Pharaoh's fists gripped the sheets so hard, they were almost white. Yuugi couldn't believe it...how could a man kill so many without even a hint of remorse? He just could not fathom it - could not understand.

"It's so..." He trailed off, trying to find the right word.

"Evil." The Pharaoh finished for him, jaw taut.

"How could he do such a thing?"

"That's just what Bakura does, Yuugi." Mana whispered, looking nauseous.

"Who is Yuugi?" Seto asked suddenly, and Mana slapped her hand over her own mouth.

"What in Horus's great name are you saying?" The Pharaoh swiftly covered. "Where did you get that from Heba?"

Yuugi nodded with a bit too much enthusiasm.
"-yeah. That's my name, don't wear it out - right?"

Mana closed her eyes, slowly shaking her head with a low hum that sounded strangely like "oh gods", and the Pharaoh covered his eyes with a hand, slumping over as his shoulders shook with barely concealed amusement. Yuugi pressed his lips together, embarrassed, and whirled on them.

"I'm not good at lying - Okay?" He cried. "I'm trying!" The Pharaoh now tilted his head back, laughing out loud.

Seto folded his arms across his chest, eyes stern.
"Mind letting me in on the joke, too?"

*The song the jukebox is playing is called "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos. The other song was made up by me.

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