Two weeks after the end of the grand ball, Yugi sat in the backyard of his palace, which was over one hundred acres in area and along its edges was completely surrounded by a powerful brick wall more than six feet in height. In the backyard were a forest area, a grassy area, and a special grove/garden area. Close to the edge of the forest was a pond about six feet deep and lily pads were scattered across it. Alongside its edge was a gazebo-like structure measuring about twelve feet long, eight feet wide, and twelve feet high, decorated with a table and chairs perfect for a spring day. There Yugi sat, drinking tea with some of his friends Seated at the table were Kuriboh, Dark Magician Girl, Silent Magician, Beta the Magnet Warrior, Watapon, Queen's Knight, Blockman, and Summoned Skull - the last of whom was a bit big to be sitting on one of the garden chairs and so he sat cross-legged in the grass next to the table. Also, relaxing in the pond, while sticking his head up to the table through the opening in the gazebo was Catapult Turtle. The sun was shining through the grayish clouds and a placid breeze blew across the land as Yugi smiled, enjoying the pomegranate flavored beverage before him. It looked as if it may rain later on, but Yugi didn't seem to care much. In fact, he rather enjoyed the rain. Catching his attention, he watched as Feral Imp was playing in the woods across the pond, clearly visible through the trees, frolicking in his favorite place.
"More tea?" he asked Summoned Skull, whom gave a nod before Yugi poured him a glass of tea and handed it to him. The giant archfiend monster grasped it with his massive, bone-like hands before he delicately began to sip it.
"So I got done with work today and master Mahad says I've been doing pretty great with my illumination spells," Dark Magician Girl went on.
Kuriboh reached for the sugar and poured some into his tea so as to sweeten it before he sipped it, expressing a pleasant noise after doing so. Afterwards, he grabbed a few ice cubes and put them into his beverage.
"I love that we can all relax together," said Yugi as he continued to sip his tea before he looked up to the sky and took notice of both Gandora the Dragon of Destruction and Cruse of Dragon soaring high above.
"I haven't had a tea party since I was a little girl five thousand years ago in Egypt!" laughed Dark Magician Girl.
"Well, I guess you could call it that," chuckled Yugi.
Yugi became silent for a moment as he stared into his beverage - a micro ocean of pomegranate goodness, steaming with sweet delight in its confined space of a glass. Something was on his mind and he felt the need to speak it.
"Well, I guess now that Joey has a boyfriend, he doesn't need me as much," he confessed with a sigh as his fellow tea-drinkers listened intently.
Summoned Skull put his rather large hand on Yugi's back, patting it in an attempt to console him.
"I know I should be happy for him and I am, but I think I'll miss him depending on me so much. Well, at least Kaiba's not abusing him anymore."
"Aw, don't be sad, Yugi. You've got us!" cheered Dark Magician Girl.
"Aw, thanks, Mana. It's just that… Well, I think you know what I mean. I was always there for Joey, guiding him and helping him and he doesn't come around now nearly as much because of his newfound love. Well, you're right though. I have all of you and everyone else that lives here at the palace with us," confessed Yugi, finally allowing a smile to form across his face.
"There ya go!" exclaimed Dark Magician Girl as she gave Yugi a thumbs-up.
It had been true that lately Joey had been ignoring Yugi a lot ever since he had engaged in a relationship with Bandit Keith. Over the past two weeks, Joey developed a nasty habit of ignoring his best friend which included cancelling their plans, ceasing to call him or visit him, and simply barely speaking to him. It was really getting to Yugi for he surely missed his beloved Joseph AKA his platonic life partner.
"Well, at least it's a beautiful day. I love gloomy days," smiled Yugi, finally looking up.
Watapon was sipping his tea through a straw as Atem was spotted walking through the massive yard, toward the gazebo.
"Darling?" called the voice of Atem as he approached the site.
"Yes, love?" responded Yugi.
"I wanted to come and see you, love. I also wish to tell you of our friends, Duke and Tristan, and their apparent divorce."
"Yeah, I heard about that. I guess Duke's too annoyed with Tristan these days… with how clingy he is and all," replied Yugi.
"Could you blame him?" asked the Pharaoh in regards to Duke's annoyance. "He never leaves the guy alone."
"Tristan just has… attachment issues, but it's nothing he can't get over with some help. Maybe I should talk to him," speculated Yugi.
"Well," began the pharaoh as he took his seat at the table and began sipping tea. "You and I have are invited to the palace of Dartz tomorrow afternoon. Are you coming with me?"
"Sure. I bet it's some huge place with water running all through it, down by the sea shore. And it's not like we have to worry about him trying to drown us or something since he's not evil anymore."
"Thankfully," laughed Atem. "Here Yugi, why don't you let me massage your shoulders?"
With that, Atem arose and stood behind his love, caressing and stroking him, releasing tension locked away from within. Yugi's face expressed relief for his love was doing quite a superb job.
"I learned how to massage so well from Shada. He's given me one too many massages and he's the best at it."
"Just keep doing this," gushed Yugi, clearly indulging in his lover's treatment.
Later that day, Yugi and Atem sat in the Parlor with the former leaned up against the latter before the lit hearth. It had been quite a placid day for they spent the majority of it at the gazebo by the pond outdoors and they showed no interest in doing any work whatsoever for the remainder of the day and what was even better was that tomorrow was going to be just as peaceful. It looked as if the a storm was going to occur outside, but for some reason the rain just wasn't falling. Indoors, Yugi vented to his husband of his fears regarding his best friend Joey.
"Don't worry, aibou. Joey will come around. He's just getting used to love again," consoled Atem.
"I sure hope so. It's not like him to blow me off like this, but I'll give him the benfit of the doubt a bit longer before I jump to conclusions, I guess," replied Yugi.
"Besides, you'll always have me," smiled Atem.
"I know. Remind me again why I love you," requested Yugi just before Atem kissed him.
"I love my Yugi…"
"I love my Atem…"
A bit later, it was dinner time and everyone rushed to the dining hall. All of the palace residents were sitting at the long table when Yugi and Atem entered the room. Dark Magician Girl was the first to notice them and she waved with glee before Atem took his usual seat at the head of the table and Yugi took his at his side. Next to Atem and across from Yugi sat the Dark Magician, whom was politely eating his salad with an open text book sitting next to him.
"My king," he bowed his head as he spoke to Atem. "It is my pleasure to tell you that our three gods - Slifer, Ra, and Obelisk, have requested with you a meeting at their palace in the highest heaven. I hope that you grant me the privilege of escorting you to it."
"Ah, yes, Mahad. When do they wish to see me?" responded Atem.
"Tomorrow afternoon if it is convenient for you," he replied, still bowing his head in absolute loyalty.
"Very well," smiled Atem.
All of the monsters that served Yugi and Atem in life lived with them at their palace, except for the three gods. They were far too big to be living there and besides, they were a divinity all their own and had their own palace located high above the clouds where they ruled over heaven, while Atem and Yugi were their underlings. The only ones typically allowed in their palace were their royal servants called "Ra's Disciples," unless someone received permission to visit it such as Atem.
"But aren't we going to visit Dartz tomorrow at their palace by the sea shore?" asked Yugi.
"We can do that in the morning. I cannot let down the gods," said Atem, shaking his head. "I wonder what they wish to discuss with me."
"Probably some super secret ruler stuff," began Dark Magician Girl. "Anyways, where's dessert? I want some ice cream" she laughed.
Within a half hour when everyone was finished eating, Mystical Elf was sitting at the other end of the table, humming to herself, while everyone watched as large plates of delicious and sweet ice cream appeared on plates before them after all the dirty dishes disappeared. The entire table was a large ice cream bar, smothered with all kinds of ice cream and toppings of such a great variety. Dark Magician Girl dug right in, scooping herself a plate of exactly what she wanted, while others followed her example. Kuriboh was stuffing his face with vanilla ice cream containing chocolate peanut butter cups and Watapon indulged in a dish of strawberry ice cream. Because he always wondered what marshmallows tasted like, Marshmallon was enjoying a marshmallow sundae, while the three Magnet Warriors - Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, were splitting a huge banana split. The overall favorite seemed to be chocolate with both Yugi and Atem, as well as Silent Swordsman, Buster Blader, Black Luster Soldier, Celtic Guardian, Summoned Skull, Archfiend of Gilfer, Dark magician, the three Gadgets, and Berfomet all indulging in it.
"Mmm, chocolate," smiled Yugi as he licked his ice cream cone.
"Indeed…" agreed Atem.
Silent Magician was sprinkling rainbow sprinkles on her vanilla cone while Silver Fang was devouring a dish of candy cane flavored ice cream that contained real pieces of candy cane and the Magician of Black Chaos mixed his vanilla ice cream with large chunks of brownies, creating a brownie wonderland in his bowl, while next to him the Sorcerer of Dark Magic devoured a scrumptious bowl of cotton candy flavored ice cream. Queen's Knight politely split a chocolate milkshake with her love, King's Knight as Jack's Knight sat near them indulging in grape-flavored ice cream. Everyone loved dessert time because Yugi and Atem always had the best treats to eat at their palace.
After dinner, everyone was so stuffed from eating (especially from the dessert) that no one could eat another bite. Well, except maybe Dark Magician Girl because she ate more ice cream than everyone else and sampled nearly everything at dessert.
"I can't eat another bite," she struggled as she tried to stuff in another scoop of mint-flavored ice cream and smiled after she successfully did so.
Later that night when everyone was asleep in their rooms, Yugi awoke and looked at his sleeping husband, whom lay next to him. He thought of how much he loved him and he was so glad that this paradise would never end but currently there was something else on his mind. He couldn't help but worry that Joey was going to forget him, despite that he knew that because Joey had just entered into a relationship, he'd most likely be spending the majority of his time with his love, Keith.
"Joey, I'm glad you're happy, but please don't forget me," sighed Yugi to himself as he stepped out of bed, careful to not awake Atem and he crept downstairs to the parlor.
He lit the fireplace and was surprised to find Kuriboh, passed out on the sofa from all the ice cream he'd eaten earlier. Yugi looked at his furry, little friend and thought about his life in heaven and how much he loved it.
"I love my life," he smiled to himself as he sat upon the sofa, careful not to awaken Kuriboh.
After about ten minutes of sitting in silent contemplation about his life and all that he had, Yugi made his way back up to the master bedroom and climbed into bed with Atem, looking at his beautiful husband as his heart overflowed with gratitude for him and all they had together.