An extra-long chapter since I left this scene off of the other one (and couldn't figure out what was wrong). And yes there is a lemon in this one – but no worries, it's harmless. XD
~ o ~ O ~ o
Day 77:
"Aibou…what was that?"
Atemu went flying out of the bathroom - where he had been putting away the clean towels - the moment he heard the tinkling sounds of breaking glass and dashed down the stairs. The slender teen vaulted over the newly repositioned couch and down the hall to come to a screeching halt just inside the kitchen.
"Are you okay?" He asked breathlessly as he surveyed the normally immaculate room. He could feel remorse and fear dribbling down the barely existent link as he took in the scene before him.
There was broken glass everywhere. And standing in the middle of it all was his Aibou, a guilty, petrified look reflecting off his delicate features. As soon as the boy spotted him in the room, he dropped his crutches and prostrated himself amidst the shards of glass, trembling fiercely as he awaited his punishment.
"Aibou NO!" Atemu yelled as he ran into the wreckage, heedless of the sharp glass, to where his little one was kneeling on the floor. "Come on; let's get you out of here."
Damn and here he thought his little one had been doing so good…
He picked the boy up into his arms and carried him out of the middle of the broken glass. The royal teen hissed sharply, taking a clumsy side step as he felt the sharp sliver of glass cut through his thick sock and into his foot. Damn that hurt!
At the edge of the kitchen Atemu stopped, shifting his shivering burden into his other arm, and carefully peeled the glass covered socks off his feet, throwing them back towards the mess that littered the floor. He could still feel the one sliver in his foot, but at least that was the only one he got. How had his Aibou fared?
The dark teen glanced down to see that the boy's pajama bottoms were covered in tiny shards of glass. "Aibou…these, ah, have to come off. Can you stand?"
Yugi looked back at him tearfully, nodding. He knew what was coming. And he deserved it. He set his unencumbered foot down on the ground, taking in a sharp breath as one of the slivers buried in his bare foot came in contact with the hard wood. The petite teen shifted his weight over to his casted leg, hoping that it would take it. He just wanted to get this over with – whatever it was that his...Atemu was going to do.
"Ah, damn. Just hold still for a moment and I'll get you off that foot. You should have said something." Atemu quietly admonished the younger teen as he began to peel the soft fabric from his body, immediately realizing what his discomfort was.
Dark hands froze the instant they came into contact with soft, pale skin rather than the underwear he was expecting. Shit! The little one wasn't wearing anything underneath his pajamas! Sexually charged images raced through Atemu's mind before he could stop them. The former Pharaoh groaned mentally, a light dusting of red fanning out across his cheeks.
His body reacted instantly to the feeling of the warm, soft skin beneath his fingertips, his breath quickening, his heart beating erratically in his chest. But he continued to strip the cloth from the boy's body, leaving him bare from the waist down. Once the glass encrusted cloth was free of the small form Atemu brushed his hands gently over the boy's slender legs, looking for any glass that would have pierced the skin. Swallowing thickly, he looked back up into heartbroken amethyst eyes.
"Shhh. I'm going to set you on the couch. Don't move." Atemu picked Yugi up into his arms and limped his way back into the living room.
Once he was assured the little one was somewhat comfortable, the darker teen hobbled quickly out of the room, looking for tweezers, a wash cloth and some hydrogen peroxide. Oh yeah, and a towel! His senses were on overload ever since he found out what was (or rather wasn't) hidden directly beneath those starry pajama bottoms.
He needed to put a barrier between himself and the temptation that was his Aibou before he succumbed to his raging hormones.
After gathering his findings into his arms, the former Pharaoh made his way painfully back out into the living room and over to the couch. He scooped the younger teen back up into his arms and wrapped the towel around his lower half before setting the boy back against the cushions and taking his bare foot into his hands.
"This will hurt a little bit Aibou. Are you ready?" He questioned, ruby eyes seeking and finding terrified amethyst. He gave the boy's hand a reassuring squeeze before setting the tweezers against the damaged skin and searching for the sliver of glass that was embedded within.
Yugi twitched uncomfortably as the cold metal prodded at his sensitive foot. But he didn't say anything out loud. He knew better than to give voice to his pain - that would only prolong the punishment. But why was his…Atemu being so gentle with him? Especially when it was his clumsiness that caused the other pain. He breathed a temporary sigh of relief as the first splinter was removed, the probing metal going back for another one.
He squirmed on the couch, guiltily, as he waited for the darker teen to finish probing his foot for more glass. Once the other was finished, those gentle, calloused hands wandered the length of his legs, searching for any other injuries. The small teen's body stirred to life at the tender touch; almost wanting more…
The darker teen was always so gentle, almost loving whenever he touched him. But there was a hesitancy now that wasn't there before. And it worried Yugi to no end. He really screwed up this time.
"All finished Aibou." Atemu whispered as he carefully set the peroxide soaked towel up against the bleeding, injured extremity. "Hold that while I deal with my problem."
"I'm sorry…" Tears ran down the small teen's face as he whispered the apology.
Yugi sniffled as he took the cold, wet cloth from the other's hands. He always screwed up. It was the reason his former master constantly disciplined him. But he couldn't help it right now. Half the time his body wouldn't obey his brain's commands, even with the grueling therapy he was going through.
What type of reprimand had he earned for this mistake? His…Atemu had never raised a hand against him before, even when he deserved it. Most likely it would be a spanking; he couldn't see the other breaking out a cane or a whip. But that was so humiliating. Oh well, he deserved whatever…Atemu decided to mete out.
He watched nervously as the other teen began to work on loosening the glass from his own foot. With a soft sigh, the darker teen yanked the shard free and set it into the bowl on the table along with the other slivers.
"You're fine…it was an accident." Atemu replied softly.
Atemu made to put his foot down on the floor and Yugi pulled it up into his lap, taking the cloth in his hands and setting it against the tiny wound, drawing back for a moment at the shudder that ran through the other's body.
This act would not make up for his earlier clumsiness, but he hated to see his…Atemu in pain. He knew the other hated it when he referred to him as master, but it was so hard not to think of him as just that. With Atemu as his master he felt safe, protected. The darker teen had been nothing but gentle with him ever since they left the hospital. And it was truly more than he deserved – especially when his actions resulted in this.
"I am fine little one. Right now I need to clean up the mess in the other room." Atemu pulled the small hand gently away from his foot, blushing to the roots of his tricolor hair.
This was getting ridiculous! He couldn't even be near his little one without the simplest touch affecting his body in a sexual way. But he really didn't want to leave the boy alone for even a minute. His little one seemed to have a knack for getting himself into sticky situations. He had ever since they got home.
Well, there was nothing else to be done for it. Atemu reached over to pull the boy into his arms, thinking to carry him into the kitchen and set him down at the table so he could keep an eye on him while he cleaned.
The shivering amethyst eyed teen knew immediately why the other was reaching for him. After all it was his actions that had resulted in his…Atemu being hurt. Shakily he discarded his last line of defense – his towel – and crawled facedown onto the darker teen's lap. If he was good this would all be over with soon and they could go back to being friendly to each other. And he wanted that more than anything. He hated it that his…Atemu would freeze up whenever they touched.
Atemu sucked in a breath, his eyes widening in shock - his hand accidentally coming to rest against the warm, inviting flesh of the other's bared behind. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. A bead of sweat ran down the side of his overheated face as he sat frozen in horror. This was not happening!
Finally the dark teen pulled his hand away as if scorched. The touch burned! His heart pounded loudly in his chest, reminding him with every wild beat of the vulnerable position that his little one was in. It would be so easy to…to take advantage…No! He couldn't think like that! This was his Aibou, his light!
Yugi glanced up at the darker teen from where he was bracing his hands against the sides of the couch. Why was the other so still? He could feel the calloused hand as it rested stiffly against his rear, creating a patch of heat where it touched. And then it was gone. He cringed in anticipation of the fiery pain that soon would follow…And then he cracked open an eye, staring back at the other in surprise when the hand didn't return.
"Mas…Atemu?" He questioned fearfully.
"Ai…Aibou, wha…?" Atemu pulled the smaller teen from the humiliating position, wrapping him up in his arms. Tears streaming down his face. "No little one…no, no, no! It was an accident! An accident!"
Yugi sniffed as he looked up into the agonized scarlet gaze, his world crashing down around him. An accident? But how could that be? He was the one who caused the vase to shatter by bumping it as he reached for the plate on the second shelf. And he was the one who dropped the plate along with it, making even more of a mess. He should be punished for his clumsiness!
"My fault…I-I need to b-be punished." He whispered tearfully.
"No Aibou…no punishment – ever! Shit happens…constantly. You stay here; I'll return in a moment." Atemu set Yugi's half naked form back on the couch and raced out of the room in search of some pants that would fit over the boy's unsightly cast. He needed to get away from the tempting sight that was his Aibou.
The former monarch returned to the living room to find that his little one had curled up into a ball in the corner of the couch, sobbing quietly. The sight tore at his heart. He tenderly brushed the tears away from the smooth, pale skin, looking deep into disconsolate amethyst eyes.
Had his refusal to punish the boy caused this upset? If so, he needed to take the other's mind off of it. Distract him somehow until he was able to think this through. Yugi couldn't go through life thinking he deserved to be punished for every little mistake.
"What were you doing in the kitchen Aibou?" He questioned gently. "Are you hungry?"
Yugi nodded hesitantly, at first refusing to look up from the small hands that were wrapped around his knees. He shivered at the tender touch, his eyes finally meeting with the other's burning rubies. Atemu helped him to pull the pants up over his legs and picked him up to cradle him against his chest.
Yugi wrapped his arms around the taller teen, sniffling piteously. He felt so guilty. This was all his fault. But if so, than why hadn't he been punished? Why was…Atemu still treating him so kindly? How could the darker teen not be angry with him after what he had done? He would gladly take his punishment if it meant that they could remain on friendly terms…
Atemu made his way into the kitchen, stopping only to toe on a pair of old tennis shoes in the hall. He set Yugi down at the table and proceeded to clean up the mess on the floor. Periodically he would glance over at Yugi's tense form, watching as the emotions shifted across those expressive eyes. A myriad of confused feelings drifted down to his side of the link.
He had thrown the boy for a loop with his refusal to chastise him. Good, maybe the little one would start to realize that he was not a slave to anyone else's designs. Everyone made mistakes. There was not one person alive who didn't.
Once all the broken glass was deposited into the garbage, Atemu began pulling down ingredients for pancakes. He recalled how much his little one used to love them. Yugi watched his every move intently from the corner of the room, his eyes widening at the sight of the pile of stuff as it grew on the counter.
He grinned. "I'm making breakfast for lunch…pancakes, would you like some?"
The smaller teen shook his head wildly. Pancakes, the word made his stomach growl with need. He hadn't had those since…He blinked, where did that thought go? He looked up hungrily as Atemu started preparing their meal. The smell of something good soon floated around the room, making his stomach rumble.
After he was finished Atemu set a plate down in front of each of their places. Both plates were piled high with pancakes, homemade hash browns and sausage patties. Yugi looked back at him as if to make sure it was okay to eat. Once he was sure he had permission, the smaller teen dug in to the fare, taking two gigantic bites to every bite that Atemu managed to eat.
The former spirit eventually sat back and watched the younger teen eat. It was almost as if the boy were afraid that he wouldn't get enough to eat. Had whoever kidnapped him starved him as well as tortured him? The questions began to pile up in the darker teen's mind.
If he ever found out who was responsible…well, the sight would not be pretty. But first he needed to undo all that his little one had learned at those people's hands. It would take some time, but he would do it! Somehow.
When Yugi finished his meal first, Atemu slid his plate over in front of the boy, urging him to eat his fill. He had seen his little one clean his plate at the hospital, but there was never anything else to be had, so he wondered if Yugi could have still been hungry, just afraid to mention it.
But the little one would not touch his food. "Aibou…if you are still hungry – eat. I'm finished."
Yugi glanced up at him once, nervously debating for almost a full minute before finally reaching out to spear a sausage. When he realized that there were no consequences, the small teen ate the rest of what was on the plate, before slouching back in his chair and covering a satisfied burp with his hand.
Atemu smiled at the graceless sound.
Just for a moment, he had his Aibou back. And even though there was so much to be done today, he intended on enjoying this while it lasted. The new doors and alarm system that he had set up to be installed today could wait. All the cleaning could wait. The physical therapy appointment could as well. His little one needed this moment of normal.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
…Yugi gasped as the thick shaft pierced him from behind, sliding effortlessly up inside his opening to fill him so thoroughly with its throbbing presence, his body arching back against the person behind him in want. He lowered his head to rest against the cool sheets, closing his eyes with a whispered moan.
A slender hand caressed his hip softly, urging him to go along with the other's slow, deliberate motions. Gentle words of praise issued from supple lips as they skimmed across his neck, leaving goose bumps wherever they touched. He could listen to that smooth, entrancing voice all day long. The near silent whispers sent chills down his spine.
He didn't want to know who it was, he didn't care anymore. It didn't matter who he was supposed to be pleasing. He had his dreams and he wasn't going to let them go. A lone tear fell from amethyst eyes to dampen the sheets below.
A shift of the other's damp, sweaty body - and the length that was filling him so deliciously broke free of his form only to impale him yet again, creating that wondrous sensation that left him begging softly for more. The talented hand found its way underneath him to fondle his growing member tenderly. Hmmmm. This was different. He cried out breathily at the added stimulus.
He shifted eagerly against the throbbing presence, spreading his legs a little wider, arching his back and welcoming the other deeper inside of him as he squeezed tightly with his body. The person behind him sighed softly against his ear, filling him once again. The warm breath of air caused him to tremble as it skated across his skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps over his heated flesh. A second hand wandered over his chest to rub at the tiny ring that pierced through his left nipple.
Another jolt of pleasure rocked his shivering frame.
In his mind he could clearly picture those piercing scarlet eyes as they wandered along his body, leaving him breathless and light headed with their intensity. He wouldn't turn around and look, and risk losing his tenuous hold on the dream. Stubbornly he closed his eyes.
He felt the petal soft lips as they moved across his back, whispering words of praise, the large shaft thrusting gently inside of him, searching for and finding that special place that left him incapable of thought. He pressed back, once again drawing the other deep inside, needing to feel the delicious friction once again.
His fists tightened in the sheets as the form behind him gave him what he wanted, what he needed, speeding up the gentle rocking motions - snapping out of him only to penetrate him once more with a ferocious thrust. He cried out again, toes curling, as the jolt of pleasure overloaded his senses.
A soft gasp escaped his lips at the forceful, blinding pleasure - his prostate being nailed unerringly, over and over again, this person above him obviously more intent on pleasuring him than only taking what he had to give.
He writhed against the larger presence, overcome with sudden desire to know who it was that was loving him so leisurely, so painstakingly. No one had ever been this generous before, their own gratification first and foremost in their mind.
The lines of reality blurred as the small teen hung on for dear life to the mental picture of those alluring scarlet eyes – the one who should have been his lover. This was the one who was taking him, the one who was pounding away so deeply inside of his body, making him cry out in need. This was the person behind him, whispering soft words of praise into his ear, touching him so softly, so tenderly.
What had once started as a gentle rocking motion had become a fevered pounding and the smaller teen couldn't help but cry out loudly again and again as his prostate was struck repeatedly by the hard, pulsing flesh embedded within his shivering form.
He couldn't help it, he had to look…He had to know who would love him so meticulously. To tease and torment him with these intense, pleasurable sensations. He knew who he wanted it to be, his dream lover's image and name just beyond the reach of his brain. Only the eyes remained, their piercing scarlet shade forever etched in his mind.
Slowly his head turned, amethyst eyes widening in shock as they met with…
…the stunning ruby eyes of his dream lover…
"Yami…" He began to sob as the other continued to thrust even deeper, bringing him closer to the edge. Knowing it was just a dream – knowing that the other couldn't truly be here.
Those sensual full lips parted in reply, but a deep, shuddering cough was his only answer…
Huh?
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Day 133:
Yugi bolted upright from his sleep, his dream lover's name still soft on his lips, heart pounding in his chest. Yami…Wow, what a…what a dream! Lately his nightmares had begun to fall prey to these new intensely sensual visions. But this was the first time that he had actually turned to see his dream lover's face. He knew it wasn't a memory, but it seemed so real, so lifelike – so intense.
The small teen shivered. Even though he was only slightly awake his body was still reeling from the after effects of such an erotic musing. His body was used to having sex, but to invent something so…so realistic in its absence. He would almost believe it had happened had he not known better.
Slightly disappointed, the small teen wondered what it was that woke him from that powerful, oh so inviting image. He shivered again, this time from an entirely different sensation. Damn it was cold! Another rumbling cough met his ears and he looked around, wondering where he was.
And then it hit him – he was downstairs, on the couch. He must have fallen asleep while they were watching the movie last night.
The television was still on, its blue screen glaring silently back at him as he blinked to clear his fog shrouded mind. Absently he toyed with the thick blanket that someone had been thoughtful enough to wrap around him after he had fallen asleep.
Another, slightly deeper cough caught his attention. Blearily he glanced at the other side of the couch to see that Yami was still asleep, wearing only his pajama bottoms, his legs drawn up against his bare chest. The petite teen took a moment to admire the expanse of gorgeous, sun kissed flesh that was visible to his eyes.
Damn, his Yami was so carelessly sensual, so artlessly beautiful with his bronze skin and exotic, slanted ruby eyes. Even when he was sleeping, the man radiated raw sex appeal; long lashes just barely touching his cheeks…The dark teen shivered visibly, drawing Yugi back to what had woken him in the first place.
What time was it? Yugi turned his attention away from his darker half and squinted at the clock on the DVD player. Six in the morning? They had been down here all night! Oh gods – Yami! The thermostat automatically dropped at night to around sixty degrees! His darkness had to be freezing.
Cautiously Yugi reached over intending on waking the other. He pulled his hand back when it came into contact with unnaturally heated, damp skin. Damn, the other was sick again. Why couldn't he have just…?
"Oh Yami…why didn't you go to bed?" He whispered, more for his own ears than for the benefit of his sleeping darkness.
Yugi felt almost sorry for the former spirit. Between his being sick and the alarm on their house malfunctioning at random intervals, his other half had been run ragged and it was beginning to show on his stunning, sun kissed features. There were dark circles outlining those remarkable eyes and his skin had begun to pale from the lack of restful sleep in the past two weeks.
"Yami…wake up…" Yugi reached out and gently shook the other awake. "Come on, wake up – you need to go upstairs and go to bed."
"Ai-Aibou…?" Atemu opened his bleary scarlet eyes to see the smaller teen's concerned face only inches from his own.
Yugi scooted back a safe distance on the couch, still hesitant at close contact even though he knew the other wouldn't harm him. The action was ingrained, almost uncontrollable "Come on…I know you don't feel good. You need to go to bed."
"Mmmm…tired, I'll get to it in a little while." Atemu yawned and settled back against the couch, wrapping his arms around his stomach in an attempt to keep warm.
He was so cold. Why was he so cold? Everything was blurry and distorted. Was he sick again? Or was he dreaming? Must be dreaming – he could have sworn that he heard Yugi call him Yami. But his little one had no memory of those times. And he had strictly forbidden the others from mentioning the nickname that only Yugi had the right to say.
Yeah, he had to be dreaming. Atemu nestled back against the comfortable cushions intent on closing his eyes again.
"No, come on – I'll help you. You need to cover up." Yugi tugged on his arm gently, trying once again to rouse him.
The diminutive teen knew he was pushing his luck by attempting to direct the darker teen's actions for he knew all too well of the hot temper that lay just beneath the other's gentle exterior. But his Yami would never discipline him; he had proven it over and over – ever since they got home. And Yugi knew he couldn't just leave his darkness here in this condition while he started his chores for the day. He had to get the other to go upstairs and cover up. Somehow.
"Mmm…fine…Grandpa…I'll go." The darker teen mumbled sleepily.
"Grandpa? You really are sick!" Yugi exclaimed as he helped the other into a sitting position. "I look nothing like Grandpa."
"Mmm-hmm…What?"
Atemu's ruby eyes snapped open the moment he was upright, snapping him quickly from his hazy half sleep. He glanced over at Yugi, who had jumped back out of reach, before gazing around the room. It took him a moment to realize that he had fallen asleep watching his little one once the movie was finished.
Damn he felt like hell! Atemu knew this feeling. It happened last year too. Only not to the extent that it had his first year as a mortal. He shot off the couch like his ass was on fire, his only thought of ensuring his little one's continued safety even in his sickly state.
Experimentally the royal teen shifted his emotions, trying to draw on the shadow's power. Dark wisps formed around his fingertips before fading back out of existence. How the hell was he supposed to protect his little one in this condition? He was physically drained - completely useless right now. What if the boy's kidnappers chose today to come after him? How would he protect him then?
The irrational thought refused to leave his mind even though he knew that the general public was ignorant as to the boy's homecoming.
"Please…?" Yugi tugged at his hand, completely missing the fading wisps and their significance. "You need to wrap up in something warm and rest. We've been down here all night and you weren't covered up. This isn't good for you."
"N-no! I will not leave you alone!" Atemu swayed where he stood, reaching a hand out to cup the boy's face. "I couldn't bear it if I woke up to find you gone…"
"Then…I'll go with you. I can read while you sleep." Yugi countered with a soft sigh.
After everything his darker half had done for him, Yugi felt that he could at least attempt to return the favor. After all, if it weren't for his Yami he would be locked up somewhere still believing that he was bound to another's whims and sick fantasies.
"Uh-uh. I'm not about to keep you locked up due to my problems. I will grab a blanket and sit down here." Atemu's hand left the boy's face, wandering down his arm to squeeze his hand softly. "It's not fair to you."
"It's okay…really. You won't rest down here. I know you, you never do. Please, let me take care of you…If it makes you feel better I can call Bakura over and he can watch the house."
"No!" Atemu snapped. "I don't want him here!"
Yugi flinched slightly at the irritated tone, knowing that he had overstepped his bounds. But his reaction went unnoticed by Atemu as the darker teen attempted to clear his pounding head.
The former Pharaoh worried at his bottom lip as he tried to form a coherent thought. He didn't want to have to explain his pathetic condition to his friend. There had to be another way. Seto's men were still watching over the house – they would be fine without the Thief's interference.
Stubbornly, Atemu snatched up the blanket and sat back down on the couch. He would just sit down here and doze for a while. As long as he could hear what was going on with Yugi they would get through the day without incident. There was no way he was going to allow Bakura over here! He would never hear the end of it!
"I am sorry Aibou." Atemu apologized for his tone. "I will rest down here for the day."
Yugi shrugged it off, curling back up on the couch to watch his darker half with an unsure expression. "If you're sure. I just want you to be okay…"
Atemu watched tiredly as Yugi fidgeted with his hands, uncertain as to what to do. Heavy eyelids fluttered a couple of times as the sick teen fought to stay awake and soon conscious thought was no more.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Yugi jumped in fright as the door to the house was thrown open with enough force to send it back against the wall with a loud thud. He turned his wide amethyst gaze in the direction of the visitors, curling back against the chair in utter fear.
"God damn cock-blockers!" Bakura snarled as he pushed into the house. "You do realize that I was this close to getting laid…Right?"
The taller white haired teen raised his hand and pinched his thumb and forefinger together to emphasize his point.
Yugi cringed against the back of the chair at the dark look in those hard brown eyes, tears leaking from his eyes. "S-sorry Bakura…I'm worried about Yami. He won't answer me. I can't get him to wake up…"
Bakura's narrowed gaze sought out and found the source of the boy's worry. He looked over Atemu's prone form as Yugi fidgeted in the chair, wondering what was going through the white haired teen's mind to give a look so fierce.
As much as the petite teen knew that the former thief wouldn't hurt him, he was still rather edgy around the other when he glared like that. His time in The House taught him well to be wary of people when they were irritated. It always promised a great deal of pain for him.
"Don't worry about it midget." Bakura sighed, raking a hand through his snowy hair, his mind not processing the importance of what the smaller teen's statement. "He gets this way every year. I'll get him upstairs. I want you and Ryou to get his medication – it's in the bathroom - and a thermometer. Meet me in your room when you've got what we need. Hopefully he won't need to go to ER for breathing treatments this time."
The last comment was barely audible and Yugi almost shrugged it off as not having heard correctly. Nodding to the thief, he raced out of the room - Ryou at his heels - glad to finally be free of the cumbersome cast that he had worn for so long.
The previous comment settled into his brain after a moment and his eyes widened. His Yami had been to the ER? What happened? His dark half always seemed invincible…infallible. What had happened while he was gone?
"Don't worry so much Yugi…he's made it through worse." Ryou stated nonchalantly as they walked into the bathroom.
What? The small tricolor haired teen stopped in his tracks and stared after his friend. Until Ryou pulled him out of his shock and into the bathroom with a promise to inform him later.
Together the two teens gathered what they needed and scampered off to the second floor. They made it into Yugi's room just in time to see Atemu fighting Bakura's attempts to get him into bed – and losing. Yugi watched, stunned. This was definitely a first! Yami never lost a fight. Especially not to Bakura…
"Damn it! Let me go!" The smaller teen snarled.
"You will rest! If I have to sit on top of you to make you do it!" Bakura snapped back at the other teen. "You're not winning this fight."
"Fuck you Bakura! I'm fine!" Atemu snarled back with a scowl, showing a row of even, white teeth in his anger. "I was resting quite comfortably where I was!"
"Oh yeah, you're so fine…*cough*bullshit*cough*. Excuse me for interrupting your beauty sleep cause this was so what I wanted to do with my day!" The white haired thief returned.
Yugi and Ryou watched the scene unfold for a few moments before hesitantly announcing their presence. Twin glares met their quiet comment as the two dark halves continued their argument, Yugi flinching away from the heated stares. After a few more minutes the winner of the fight was firmly declared as Bakura, Atemu too exhausted to continue resisting.
Bakura tossed the last blanket over the worn out Pharaoh before stepping out of the way. "I turn him over to you."
Yugi stepped cautiously into the room with a bottle of prescription cough medicine and the thermometer. Upon seeing the items in his hands, Atemu snorted and turned his back on the room. The royal teen had had just about enough babying in past two years to last him well into the afterlife. And that slime lime green shit was not coming within twenty feet of him if he could help it. That stuff was atrocious!
"Just let me sleep it off and I'll be alright." He grumbled, stubbornly pulling the covers up over his head.
Yugi's gaze dropped to the floor as he toed the carpet with his foot. This was all because of him. His darkness was going to hate him for calling Bakura against his wishes, if he didn't already. He wished he could take it back, but Yami's refusal to wake scared him something fierce.
Bakura's velvet gaze volleyed between Atemu and Yugi as the smaller of the two seemed uncertain as to what to do. Great, leave it to Atemu to be an obstinate ass! They needed to know if he needed medical treatment.
Well, if he had to step in, none of them were going to like him. But he would fire a warning shot first.
The white haired thief turned his deadly stare back on Atemu. "Okay…the way I see it you have two choices almighty Pharaoh. One – you let Yugi here take your temp the normal way. Two – I hold you down and you won't like where we stick that thermometer. What's it going to be?"
"Oh. My. God! Bakura!" Ryou hid his face in his hands, laughing helplessly. "You did not!"
Yugi blanched, blushing a deep shade of red at the insinuation, quickly pocketing the instrument to keep it out of the other's reach. There was no way he was going to be drawn into this! It was bad enough he was having sexually explicit dreams about his darker half. But to have Bakura threaten the other with a punishment like that…he was not getting involved!
"Hey! At least I gave him a choice, unlike you." Bakura grinned evilly back at his smaller lover.
Ryou's face turned an even darker shade of red. "You. Are. So. Wrong! Ass! And so going without tonight for that matter!"
Bakura ignored his boyfriend's empty threat to gaze back at the sick teen. "So…what's it gonna be?"
Atemu turned a fiery red as he gazed vulnerably back at the other teen from under the blanket. He knew his friend wasn't joking. He could and would do what he was threatening. He glanced over to his Aibou, who had also turned a deep red at the implication. It wasn't that he wouldn't…he just wanted to be left alone.
He didn't want his little one to see him like this. And he didn't want to be within ten miles of that disgusting cough medicine that made him light headed and weak.
"I might suggest an answer sometime within the next couple of minutes your majesty."
Shifting his ruby gaze back to the one who was awaiting his response, Atemu swallowed his dignity. "I have no problem with Yugi taking care of me…I just…Never mind." To Yugi he said simply. "I am all yours Aibou. I place myself in your tender care."
Yugi sucked in a breath at the double meaning those words held, his face coloring again. Oh gods – he just had to say it like that! Did the man not know what he was doing to him with his very existence, let alone provocative statements like that?
Shakily handing the medicine to Ryou, he withdrew the thermometer from where he had pocketed it earlier, approaching his darkness. He slid it into Atemu's waiting mouth.
The petite teen watched those exotic rubies slide shut, Atemu turning his face to the wall in shame.
Oh how Yugi wanted to kiss the mortified color from those reddened features. He had been there so many times – humiliated, exposed. But to see his darkness in such a position…so vulnerable. The thought tore at his heart just as it over heated his body.
He had near to never seen his Yami at anything less than his best. To see him so defenseless, so human…his heart beat loudly in his chest, bringing forth feelings that he had thought long ago buried. The need to comfort, to console.
Bakura smirked at them. "That's what I thought. I'm going to head downstairs for a few. When I get back up here I expect to see you…" He pointed at Atemu. "…asleep. Ryou, why don't you help Yugi? I just want to have a quick look around before we get comfortable. I seriously doubt anyone even knows he's here, but it doesn't hurt to be safe."
As the taller white haired teen left the room, Yugi took the beeping thermometer out of his darkness' mouth. 102! Wow, Yami was really sick! Hesitantly he reached out and brushed a sweat laden strand of golden hair out of the other's face, drawing those gorgeous rubies to him. A slender, bronzed hand came up and wrapped around his, holding it in place. The moment their eyes lock no one else existed.
"So what's the damage?" Ryou asked, breaking the tender moment as he poured a heaping spoonful of the thick, almost glowing greenish liquid.
"He's running a temp of 102." Yugi replied, jerking his gaze back to the white haired teen with a blush.
Atemu turned his face back to the wall, closing his eyes, feeling quite mortified at having Yugi see him in this appalling condition. It was his job to be the protector, to be the one to give solace. What did his Aibou think of him now?
Ryou capped the cough medicine. "It is rather high. But not enough for him to need a doctor. We can manage here."
The comment brought the former Pharaoh's scarlet gaze back to the two smaller teens. Drawing back, Atemu's features twisted into a mask of disgust as he eyed the thick, snot-like fluid. They were going to make him drink that again. Ugh! That stuff knocked him out for an entire day the last time he took it. And that was after he threw most of it back up. Warily, he eyed Ryou as the white haired teen closed in on him with the brimming table spoon.
"Don't look at me like that. You know it helps with your coughing and your fever."
"That's only because I'm too busy trying to keep it down." Atemu replied, his stomach rebelling at the mere thought.
"Yeah, well, be that as it may…you're still taking it." Ryou shrugged, careful not to spill any of the vile liquid. "And if you throw it up you'll be taking it again. So think about that would you."
Before the darker teen realized it, he had swallowed the whole spoonful. His face turned an odd shade of green as his body tried to decide if it wanted to repel the vile stuff or not. After a couple of close calls, Atemu was fairly confident that it would stay put and he slid back down on the bed, closing his eyes against the overwhelming dizziness. That stuff seemed to take effect the moment he took it.
Within minutes he was out like a light.
Yugi hesitantly sat down on the edge of the bed and took one of Atemu's limp hands into his. He hated to see his darkness like this. It was the last memory he had of the other before he was taken away. His only memory of Yami as just another, normal teenager subject to the wills of nature and fate.
A noise brought his attention to the doorway, where Bakura was lounging, watching the scene with interest.
"This happens every year?" The small teen questioned quietly, amethyst eyes not leaving the unconscious teen lying under the blankets. His darkness was so beautiful, so caring. It wasn't right for him to have to go through this!
The white haired thief nodded. "Yeah. I don't think this weather agrees with him."
"But Yami's always been so…I don't know…Larger than life? It's like he could do anything…never get hurt – or sick." Yugi commented as he turned his worried gaze back to the sick teen.
'He's always been so strong. He would never let anyone get away with threatening him, unlike me…' He thought to himself as he brushed the ever present lock of stray hair out of his darkness's face.
"Yeah, but you knew him when he was a…what did you say?" Bakura's eyes narrowed as he stared at the smaller boy in surprise.
Yugi head shot up at the other's harsh tone, eyes wide. "What do you mean…which part?"
Bakura advanced on the smaller teen. "What. Did. You. Call. Him?"
"Who? Yami?" Yugi shrank back against the bed, intimidated by the wild look in those dark velvet eyes.
"Yugi…you haven't called him that since you've been back!" Bakura said excitedly, stopping just short of the bed at the look of fear crossing the smaller teen's delicate features. "Don't you…do you remember?"
The small teen searched through his somewhat fuzzy memories, realizing just what had finally returned to him. The thought stunned him almost speechless. He remembered Yami…and Bakura…and Ryou…and Jou…his grandpa…on top of his first excruciating days in The House - when they tried to erase his memories of his life, and almost succeeded. His eyes welled up with tears. This was…this was…oh gods, the feeling was indescribable.
Yugi turned his tearful gaze to Ryou, who was staring back at him. "I-I don't know…oh my gods! I-I…He was my guardian…I remember his being given a body…oh gods! Bakura! Ryou! I remember! It's been coming back to me over the past couple of weeks…just some little thing here and there…but I didn't…! I finally remember!"
Yugi broke out into a torrent of tears. Ryou reached for his hand, and for the first time since he had come home, the smaller teen didn't completely withdraw. The two shared a small, waterlogged smile. Yugi finally remembering what the others meant to him. That he didn't need to fear them any longer. They were his friends. He had friends! He had Yami!
The two smaller teens embraced, Ryou holding Yugi tightly as he sobbed into his shirt. The white haired teen was immensely happy to have a little more of his friend back. All the times they had come over only to watch as Yugi slid further and further from their offers of help and companionship and they could do nothing but watch as he slipped from their grasp. Maybe now he would finally heal from the wounds those monsters had inflicted on him, both mentally and physically.
"…So what happened to him that first winter after I was gone?" Yugi finally turned his questioning amethyst gaze on Bakura, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
Bakura sighed, glancing out the window to the alley below. He knew this subject was bound to come up. The white haired thief gathered his thoughts for a minute before deciding that truth was his best option.
"I won't lie to you. He almost died that year. Your disappearance took such a toll on his health that I had pretty much given him up as lost. He didn't take care of himself, the cold that he caught turned into pneumonia. He was hospitalized for almost a month before he started to take a turn for the better. But even when he was well again, he wasn't there."
"But how?" Yugi questioned again, not satisfied with the partial answer. "How did he get so sick? And what do you mean he wasn't there?"
"He never gave up looking for you. Even when he was so sick he could barely stand…it could have killed him." Bakura replied. "Not once in the whole time you were gone did he give up. It was the only thing that kept him going. He lives for you Yugi…"
The small tricolor haired teen gazed tearfully back at his peacefully sleeping darkness. "Oh gods…I didn't know. Yami…I'm sorry."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about midget. Just recover…okay. We're all waiting for the Yugi we know to come back to us." Bakura said as he pushed Ryou out the door before beating a hasty retreat – his last words echoing back into the room as he fled. "We'll be downstairs, just call if you need us."
Yugi nodded as he wiped the moisture from his face again. He knew why they had left so suddenly. Bakura wasn't known for being overemotional. But what he had just said, about wanting him back…He was so glad that he had friends like that. Friends that would never give up on him. The petite teen turned his attention back to his ailing darkness.
"Oh Yami…I'm sorry. I really am…If I could turn back time…I would. For both of us." He whispered, running a hand softly over the other's angular face, thinking back over the past couple of months.
The petite teen's face burned with shame as he recalled his erroneous conclusion that Yami was his master. But Yami never made a big deal out of it. Took it all in stride. Every point of contact with his darkness flashed through his mind. All the looks that the darker teen had given him…his actions. They all made sense. The possessiveness that he had pondered over for so long…This was his Yami, and he finally remembered.
"I never imagined…I'm not worth it. Oh Yami…I'm not worth your loyalty!" Large tears rolled down his face to fall to the blankets that were keeping his darkness from becoming chilled.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
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