Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh
Yami sighed as he lounged in Atemu's study. He vaguely knew that he probably was not supposed to be in here but also figured it was one place that he could be where he would be left completely alone with his thoughts. Atemu had left on his trip four days ago and after he had left things had gone from bad to worse.
Yami had figured that he and Yugi would be able to have a great time talking and catching up on what has been happening while they've been apart. However, that didn't seem to be what was happening. Yugi for some reason seemed to have a lot of other things that he needed to do. It almost seemed like Yugi was avoiding him but Yami could not for the life of him figure out why that would be.
For one thing it was really making him miss Atemu even more. Yami wondered if Atemu had arrived safely to his destination or if he was finding out the information that he needed so he could come home sooner.
He had only seen Yugi once and that was later on the same morning that Atemu had left. Yami had gotten up and saw Atemu off. He ran into Yugi in the corridor a short while later. Yami had asked if Yugi wanted to explore the gardens with him and Yugi had told him no. Yugi said something about Ryou would love to one day become a palace scribe and now they had this amazing opportunity to connect him with the right contacts to make his dream come true. Yugi had then as he rushed passed mumbled something about 'maybe another day.'
Yami lightly rested his hand on his stomach. "You know it's your fault that I'm being so overly emotional right now." Yami lightly scolded. He of course did not get a reply, nor was he expecting one.
Yami got to his feet with a sigh, his hand resting lightly on Atemu's desk. He accidently shifted one of the documents and for some reason his eyes locked on the document that had been concealed underneath. It was a letter addressed to Atemu. Yami could not help his curiosity so he picked up the letter and began to read.
Pharaoh,
Thank you very much for launching an investigation. I have tried to provide as much information from my end as possible but it has not been easy to acquire. As I have mentioned before there has been corruption here in the capital temple complex and changes have been made to the book of the gods. How widespread these changes are I do not know but I have witnessed at least two instances of changes being made.
I can only hope that the problem is not a large as I am fearing that it is. Again, thank you for investigating this matter and I can only hope you can unearth the truth of the matter and ensure that the true word of the gods is once more heard by all here in Domino.
Yours respectfully,
Priest.
Yami's brow furrowed as he contemplated what he read. Atemu had headed to Trahesle to investigate a claim of corruption among the priesthood. Yami was almost tempted to see if he could dig around more on Atemu's desk and see if he could find out more information about the corruption that was going on but he decided against it. Atemu trusted him and Yami really didn't want to violate Atemu's trust like that. He had stumbled on the letter by accident.
Yami got up and headed out of Atemu's study. It was nearing lunch time which mean that he needed to appear in the banquet hall before the devil woman started harassing him about his eating habits.
"God Chosen of Pharaoh, there you are." A voice suddenly said making Yami suddenly stop. He turned around to come face to face with the annoying Priest Seth. Yami really could not stand this guy and he was another one that had been keeping annoyingly close tabs on him. Worse still both priests were doing it on Atemu's request so Yami couldn't even tell them to stop.
"I am. Is there something I can help you with?" Yami said cautiously.
Priest Seth shrugged, "I checked the gardens, the library as well as your room for you and when I couldn't find you I was really started to get concerned." Priest Seth replied.
Yami rolled his eyes, "Shouldn't you be more focused on running the kingdom in Atemu's absence." Yami said, his tone sharpening as he made his statement. Atemu was counting on this priest to take care of things while he was away. Yami would be damned if this Priest didn't do his job and left Atemu with a mess.
Seth snorted, "Do not worry God Chosen of Pharaoh. Everything is being handled while Pharaoh is away. I had merely been heading to the banquet hall and was hoping that you could join me." Priest Seth replied.
I'd rather eat in a pit of venomous snakes. Yami thought. Although aloud he said, "As pleasant as that would be High Priest I was actually going to be having lunch with my friend that is here visiting." Yami said smoothly. Ha, take that. I'll just have a servant bring me a tray to my room and I'll eat there.
Seth rose a brow as he surveyed Yami, "Yes, I suppose you do. However, I do find it odd that your friend had no idea where you were either and when I asked he did not mention your lunch appointment." Seth commented.
Well fuck you to Seth. Yami thought, "Yes, well Yugi isn't yet used to dealing with an asshole like yourself so probably wasn't sure what he could and could not tell you. You'll have to forgive him." Yami said as he forced a smile onto his face. He never had and never would like this arrogant jackass.
Seth gave Yami an exaggerated bow, "But of course God Chosen of Pharaoh, I will leave you to your lunch." Seth said sarcastically before he turned and swept down the corridor heading for the banquet hall.
Yami turned and headed in the opposite direction. A light lunch alone in his room it was. Yami headed down the corridor where his room was located and spotted Yugi hanging out beside his door. Odd, why would Yugi be hanging out by my door? Yami thought as he continued to walk towards his room.
Yugi spotted Yami quickly enough and straightened up a smile shining on his face, "Yami, there you are. Did that priest find you? He said he hadn't been able to find you anywhere." Yugi said.
Yami nodded, "Yes, Priest Seth found me. Now, is there something I can help you with Yugi?" Yami hoped his question did not come across too harshly but he was a little bit hurt that Yugi had been blowing him off the last four days. And given that his hormones were a mess he was unable to completely keep the hurt expressed as anger from coloring his tone.
Yugi clearly picked up on Yami's tone because his gaze turned to the ground. "I'm sorry. I've been avoiding you Yami. I just, never mind. Look when that Priest said he couldn't' find you I really started to worry that something was wrong with you. What if you were hurt somewhere? The Pharaoh invited me to stay here so I could keep you company while he was gone. And I haven't been doing a good job of that. Can you forgive me?" Yugi said quickly as he often did when he was trying to apologize. Yami swore the sorrier Yugi was about something the faster he talked.
Yami smiled fondly at Yugi, "Its fine Yugi. No big deal. And I'll forgive you on one condition." Yami said.
Yugi nodded, his eyes shyly meeting Yami's, "Sounds fair, what's the condition?" Yugi asked.
"You have lunch with me today and over lunch you tell me what you started to say before you said never mind." Yami said.
Yugi groaned, "Of course you would come up with something like that. Okay, fine Yami you win. We'll have lunch and we'll talk." Yugi mumbled.
"Great, well then come on in." Yami said as he pushed open the door to his and Atemu's room. He paused briefly to flag down a servant and put in a lunch order before pulling the door closed behind the two. "Make yourself at home." Yami said before he flopped down on the bed.
Yugi lightly sat down on the edge of the bed, his whole body tense. Yami glanced up at him and gave him a small smile, "I'm not going to bite Yugi. You can relax." Yami said teasingly.
Yugi stuck his tongue out at Yami, and for a moment it was just like they were back in their home village just goofing around like they used to. Yami reached forward and grabbed Yugi's arm pinning him on the bed beneath him tickling him. Yugi starting laughing so hard as he tried to squirm away from Yami's fingers.
"Uncle, uncle." Yugi cried, laughing so hard that tears were beginning to gather in the corner of his eyes.
"I can't hear you Aibou." Yami teased.
"I said UNCLE!" Yugi yelled. Yami chuckled as he finally stopped tickly Yugi can climbed off. Yami turned to see two servants standing just inside the room both holding trays in their hands. Yami nodded towards the night stands, "You can set the food there. Thank you." The servants just nodded, pausing briefly to shoot the two on the bed a strange look before they headed back out of the room, pulling the door closed behind them.
Yami walked over to the nighstand and grabbed the two trays. The trays contained an assortment of fruits as well some cut up meats and cheeses. Overall the meal was light which was exactly what Yami had been eating lately. This child really did not agree with heavy meals.
Yami set the trays down on the bed before he picked up a bunch of grapes and popping a couple into his mouth.
Yugi sat up and slowly caught his breath. "Fancy meals delivered right to your bed. My, my, my aren't you getting spoiled Yami." Yugi teased.
Yami chuckled, "Not really, I just don't really like going to the banquet hall too often. Even less now that Atemu is gone, so I tend to either eat in here or in the gardens." Yami said.
"And why don't you like eating in the banquet hall?" Yugi asked as he picked up a piece of cheese and started nibbling on it.
Yami sighed, "Because if I ate in the banquet hall I would be forced to eat with the devil woman and Mr. I'm-better-than you. Trust me I'll avoid that at all costs." Yami said.
Yugi chuckled, "I'm sorry, devil woman? Mr. I'm better than you?" Yugi asked.
"You met Mr. I'm-better-than-you, he was the one that was looking for me earlier. And the devil woman is what passes as a healer in this place. She's a sadist. I call her the devil woman." Yami said.
Yugi just shook his head, "You are something else Yami." Yugi said.
Yami laughed, "Always have been Aibou. You just must have forgotten." Yami said.
Yugi rolled his eyes, "If you say so Other Me." Yugi said.
The two then lapsed into silence, however it only lasted for a few moments before Yami had finished his grapes and decided to ask the question that had been bothering him, "So, what were you going to say when you said never mind earlier?" Yami asked.
Yugi pouted, "And here I was hoping you would forget all about that." Yugi said.
Yami snorted, "I know that trick Yugi, you used to pull it all the time. I'm not your grandfather which means I'm not going to just forget something because you don't mention it for a little while." Yami said.
"I know, I know." Yugi mumbled.
"So, what were you going to say?" Yami prompted.
Yugi dropped the piece of cheese he had been picking up and instead drew his knees up to his chest. "I'm a horrible person Yami." Yugi said.
Yami rolled his eyes, "Somehow I doubt that Aibou but I'll humor you, why do you think you're a horrible person?" Yami asked.
"Because I promised you in the letter that I wrote that if you really were in love with the Pharaoh that I would be happy for you. And since I've gotten here and I'm being faced with that reality it's really hard for me to do that. I'm trying Yami, honest I am." Yugi said.
Yami sighed. How precisely was he supposed to respond to that? The sad thing is that before Yami came to the palace he would have known exactly what to say to comfort Yugi and make him feel better. Is it possible that without realizing it he and Yugi had begun to drift apart?
"Yugi, no one is expecting you to accept this overnight. These things take time." Yami said.
"I know, but I should be happy for you just because you are happy. It's just really hard Yami." Yugi whispered.
Yami set the tray back on the end table before pulling Yugi into his arms, "I know this is hard Aibou, it's been hard for me too. And I am lucky enough that you are still my friend even after everything that has happened." Yami said.
"But I don't want to just be your friend Yami." Yugi whispered.
Yami sighed, "Aibou you know that isn't possible." Yami said.
Yugi looked up at Yami, "And why not? Pharaoh isn't here he would never even have to know." Yugi said, his voice taking on an almost pleading tone.
"Aibou I would know." Yami said. Yugi you have no idea what you are asking me and no clue how complicated this whole thing has become.
Yugi shoved Yami away from him, "And how quickly did you jump in bed with Pharaoh? You and I never even had a chance to see how great we could be. You were told that we was your god chosen and you spread them nice and wide for him that first night, huh Yami?" Yugi accused.
"Yugi that is not true and deep down you know it. You know that is not the way I am. Atemu and I have been slowly building something between the two of us, nothing just happened over night." Yami said slowly. Yugi's words hurt however Yami refused to allow that hurt to show. He knew Yugi was speaking from a spot of pain and therefore Yami would give him some leeway with that.
"You've hardly been with him longer than you were with me and you're sleeping with him though!" Yugi said.
Yami sighed, "Yugi first let me say I am not going to discuss Atemu and my sex life because that is none of your business. What I will say is this, Atemu's and my relationship has developed differently than the relationship that you and I had. Part of that difference might have been because we were not under the same constraints you and I had been. Another reason is that Atemu and I are not you and I. I'm sorry Yugi, but that is the truth." Yami said. He knew that was probably pretty blunt but he didn't know how else to really put it. His relationship with Atemu was very different than his relationship with Yugi, so different that you almost could not compare the two.
"What are we to each other Yami?" Yugi asked.
Yami sighed as he released Yugi and flopped back down on his bed this whole conflict was really starting to make him nauseas and he had only eaten the one bunch of grapes. The Devil Woman would argue that was not nearly enough food. "Yugi you and I are complicated right now. There are unresolved feelings between the two of us. Do I love you? Absolutely. The complicated part is that I love Atemu too. Yet both feel different. As much as it pains the both of us, you and I are in the past and we both need to move on with our lives." Yami said.
Yugi perked up considerably, "You said that you love me." Yugi said.
Yami sighed once again, "I do love you Yugi but just because I love you does not mean I love Atemu any less." Yami said. He had a feeling that he was just making a bigger mess of things but right now lying to Yugi did not feel like the right thing to do.
"So, if you had to choose between the Pharaoh and me who would you pick?" Yugi asked.
Yami gave Yugi a pointed look, "Aibou that is not fair." Yami said.
Yugi opened his mouth before he closed it once again. "So you really aren't at all curious about what we could have been?" Yugi asked.
Yami sighed once again, "Have I thought about it? Yes, of course I've thought about it. But the thing that we need to keep remembering is that we can't be together and that the only place for those type of thoughts is in our dreams." Yami said.
Yugi sighed before he picked back up the piece of cheese he had dropped and started to nibble on it again. When Yami just continued to sit against the pillows Yugi spoke up, "Aren't you going to eat something?" Yugi asked.
Yami shook his head, "Let's just say that I haven't had the greatest appetite lately." Yami said.
Yugi nodded and let the matter drop. Yugi finished his meal in relative silence and Yami got up to tell the servants that they could take the trays back down to the kitchens. Yami then laid back down on the bed. Yugi appeared to be thinking about something before he said, "So, do you still want to show me the gardens you were telling me about?" Yugi asked.
Yami smiled before he got off the bed, "Sure, follow me Aibou." Yami said.
Yugi and he had fallen into a routine the two weeks after they had had lunch in Yami's room. The two would meet up in Yami's room and then spend the day playing around in the gardens. Today they had been chasing each other around for a while. Yami finally had his chance to capture his adversary and lunged forward tackling Yugi to the ground. Or to coy pond as it turned out.
Both boys ended up soaking wet and laughing. Yugi however was tired of laying in the pond so surprised Yami by knocking Yami onto his back so he was the one who had Yami pinned. Yami continued to laugh and Yugi couldn't help it he leaned down captured Yami's lips in a kiss. Yami did not pull away immediately and he did press his lips back against Yugi's.
However after a few seconds Yami came back to his senses and pulled away. "We really shouldn't have done that Aibou." Yami said.
Yugi sighed, "Are you going to honestly tell me that you feel nothing when we kissed?" Yugi asked.
"I'm not saying that at all Yugi. What I'm saying is that both of us are with other people and that we can't be doing this." Yami said.
Yami then sat up, "Now can you please let me up Aibou? I'd like to get out to these wet clothes." Yami said.
Yugi smirked, "But I like seeing you soaking wet sprawled out beneath me. You look very kissable." Yugi said.
Yami chuckled, "All the more reason for me to go and get changed." Yami said.
Yugi pouted, "You're no fun Yami." Yugi said.
Yami chuckled once again before he lightly shoved Yugi off him and climbed out of the coy pond and headed back to his own room. Yami walked into the room and pushed the door firmly closed behind him before he stripped out of his wet clothes and went to draw a bath. Once the tub was full Yami climbed in, lounging against the side of the tub. This whole thing was getting more and more complicated as time went by.
Yugi kissing him had been unexpected for more reasons than the obvious. He had kissed Yugi back without thinking but now that left him more puzzled than anything else. He felt something when they kissed yes, but the spark the he had felt when he kissed Yugi back at home was not there this time. Yami wasn't sure what it meant that the spark wasn't there or at least it wasn't the same. This whole thing was a confusing mess and was starting to stress him out.
"I wonder how long I can hide in here before someone comes to find me, huh Little One?" Yami asked as his hand lightly stroked along his stomach. Don't get him wrong the whole 'you're pregnant' thing has completely thrown him for a loop and after a while he will probably have an over the top freak out about it but for right now Yami figured he had more than enough to be worrying about.
"Don't worry, your daddy will be back soon." Yami said as he continued to stroke his stomach. He knew that right now talking to the 'baby' was pointless because the child couldn't hear him but right now when he was so confused the baby was the only person Yami felt he could really talk to at all. Yami knew he should probably try and talk to Yugi about everything that he was trying to sort through but for some reason Yami didn't feel really comfortable talking to Yugi. The sheer closeness he used to feel with Yugi isn't there anymore.
There was a gap between them and Yami didn't know when it had appeared or even that it had existed until Yugi had come to visit. Don't get him wrong they could still have fun playing around and seeing Yugi smile still did funny things to his insides but the closeness that wasn't there anymore or at least not in the same way. Yami wondered if Yugi also noticed that gap or if was just him who noticed things weren't the same. Perhaps he has and that is why he is pushing so hard to try and see if we can reconnect romantically. Perhaps he also notices the distance and thinks that that might fix it. Yami mused.
Yami sank further down into the tub. The sad thing is that I'm not interested in pursuing a physical romantic relationship with Yugi. Whether this lack of desire of born from loyalty to Atemu or something else but that isn't something that I want to do. And to be perfectly honest I don't see that changing any time soon. And if that makes me a bad person than it makes me a bad person.
"God Chosen of Pharaoh, are you in here?" A voice sounded from just inside the door to his room. Yami groaned. Only the annoying, arrogant, asshole Priest Seth would have the balls to just march into Pharaoh Atemu's room. The bastard.
"In the bath, not that it's any of your business." Yami called out. The last thing he wanted to happen was Seth to storm in to the bathing chambers while he was bathing at least this should keep him in the main room and not continue to look for him.
The good news Yami reminded himself was that Atemu had been gone almost three weeks, which means he should be coming back home soon. Yami really couldn't wait for Atemu to come back home.
Seth however, did come strolling into the bathing chambers. Yami growled as he sank deeper into the tub so he was up to his chin in the water. "Might I ask why you are in here Priest?" Yami growled.
Seth had his eyes locked on the wall away from the tub but that was the only nod to modesty he was apparently going to afford Yami. "I was merely checking on you." Priest Seth said.
"And you knew damn well that I was fine. I told you I was taking a fucking bath. You had no reason to come storming into the bathing chambers when you knew I was not decent. What the fuck is your problem Priest? Do you honestly think that Pharaoh would be okay with your acting this way?" Yami growled.
Seth smirked, "I was merely ascertaining your wellbeing. Pharaoh would find no fault in that since ensuring your welfare was one of the things he charged me with upon his departure. And I take my duties quite seriously God Chosen of Pharaoh." Seth said.
If Yami hadn't have been naked he would have stood up and given Priest Seth a real piece of his mind. He also didn't miss the subtle dig about Seth taking his duties seriously or more accurately that he didn't think that Yami took his own responsibilities seriously. The bastard. Yami did not think he could hate that man more than he did right now.
"And now that you have 'ascertained my wellbeing' you can kindly go fuck yourself." Yami growled.
"On your mind is it? Fucking?" Priest Seth said, his voice taking on a slightly harder tone.
Yami however had no tolerance for whatever garbage Priest Seth had decided to spew, "Are you that much of a pervert that you have to ask a stupid question like that. 'God Chosen of Pharaoh are you thinking about the Pharaoh shoving his fucking cock up inside?'" Yami yelled.
Seth snorted, "That wasn't what I said at all" Seth said.
"Then kindly clarify because that was certainly what is sounded like to me." Yami hissed, "And do so quickly I've have more than I can tolerate of you for one day." Yami added.
Seth narrowed his eyes as he finally tore his gaze away from the wall and fixed his gaze upon Yami. Yami for his part was so angry he didn't even care about his lack of dress. "I have heard some funny reports from servants regarding your behavior whilst Pharaoh has been away. You've been quite shall we say cozy with your guest. Messing about in your bedroom, kissing in the gardens. Forgive me for wondering if you had a guest in the bath with you." Seth growled.
Yami was on his feet in a second, "HOW DARE YOU! I have done nothing wrong and I have certainly not betrayed Atemu in any way! Yugi is my friend, nothing more. Now if all you are going to do is throw around wild accusations get the fuck out of here. And you can rest assured I will be telling Atemu about this." Yami yelled.
Seth smirked at Yami, "I was merely reminding you to remember your place, God Chosen of Pharaoh." Seth said before he turned and swept out of the room.
That utter and complete bastard. If I had it might way he would have his dick fed to a crocodile while it's still attached to his body. Yami thought. However, the stress from his argument with Seth combined with him rapidly getting to his feet made Yami's head swim and his vision blur. Yami shakily climbed out of the bath and only made it a few steps before darkness overtook him.
Yami awoke to his head killing him and to find himself lying in his bed with the blankets pulled up this chin. Yami thought the gods must really hate him right now because both Priest Seth and the devil woman were seated beside his bed staring at him. He also saw that Yugi was sitting by his beside and he looked really worried. Yami figured he might as well find out what had happened.
"What happened?" Yami asked.
The devil woman took this as her cue to speak, "You passed out God Chosen of Pharaoh. You haven't been eating enough and it appears you passed out when you climbed out of the bath. We are most fortunate you fell forward and not backwards. Had you fallen backwards into the bath you would have been dead by the time we found you." Isis explained.
Lovely. Absolutely lovely. Just what I need right now. Yami thought. "But I'm alright. Now, if there is nothing else." Yami said. He just wanted them to leave him alone so he could go to sleep he was done dealing with people today. Especially these particular people.
"We are not leaving until you eat something. I took the liberty of having a servant bring up a tray with some food. I for one will not be leaving until you have eaten every last bite." Priest Seth said sharply.
"And at this rate I am more likely to refuse to eat until you leave out of spite." Yami growled.
"Isis tells me you are fully aware of the situation and the fact that you have once again ignored your responsibilities is utterly and completely disgraceful. The Gods really scraped the bottom of the barrel when they chose you for Pharaoh." Priest Seth replied.
"Hey! That's not fair." Yugi yelled. However the other three in the room completely ignored Yugi's outburst.
"I'll have you know Priest Seth that I have been eating and ensuring that I am taking care of myself. Never-ending nausea has a way of putting a damper on your appetite. And my blacking out is probably just as much your fault as it is my own since it was directly after our little chat earlier that I blacked out. Wonder if stress could be a factor because I certainly know that you both are stressing me out." Yami growled.
For a moment Priest Seth and Yami just glared at each other before Isis decided to break the tense silence. "You do need to eat something God Chosen of Pharaoh and I will also send up something that should help to soothe your stomach. Also, because you lost consciousness I think that it would be a good idea if someone stays with you at all times to ensure what happened earlier does not happen again." Isis said.
"Priestess Isis has made this decision against my better judgement. She has decided that it would be a wise decision to have your friend keep an eye on you until Pharaoh returns since both her and I have other duties that we need to be attending too." Priest Seth hissed.
"Don't you dare." Yami growled.
Seth rose a challenging brow, "Are you going to contest that what I mentioned the servants had observed did not happen?" Seth said.
"Priest Seth, this is not helping matters at all. What God Chosen of Pharaoh needs to do right now is to eat and get plenty of rest. You starting an argument with him is not going to help him and will only be detrimental to his health." Priestess Isis cautioned.
This time is was Isis and Seth that were glaring at one another before Seth rose to his feet and stormed from the room. Priestess Isis then turned her attention back onto Yami, "I will leave but please do eat something. You know how important it is that you eat. As I said I will send a servant up with a potion to help you stomach. I want you to get plenty of rest tomorrow. If you must be out of bed please make sure that someone is with you." Priestess Isis said before she walked out of the room.
"Are you okay Yami?" Yugi asked cautiously drawing Yami's attention back onto Yugi.
Yami sighed, "Yes, Yugi. I'm fine." Yami said. He wasn't really fine per say but he didn't want to get into all the details of everything that was going on with Yugi right now. He didn't know why but keeping the fact that he was pregnant from Yugi seemed really important to him.
"What were those priests talking about?" Yugi asked.
Yami shrugged. He knew exactly what the priests were talking about but he wasn't going to tell Yugi about either the pregnancy or about Seth's knowledge of their interactions since Atemu had left. Speaking of Atemu, he should be home in the next few days. Yami could not wait for his return.
Yugi then lifted the tray off the end table and set it on the bed in front of Yami. Yami saw that it was an assortment of meats and cheeses, as well some bread. There was some fruit but not much of it. With a sigh Yami picked up a piece of bread and took a bite. Under the blankets his other hand was resting on his stomach. He didn't really know why but he had taken to resting his hand on his stomach a lot. He knew he couldn't feel the child move or anything like that but for some reason just resting his hand on his stomach soothed him for some reason.
The two just sat in silence while Yami picked at his meal. To be perfectly honest Yami really wasn't hungry but he knew that he needed to eat which was the only reason he was eating anything right now. True to her word a servant came by with a potion to help ease Yami's nausea. It was thick and tasted like what Yami guessed Horse Shit tasted like. However, it did help to soothe his stomach so Yami wasn't going to complain.
Once Yami had eaten as much as he was able to Yugi picked up the tray and carried it over to the door where a servant grabbed it and carried it back down to the kitchen. Yugi then came back over and sat down on the bed beside Yami.
"I'm just going to go to sleep Yugi. I'll see you tomorrow." Yami said.
Yugi smiled, "Actually I was thinking I could stay in here with you. That way if you have to get up to use the bathroom during the night I can help you." Yugi said.
Yami sighed but had no genuine reason to turn down Yugi's offer since it was a distinct possibility. "That's fine Yugi. Can you just grab me a waist wrap out of the wardrobe. They put me in this bed with now clothes on." Yami said.
Yugi gave Yami a playful smirk, "You don't need to get dressed on my account Yami." Yugi said.
Yami chuckled, "I know that Yugi but still I would prefer a waist wrap." Yami said.
Yugi sighed and got up and headed over to the wardrobe and grabbed the first waist wrap that was within reach which actually turned out to be one of Atemu's. Yami gratefully accepted the waist wrap. This white one was actually his favorite one to see Atemu wear. The blue design looked really nice against Atemu's tan skin. Yami pulled the wrap under the blanked and wrapped it around his waist. Once he was sufficiently covered he pulled his hands out from under the blankets.
"Thank you Yugi." Yami said.
Yugi smiled at him, "No problem. And I'm sorry about what happened in the garden earlier today. You just looked so kissable that I just had to go for it." Yugi said.
Yami sighed, "You are forgiven Yugi, just please don't do it again." Yami said.
Yugi nodded, "I won't. Not without asking you first." Yugi said.
Yami leaned his head back against the pillows, his eyes starting to slip shut. He hadn't done much today but for some reason he felt utterly and completely exhausted.
"Hey Yami." Yugi said suddenly.
Yami sighed, "Yes Yugi?" Yami replied.
"Can I kiss you good night?" Yugi asked. He sounded very hopeful that Yami was going to say yes. However Yami was going to have to disappoint him.
"I'm sorry Yugi but no you cannot." Yami said.
Yugi nodded and plopped down on the other pillow in the bed. The two just sat in silence until Yami finally drifted off to sleep.
The next day Yami found himself confined to his bed much to his great annoyance. Yugi was doing his best to keep him company but Yami was in a foul mood. He was still steaming about his argument with Seth and the accusations that had been thrown around and because his hormones were all over the place he couldn't let it go. He really needed to be left alone or to relax in the tranquil gardens but because he had collapsed no one would leave him alone for even five minutes.
Yami really thought he was going to lose it when Seth came striding into his room shortly after breakfast WITHOUT EVEN KNOCKING.
"Can I help you Priest?" Yami growled. He swore he was going to knock the bastard's teeth out if he didn't get far away from him very soon.
Seth smirked at Yami before he pulled a scroll out of his robes and held the scroll out to Yami, "You have a letter God Chosen of Pharaoh. Would you like me to read it for you?" Seth asked.
Yami snatched the letter out to Seth's hand, "I can read it myself thank you very much. Now kindly get the fuck out of my room before I kick your fucking teeth in." Yami growled.
Seth gave Yami another smug smirk before he turned and strode out of the room, "If you need anything don't hesitate to have a servant come and fetch me." Seth said. Yami snorted, he'd be lying dead on the ground before he purposely sought out that asshole.
Yugi drew Yami's attention away from his glaring contest with the door, "So Yami, who is the letter from?" Yugi asked.
Yami shrugged, "I don't know." Yami replied before he broke the seal on the scroll and unfurled it to read.
My beloved Yami,
It is my sincerest hope that this letter finds you well however based on my latest report from Seth I fear that is not the case. He tells me you blacked out yesterday and that Isis has you confined to your bed. I hope that you are at least doing better now.
My trip was a success and I am right now riding as swiftly as I can back to the capital and if the gods are good I should be back to your side in the next couple of days.
I know it might be hard for you but please do try and take it easy. I don't want anything happening to you.
I love you Yami and I cannot wait to see you once more.
Atemu
Yami couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face. Yugi of course saw the small smile, "So, whose it from?" Yugi asked.
"It's from Atemu. He's on his way home and should be back in a couple of days." Yami said.
"Oh." Yugi said, "Well, that's good…I guess." Yugi said.
Yami nodded, "its great news. I've really missed him." Yami said.
Yugi pouted, "I wish he was gone a little longer. I was enjoying all the time I've been able to spend with you. When he comes back I'll have to leave." Yugi said.
Yami turned to Yugi, "I actually don't think that's true. I'm sure Atemu wouldn't mind if you stayed a little longer and I'm sure he would also enjoy getting to know you better." Yami said.
"Really?" Yugi asked. Yami nodded. He was absolutely sure of it. After all, if Atemu had a problem with Yugi being here he wouldn't have invited him in the first place.
The rest of the day passed with no problems. Yami stayed in bed and just kept rereading Atemu's letter. Knowing that Atemu was on his way back home made Yami extremely happy. He couldn't wait to see Atemu, snuggle up with him and ask Atemu all about his trip. He didn't realize how much their nightly talks had come to mean to him until they were no longer there.
He also really wanted to be able to talk to someone about the pregnancy. He wanted someone that he could share his fears with as well as maybe discuss possible names and if it's a boy or a girl. It may not seem like much but right at this moment it was very important to Yami.
The day before Atemu was due to return Yugi and Yami were once again in Yami's bedroom with Yami still being kept on bed rest by the devil woman. She had refused to listen to either threats or reasoning and so Yami had remained parked in bed. Her only concession was that she would be willing to revisit the issue when Pharaoh returned.
"Hey Yami, I have a question." Yugi asked suddenly.
"And what is that Yugi?" Yami asked. It had been a lazy day thus far and Yami was vaguely contemplating taking a nap. The only drawback was that he felt really bad that Yugi would then be left with nothing to do but to watch him sleep.
"I have an experiment that I want to conduct." Yugi said.
Yami popped one eye open to fix Yugi with a strange look, "And what experiment are you hoping to conduct and what are you hoping to prove with this experiment?" Yami asked.
Yugi sighed, "Well, you and I love each other. Right?" Yugi asked.
Yami sighed, "We were in love with one another, yes." Yami said cautiously. He really did not like where this was going at all.
"I was hoping to find out if there is any hope for us or if I needed to just let us go." Yugi said.
"Yugi." Yami said sternly. They had been over this, more than once. They were a thing of the past and they really could not keep revisiting this issue over and over again.
"Please Yami, just humor me. It'll help me to finally have some closure to what was probably the best time of my life. It will also allow me to finally move on and give Ryou a genuine chance. Until I know I won't be able to move on." Yugi pleaded.
Yami sighed once again, "Fine Yugi, and what do you need from me." Yami asked.
"Just a kiss." Yugi said.
Yami sighed, "We've kissed before Yugi. In fact you kissed me in the coy pond a couple of days ago." Yami said.
Yugi rolled his eyes, "Yes I know that. I just need to kiss you and for you not to pull away after a couple of seconds. I need a kiss, a real kiss." Yugi said.
Yami sighed, "If I agree to this there are going to be clear ground rules. Do you understand Yugi?" Yami asked.
Yugi nodded, "Sure, what ground rules to do you have in mind?" Yugi asked.
Yami sighed. This was wrong, utterly and completely wrong and he really should have stood his ground and said no. The problem was that the kiss at the pond had brought up more questions than answers. Perhaps Yugi's experiment would allow Yami to answer some of his own questions.
"There are two rules. The first is we will kiss for a predetermined amount of time and no longer. The second, no tongue or anything else. Just lips pressed. Either you agree to those conditions or there is no deal Yugi." Yami said. Yami knew from firsthand experience how heated things could get with wandering hands and tongues when they got involved. Yami was not going to be having anything to do with that.
Yugi seemed to think about it for a little bit before he nodded, "Okay, I guess that's fair." Yugi said.
Yami nodded, "Fine and the time limit is one minute. Yami waved his hand and a small hour glass appeared. "This is a one minute timer, once the sand runs out your experiment is done. And just so we are also perfectly clear we will not be repeating this experiment. You get one shot at this Yugi." Yami said.
Yugi nodded, "Okay. Then let's start." Yugi said. He wasn't lying when he told Yami that he needed to do this to move on. He did feel something when they had kissed in the pond but this whole month he had spent with Yami was nothing like the time that they used to have together back home. Either Yami had changed and he wasn't the same person Yugi had fallen in love with or perhaps the two had just grown apart. But Yugi really needed to know for sure if the spark between he and Yami was still there because if it was Yugi didn't notice it at all when he kissed Yami back in the pond.
Yami flipped over the hourglass and once he turned back Yugi leaned forward and pressed his lips against Yami's. Yami for his part pressed his lips against Yugi's in return as the two mouths moved together. The kiss was different but even though they had kissed the exact same way back home the spark that had been present then was gone. Yugi felt nothing with the kiss. He blinked his eyes open to see Yami had also opened his own eyes and was keeping one eye locked on the timer. Yugi could also see in Yami's eyes that he was feeling nothing either.
This time it was Yugi who pulled away and he did so before the final grains of sand had fallen from the hourglass. Whatever he and Yami had was gone. And now that Yugi knew that he would finally begin to move on with his life.
"What in the name of the gods is going on in here?"
Both boys whipped around to see Priest Seth standing just inside the doorway glaring daggers at the pair on the bed. Yugi glanced down in shame. The kiss may have been harmless but he had a feeling that the priest who had seen them wasn't going to care about their explanations.
Yami however wasn't paying any attention to Seth and he instead had locked his eyes with the man standing just behind Seth. Atemu apparently had come back earlier.
"Atemu. I can explain." Yami whispered. He just hoped that Atemu would believe him.