Note: I can't remember if I mentioned it before, but there are spoilers (like Yami's real name) in this chapter. If someone has a huge problem with this, then just send a review asking for an alternate ending with all of that crap edited out, and I'll post an edited chapter...or, I'll just email it to you directly. But you must tell me!

Yugi's POV

When I opened my eyes the next morning, fully rested, aware, and…not in pain, and I found myself in Yami's arms…I thought that it was all over…for a glorious minute, I thought that it was all over…

But then I remember that Yami told me last night, and I realized that this was only the calm before the storm…

Marik had complete control…but maybe…it was such a long shot, and trying to pull it off would probably do more harm than good…but if it worked…it would make everything good…even better than before.

I sighed…but if it didn't work, then things would get very depressing…and every shred of hope that we…especially Yami…had would…die…

Yami must've noticed my change in breathing, because he woke up and hugged me tightly. He kissed my hair, "What's wrong, aibou? What are you thinking about?"

I took a deep breath and bit my lip, "Yami…I have an idea…well…a thought…what if we…if we figure out your name…and triggered all you memories…Marik would lose his power over you…and his power is probably fueled by our questions…our fears…but there's no time…" I snuggled closer to Yami, "I'm sorry…forget it, I shouldn't have said anything…"

"No…" Yami said thoughtfully, and I couldn't help but to imagine him with his hand holding his chin, "You're right…and maybe…we could convince Marik to give us a chance…"

My back prickled angrily…Marik knew what we were planning, "Marik knows," It intensified, and the places where Yami's hands were on my back burned like freezing water. I stiffened and twitched violently, falling out of Yami's embrace and onto the floor with a thud.

As soon as Yami's hands left the scars, the pain left as well, though a feeling of sadness and cold loneliness remained. Yami gracefully slid off of the bed, sitting down next to me, and I sat up, unable to look him in the eye.

"Aibou…I'm sorry," That's all that he said. Then… "Yugi…I promise you…I'll destroy Marik, and with his last dying breath he'll tell me my name…and all of his power over us will be gone."

It was sweet and heroic, yes, but out of order. The only way…well…that was our theory, anyway, but we'd have to get his name first…how would we do that? Would it really work?

I looked behind me at the clock, it was already noon…"Sunset…an hour after sunset…" Yami said softly.

I looked back at him. Sunset was going to be around seven. "Then…" I said, "Let's make it last…"

-

Yami's POV

Night 4: 6:53pm

Yugi and I walked, hand in hand, through the path in the park that led us within seeing distance of the Game Shop. The day was wonderful…we tried to make it last as long as possible, as we didn't know what our condition would be come morning.

Most of the day was just us in the park, talking about what kind of peril our lives always seemed to throw as us…yet we somehow miraculously made it out alive.

All day I wondered about Yugi's 'plan,' or lack of one. If I figured out my name…then I would be going against the terms by which I came back…I would die…but I didn't care. I'd give up my life a million times over to save Yugi's. Of course…I still didn't know what that night would bring.

-

Yugi's POV

Yami and I reached the Game Shop, and we turned around, holding opposite hands now, looking at the stars twinkling over the trees of the park.

"Yami," I said, and he looked at me, "You know…if Marik didn't do this…then we might not have ever gotten a chance to be together…or to see this sight…"

Yami looked intensely at me, and for the first time since this morning I could see a glimmer of sadness in his eyes, "Maybe…but maybe not…we'll never know now…"

I wondered what would have happened if Marik chose a different week…a later one, to do this to us…what would tonight have been like?

I remembered someone told me…that there was a scientific study…about a cat and a gun in a box. The cat could've been sleeping…or dead…and the only way that you would know was if you disturbed the cat. But…both realities, both possibilities could be there, and both had to be expected.

The sky was a dark, dark violet, almost black. It strongly reminded me of Yami…especially the shining stars in the twilight…it was so beautiful…

I turned to face Yami, and he did the same. I grabbed his free hand with mine, and Yami bent over slightly to put his forehead on mine. I tilted my head and kissed Yami lightly on the lips.

It felt like one of those movies that are really clichéd, and everyone says that they hate them, though they all secretly love them.

Yami started to run soft kisses down my jaw line, and I was completely immobile, another feeling of sheer depression overwhelming me.

I pulled away from Yami, who was about to kiss me on the lips, and ran inside of the house, slamming the door behind me. I hated it…I hated how good it felt to be with Yami…because I knew that it would hurt that much more when Marik ripped me away from him

I ran to my bedroom and slammed the door, too, then sat in front of the door and cried into my knees and crossed arms.

"You know…that wasn't very nice…"

-

Yami's POV

I really didn't know what I did…I was kissing Yugi…then…he ran off…

I probably upset him, as Yugi lost hope some time ago, though we both tried to ignore it…

I opened the door to the shop, and walked inside, following the familiar trail up to Yugi's room. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't think that a hug and a kiss would do any good.

I reached Yugi's room and went to turn the doorknob, but it burned me, the same burns that my arms felt…I tried to push on the door…but it had the same feeling.

"Yugi!" I yelled, but only heard another voice:

"You know…that wasn't very nice…"

-

Yugi's POV

I raised my head, and immediately jumped to my feet. I wasn't in my room anymore…where was I? And…3 feet in front of me…was Marik. He was dressed in all black, his purple cape flowing…his violet pupil-less eyes gleamed at me with happiness.

"Marik!" My fear bubbled up inside of me, and Marik grinned.x

"Thank you," He said simply, "I love power…"

So…we were right…our fear gave him power over us. I did my best to bring it down…I thought of Yami…

"How are you feeling, little hikari," I winced at the nick-name, "I heard that you were having back problems…I truly hope it gets better soon…"

No doubt at Marik's command, my back erupted in pain and I fell to my knees, screaming. I wished that Yami was next to me, helping me…loving me…

Marik chuckled at me, "Now if only I could get the Pharaoh to bow at my feet like that…"

I stood back up, though all I wanted to do was fall back down, "You coward."

Marik stepped forward, a look of hatred and amusement covering his features. He placed his index finger and thumb against my chin and forced me to look at him. I had no energy to resist, "And why…little Yugi, am I a coward?"

"You didn't even give us a chance," I said in as strong a voice as possible. "You gave us no opportunity to save ourselves."

"Well…I wouldn't want to be accused to foul play," Marik said, grinning slightly, insanely. He let my face go and turned away from me, "Let's play a game…"

I didn't like the sound of that, "What…what kind of game?"

"A game…" Marik told me as he turned around, "Where your dear Pharaoh's name will be your prize…you'll win, and I'll have no power over either of you anymore…I won't have the will to live, and I'll simply die…" He smirked broader, "On the other hand, if you lose…you'll die, along with your Pharaoh…separate…yet so close…a locked door between you."

I swallowed hard, he made it seem worse than it already was…and it was pretty bad.

"Fine. What are the rules?"

"I'll give you a series of seven questions…for each one that you answer correctly, you'll get a letter in the Pharaoh's name…for each one you wrong, more scars will fill your back. Each question will only be asked once. I have no time or desire to repeat myself. Got it?"

It all sounded more like a test than a game to me. And I hate tests.

"I'll even give you a hint. The Pharaoh's true name holds 5 letters."

"That means…I only get two wrong answers…" I said to myself more than him.

"Right!" Marik said brightly. "Now, let's begin…"

As if I wasn't scared enough, Marik ignited a circle of fire around us, and five dash marks appeared out of thin air in front of us. "Question One:"

I took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be fun.

-

Yami's POV

The door was still on fire…my hands and arms were long since red, raw, and bleeding, yet Yugi wouldn't come out…and Marik was in there, too…I could here him…Yugi responded cooly…evenly…but I knew that he was scared to death…

…well…hopefully not to death…

I wanted to kill Marik…to rip his throat out with my bare hands…I didn't want us to die…

Inside, I heard a scream…it was Yugi's voice…"Yugi!" I yelled, pounding on the door, ignoring my pain, "Yugi!" Tears were rolling down my face…Yugi was in trouble.

Yet I knew that he couldn't hear me…

-

Yugi's POV

The letters 'A,' 'T,' 'E,' and 'M' were flaring brightly in front of me, but I couldn't see them anymore, as I was laying face-down, screaming, scars being cut into my back, blood flowing from the wounds.

I answered the first 4 questions easily…too easily…but I didn't see it…I got too cocky…I knew how that felt…from Yami…I answered the fifth question wrong…and now I was paying for it.

"Get up," Marik demanded, no pity in his command, "Get up, or you'll forfeit."

I complied with his 'request,' my eyes seeing stars…I felt like I was going to pass out…my vision and hearing went blurry as Marik said, "Number Six," I didn't hear the question.

"Answer," Marik said after a minute of silence from me, "Answer!"

I didn't answer…I only screamed again as more of my back was eaten away…I fell again, and this time I didn't get back up…

"Last question," Marik said, sounding impatient with me. "What is the difference…between dreams and reality?"

My head was blinding me…my heart was threatening to give out, and I didn't have enough air in my lungs to give a right answer…but…I needed to…Yami was counting on me…even if he didn't know it…wherever Yami was…

My whole back started to bleed…every scar was opened…I would die in a matter of minutes…"Dreams…" I wasn't sure how to answer, but my mouth did it for me, "Aren't meant to…come true…"

I didn't see Marik's face…I only saw the last letter flash in front of me…and that's when, and how, I knew that I was right.

Then…I passed out as every bit of pain left my body…as every drop of blood evaporated into nothing…as I knew that everything was over.

-

Yami's POV

A cold wave of air swept over me as I stood in front of Yugi's door, still weeping. The tears stopped, though, and I wondered if that was a good or a bad thing…I tried the door again…and it opened. As I pushed the door…my fingers and arms healed completely.

However…the door his something solid as it slid on its hinges…Yugi…I slid in through the door, and saw that my hikari had a bump on his head, but no blood on his light gray shirt. I lifted it up…and the scars were gone…

The scars were gone…I looked at my upper arms, there was…nothing…

The scars were gone…Marik was…gone…

"Yugi…" I bent down and checked his pulse…it was going strong…

But his head…there was a large, pink bump on his temple, most likely from when he fell, and I realized that he might've had a concussion…

I walked over to the phone that still lay on Yugi's bed, and calmly dialed 911, it was okay…Jou and Kaiba didn't need to be called yet…it was okay…

I talked to an EMT, and told them the situation. They said that I could move him a little…but not to overdo it. If he woke up before an ambulance came…just keep him calm.

I hung up, and walked back to Yugi. I picked him up, and went over to the bed, his warm weight not bothering me…but delighting me. It was a great feeling to just have him in my arms…

I sat back in the bed and laid his own head in my lap, stroking his hair. He opened his eyes.

"Yami?" He said tiredly.

"Aibou…" I was proud of Yugi…he, and he alone, saved us. Yugi winced from his headache, and went to feel the damage with his hand. I grasped it, though, unsure of whether to let him touch it. My fingers prickled, my nerves still a little frayed, I guess, but it didn't hurt as much as Marik's onslaught…"You did it, Yugi, you…you saved us both."

-

Yugi's POV

"You saved us both."

I looked up at Yami, who was smiling at me…though he had tears in his eyes. His smile was so genuine…so happy…I knew that everything was going to be fine.

Yami's arms looked a little pink…like he burned himself…"What happened to your arms?"

Yami glanced down at himself, "I…was trying to see what was happening to you…but Marik sealed us off…"

Everything jolted to my mind, and I told Yami everything I remembered about our game…my thoughts, my actions…"And Yami…I know your name…it's-"

Yami placed a finger to my lips, silencing me, shaking his head.

"But why?"

-

Yami's POV

Yugi…knew my name…in his head…was the key to all of my memories…but a deal was made…and if I truly expected Marik to keep his end of the deall…then I had to keep up with mine…

And that's exactly what I told Yugi. "Yugi…will you keep my name…my memories for me?" I knew that it was a lot to ask, but for some reason I knew that he wouldn't mind.

Yugi tried to sit up, but I kept his head down, "I'll…hold your name forever if I have to…if you want me to."

A group of doctors came in, and Yugi's eyes widened as if he was afraid. I squeezed his hand, "It's okay…I just wanted to make sure that your head was alright…it's fine…"

It really was fine.

-

Yugi's POV

As I lay in my bed, my head resting in Yami's lap, our hands entwined, and the doctors poking and prodding at my head…shining lights in my eyes, I thought about Yami's thoughts.

I wasn't worried about letting his name slip…it wasn't as if I even thought of him by his real name. He was Yami…my Yami…my darkness…

What did amaze me, though, was that Yami had everything so close…yet to keep his life, and more importantly, in this case, his honor…he gave it up…

And…he wanted to stay with me…

Because Yami loved me.

-

Epilogue (Or…just a bunch of fluff to give you that warm fuzzy feeling)

Yami's POV

The next night, Yugi and I went on a real date…we went to a nice restaurant…and attracted so many stares that we left before we even sat down…but we didn't care…it didn't matter to us.

Neither of us cared, though, and left our shoes, socks, and ties in the car, deciding to go sit in the park…and watch the sunset over the trees.

My legs were crossed, and Yugi sat on top of me, my arms circled around his waist. Yugi leant back, and my shoulder touched him in between the shoulder…and he didn't flinch.

The sunset forgotten, I kissed Yugi on the nape of his neck. He turned around, and our lips collided. My eyes closed as if on instinct, and I ran my tongue over the inside of his lower lip.

I nibbled on his lower lip next, and Yugi ran his tongue over my upper one. I shivered as my hands hesitantly untucked his shirt and slid under, leaving nothing between my hands and his back. Not even scars.

Yugi pulled away for air, and I reached to kiss the place where Yugi's ear met his upper cheekbone, "I love you, Yugi…"

Yugi, in turn, kissed the corner of my lip, "I love you, too…Yami…"

The sun set, though both Yugi and I missed it. Yes, we missed a beautiful thing, but there would be others…and even though every sunset, sunrise…everything…was different and beautiful in its own way, everything shines a little brighter…when it finally hits you, that it could be your last.

Of course…our last…would never come. Yugi and I would love each other…forever.

Owari-

-

A/N: Yes! A happy ending! Bet you didn't see that coming, now did you? Well…even if you did, that's great! I'm sorry to Yugi and Yami for all the crap that I put them through…at least I gave them a happy ending!

Notes about this chapter: When Yugi said, 'Dreams aren't supposed to come true," I meant his kind of dreams. Nightmares aren't supposed to come true. But dreams of hitting it big…that's for you to decide.

In the last line "Our last," meant Yugi and Yami's last night of being in love.

The thing on the cat and the box…my band teacher…yes, my band teacher, said something about it, and I thought that it would fit in well here. Sure…I think that I got it wrong and I tweaked the meaning…but…

Thank you to all reviewers! Those really did drive this fic, and they motivated me beyond all measure. Please review one more time for this story!

As for future works: I have about 3 or 4 plots in mind, but I'm running into problems with them all. I'll post something else soon, though! (I hope…heh heh)

Thanks (again) to all reviewers! They boost my self-confidence, and you can ask my friends…that's almost non-existent.