Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, or The Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter.

The restaurant was beautiful, colored in green and white, Yugi mused as they took their seats. It was perfect for casual or formal, and he found himself enjoying the view of the mini-garden just outside their booth window. There were wooden tables out there, in case someone wanted to dine outside and take in some fresh air. He turned to Tea and watched her smooth out her skirt as she sat down while Mai and Atemu sat side by side across from them. The air was slightly tense, mostly due to Mai and Atemu being there. Tea may have said she was alright with it, but Yugi could see the slight disappointment and anger in her vivid blue eyes.

They sat there for a few minutes before a waitress with long black hair walked up to their table, menus in one of her hands. She smiled brightly at them as she passed out the menus and then pulled out a notepad. "Good evening folks. Anything I can start you off with?" She asked. Yugi glanced at Tea, who was now looking over her menu, searching for the drink section.

"Tea, what would you like to drink?" Yugi questioned.

"Oh, sweet tea, if they have it." Tea replied. Mai grinned.

"Perfect! Make that two sweet teas honey. Temy, what do you want?" Mai cooed. Atemu chuckled.

"A cola is fine." He answered.

"Uh, two colas then." Yugi told the waitress. She wrote down their drink orders and then hurried away. The group sat there in silence then, searching through the menus for what they would like to eat. Mai leaned over hers, absently twirling a strand of her blonde hair.

"Hm... What to eat... I'm so tempted to get that chicken Alfredo..." Mai mused.

"It does sound good. I'll get that too." Yugi agreed.

"The chicken Caesar salad looks good." Tea spoke beside him. "Looks plenty big too." Mai glanced between the two of them, then looked to Atemu.

"Anything look good to you?" Mai inquired.

"I'll just get whatever you and Yugi are eating." Atemu told her, closing his menu. Mai smiled at him and took his menu, laying it with hers.

"So, that's three chicken Alfredo and a medium chicken Caesar salad?" Mai looked pointedly at Tea. The brunette nodded her head in agreement, and she and Yugi handed over their menus to Mai. The waitress came back a moment later with their drinks and set them at Mai and Tea's places, leaving it to the ladies to hand the men the drinks they had ordered. Atemu wound up accidentally being handed two of the straws, so he handed one to Yugi. Their fingers brushed as Yugi took the item from him, causing a spark to shoot up each of their arms. Yugi jerked his hand back, his face heating up. He ripped the top off his straw a little too hard and jammed it into his drink, refusing to look at Atemu. Tea thankfully didn't notice the exchange, as she was too busy setting her own straw and taking a sip. Mai did see it however, and she smiled wickedly. Her little cousin had it bad for Atemu.

"Anything else I can get you folks?" The waitress spoke up, drawing the attention back to her. "Ready to order?"

"Yes, we'd like three chicken Alfredo, and a medium chicken Caesar salad." Mai told her.

"Is that everything?" The woman asked, writing it down in her notepad.

"For now." Mai replied. The woman smiled sweetly at her and took their menus before walking away once more. Silence enveloped the group, and Yugi shifted nervously. Was it supposed to be so quiet? His eyes wandered over to Atemu, who was studying the tablecloth as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. As if sensing his gaze, Atemu's ruby orbs rose, and their eyes connected. Yugi found he couldn't look away, mesmerized by those stunning red eyes. For a moment it was as if the only occupants in the room were the two of them.

"So Tea," Mai began, starting the conversation. "What kind of place do you work at?" Yugi flushed and looked down. He knew he should be the one asking Tea these questions but here he was, too busy staring at Atemu. He glanced at Tea only to find her watching him, an unreadable expression in her eyes. She turned to Mai then, avoiding his gaze.

"I work at a small company in town, as a secretary." Tea replied. "It's a good job, and I enjoy it very much. It's very good pay."

"Ah, a secretary. That's good." Mai told her. "Me, I sell make-up. Makes a pretty good living."

"I could imagine you'd be very good at that kind of job." Tea smiled. "Is that where you get the make-up you're wearing?"

"Oh yes. They let me have some of the products for free in exchange for selling them." Mai smiled brightly and pointed to her lips. "I love this shade of red the most." Tea looked over the shade she was wearing and nodded.

"It looks very good on you." She told her. Tea then shot Yugi a glance, noticing that he was back to staring at Atemu, and the crimson eyed male was staring back. Tea fought back the uneasy feeling this scene presented her, and she lightly tapped Yugi on the shoulder. He gave a start and looked at her, and she forced a bright smile on her face. "Yugi, tell me a little about yourself. I already know where you work, but what kinds of things do you like?"

"Um..." Yugi bit his lip and thought for a moment. "I like games, the color blue..." Tea giggled at his response.

"And your favorite food?" She humored him.

"Hamburgers." Yugi blushed. "What are some of your favorite things?"

"Dancing, pink, and chocolate." She replied, winking. Yugi tilted his head, a smile on his lips.

"You dance?"

"All the time. My favorite is ballet. I've wanted to dance ballet since I was a little girl. What did you want to do?" Tea asked.

"My passion has always been games." Yugi explained. "So there hasn't been anything other then running the shop with Grandpa that I've wanted to do career-wise. Although I would love to take a trip to Egypt one day."

"Ah, too hot for me." Tea sipped her drink, maintaining eye contact. "And history has never been my thing."

"Oh. It's not for everyone." Yugi looked down at the table. "But it's always held a fascination for me."

"Really now?" Atemu spoke up, leaning a little further across the table, his crimson orbs shining with amusement. "Pray-tell Yugi, what is so fascinating about it?" Yugi looked up, meeting his eyes yet again, feeling a delightful shiver run through his body at the look in those red eyes.

"The people, the places, the culture itself. It's fun to learn about, and Grandpa's tales of grand adventures and survival in the grueling desert were always fun to listen to." A grin pulled at Yugi's lips as he spoke. Atemu rested his chin on his hands as he watched the smaller male.

"I'm sure those would be quite entertaining. And just what about the culture do you know? I would be interested to know what you have learned." Atemu inquired. The two launched into a descriptive conversation about Egypt and it's past culture, leaving Mai to listen intently, giggling occasionally. Tea tried to keep track of what they were talking about, but the conversation began to bore her after a few minutes. She hadn't been lying when she said history wasn't her thing.

It made her slightly jealous that Atemu managed to keep Yugi's attention for quite some time and could talk to him about something he was interested in. The topic switched to games as the talk of Senet had come up, not that she knew what Senet was, but she recognized some of the local games, and what was Gears of War? How were they able to switch topics so rapidly and still understand what the other was talking about?

Tea rested her chin in her hand and tuned everyone else out until the food arrived. The meals were eaten in silence, as everyone was too busy savoring the taste of the good food to talk. There were a few conversations started, but they didn't last very long. After the meal was eaten, Mai revealed she wanted a piece of pie for dessert, so dessert was ordered. Tea was beginning to get annoyed as once more Atemu launched into a topic that it was clear Yugi enjoyed, and she was ignored.

"Yugi, come outside with me?" Tea asked, tapping his arm. Yugi blinked, then nodded.

"Okay. The garden outside?" Tea nodded at his question. The two rose from the booth and left, leaving Atemu and Mai alone. Atemu sighed as he watched them go, wishing it were him instead of that girl.

"Relax honey. Tonight is going well. Those two don't even seem to have much in common. She doesn't seem to care much for history or games even, two things that are a main priority on Yugi's list. She even began to zone out when you two were discussing the games." Mai assured him.

"What if she kisses him?" Atemu asked.

"That might be a good thing." Mai gulped at the scathing glare Atemu sent her then. "What I mean is, that could be the final straw. If he doesn't feel anything, then it's done." Mai explained. Atemu turned his gaze out the window, where Yugi and Tea appeared, sitting down at one of the tables. They were talking now, and he noticed Yugi was shifting nervously, and his attention kept wandering. That was certainly interesting... Atemu kept watch, and a smile lifted his lips. If his attention wasn't on her completely, then that was a good sign, at least for him. It could mean Yugi wasn't as smitten as he had tried to believe he was.

"Oh, look at that." Mai mused, moving to the seat across from Atemu. "Whatever she's talking about doesn't seem to interest him in the slightest. And you can tell he's trying."

"Maybe he'll realize this was all fruitless then." Atemu commented. "He belongs with me, and damnit, he should know it. I've had enough Mai. I'm going out there." Mai reached out and grabbed his wrist, stilling him with her eyes.

"Atemu, stay. You can't just go charging out there. You have to be patient and wait for this to fall apart." Mai told him. Atemu let out a growl, but he stayed where he was, turning his crimson eyes back out to the couple at the table. Yugi had turned his eyes back towards the window, and the moment Atemu looked through it, their eyes connected. Atemu smiled tenderly. Those indigo orbs were beautiful, and he wanted nothing more then to keep looking into them. He was so intent on Yugi that he didn't notice that Tea had seen that they were staring at each other. He barely heard Mai's moan of uh-oh before he watched Tea reach out and turn Yugi's face towards her none too gently.

She was speaking now, and Atemu could see that Yugi was turning red faced from embarrassment. He was shaking his head now that she had released him, and the poor boy was obviously mumbling some sort of apology. Atemu didn't like the look on her face, and this time Mai didn't stop him when he rose to his feet and began to stalk outside. Mai kept her violet eyes on the scene outside, and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when Tea suddenly pulled Yugi to her and pressed her lips to his.

Yugi's eyes widened as at the unexpected kiss. He knew Tea had a right to be upset, after all he wasn't making a very good date, but when she had asked him to kiss her, he thought she was kidding. Well, apparently she wasn't. He closed his eyes and tried to kiss her back, but he felt absolutely nothing with her lips pressed to his. After a moment, Tea pulled back, and there were tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Wasn't there anything?" Her eyes pleaded with him to say something, but Yugi lowered his eyes guiltily to the table. "You don't like me at all, do you?" Her voice sounded so heartbroken that it made tears spring to Yugi's eyes.

"You're a great girl Tea, don't ever doubt that." Yugi assured her. "There's someone out there who will be the luckiest man in the world one day." And that was it. Tea began to cry, scrambling to her feet and running off. Yugi kept his eyes downcast, his guilt tearing a large hole in his heart. He'd felt nothing, and he couldn't help that, but the truth was, he'd felt nothing for her the entire time they had been here. What was he trying to prove then, by going out with her? All he'd managed to do was hurt a very sweet girl.

"Little One?" That lovely baritone voice that haunted his dreams sounded then, and Yugi lifted his gaze to worried ruby orbs. "Are you alright?" A tear trailed down Yugi's face as he stared into those eyes, those eyes that he had come to adore. It hit him then, with blinding clarity, what he had been trying to deny and run away from this entire time. Atemu. He...loved Atemu. Yes, that was it. He was in love with the handsome, regal Egyptian. There was no point in trying to deny these feelings anymore.

The memory of the burning passion they had shared when they kissed the other night came rushing back to Yugi, bringing along with it an array of pleasant feelings. Yugi lowered his eyes then, feeling lower then dirt. He'd had this wonderful man in front of him the whole time, and he had pushed the feelings he had for him away to pursue a woman he hadn't even wanted in the first place. He was just trying to trick himself into believing something that wasn't so, and in the process, he had hurt Tea.

Yugi found himself looking into Atemu's eyes again as the man kneeled in front of him and lifted his chin with his fingers. "Yugi... Are you okay?" Atemu asked again, searching Yugi's eyes with his own. Another tear made it's way down Yugi's face, and Atemu moved his hand, using a thumb to wipe the tear away.

"I hurt her. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have never... She didn't deserve this." Yugi laid his head in his arms, turning away from Atemu slightly.

"Yugi, look at me." Yugi lifted his gaze to Atemu's at the other man's bidding, sniffling. Atemu's gaze softened as he looked at him, and he took Yugi's hands and forced him to sit up straight. Atemu ran his thumbs over Yugi's knuckles, using the soft touch to soothe him. "You can't help your feelings, Little One. If you feel nothing for her, then it's not your fault."

"But it is!" Yugi exclaimed wrenching his hands away from Atemu's and standing, causing Atemu to stand as well. "I went out with her knowing it wasn't going to work! I went out with her knowing I wanted someone else!" Yugi clapped his hands over his mouth in mortification due to his outburst, not believing he'd just admitted to Atemu that he didn't like Tea, but someone else. Atemu blinked before the meaning behind Yugi's sentence sunk in. He once more reached out and took Yugi's hands, forcing the boy closer to him.

"Tell me." Atemu's tone left no room for disobedience. "Tell me who you want." Yugi looked away and shook his head.

"No. I can't."

"Yugi." Yugi looked up, eyes widening at the tone Atemu used to say his name. It was so soft and tender... "Please," Atemu pleaded. "I need to know."

"Why? Why is it so important?" Yugi asked, trying to yank his hands back, but Atemu's grip was like iron.

"Because I need to know if the person I want returns my feelings." Atemu stated, finally allowing Yugi's hands to fall to his sides. That was it. That was the most Atemu was willing to tell him without making himself too vulnerable, and he prayed it was enough. He prayed to Ra that Yugi's feelings would match his own. Yugi's eyes widened further at Atemu's words. What...? If the person he wants returns his feelings? Yugi mulled that over in his mind, only being able to come to one conclusion. He met Atemu's eyes steadily, letting all the feelings he had for Atemu show in his violet eyes.

"You. It's you Atemu. I had been denying my feelings because I was so sure you didn't feel the same, and-" Yugi was cut off as Atemu stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Yugi, his blood red eyes boring into Yugi's, the intensity stopping the flow of Yugi's words.

"Do not doubt my feelings for you ever again, Little One. I will tell you here and now that I want you, and that is the truth." Atemu admitted. Yugi drew in a shaky breath. Atemu had just...admitted his feelings to him!

"You want me?" Yugi questioned, his voice shaking as bad as his breathing.

"Yes. You and only you. Will you accept my feelings for you, Little One?" Atemu asked, leaning down and brushing his lips over Yugi's. Yugi couldn't have been happier at that moment in time. Atemu wanted him! Joy flew through Yugi, and he felt like flying. Nothing on Earth could have ruined his happiness right now. Yugi's body began to heat up as he took note of how close they were standing, and he wanted to be closer to Atemu. He needed the man, and he needed him now.

"Yes." Yugi whispered. "I want you so badly, please..." Atemu smiled widely, unable to believe his good fortune. The boy in his arms was all his at last! Finally, finally, he had what he had desired for so long. Atemu closed the distance between them then, crushing their lips together in a fiery kiss that stole the breath from Yugi's lungs and made him want more. Yugi's arms wrapped around Atemu's neck, pushing closer as Atemu's arms wound around him, pulling him closer, yet it didn't seem as if they could get close enough. Yugi moaned against Atemu's mouth as the elder male licked his lower lip, silently begging for entrance, which Yugi was all too happy to give him.

Atemu mapped out Yugi's mouth once more, enticing the little one's tongue into a friendly duel. Yugi tasted so very sweet, and Atemu wanted more of that flavor. After a minute, Atemu broke the kiss, both boys in need of air. They stared at each other, secretly loving the flushed face of the other, the half lidded expressions of desire. Atemu chuckled and leaned down, resting his forehead against Yugi's.

"Let us go home Little One, and if you will let me, I will show you passion unlike anything you have ever felt before." Atemu murmured huskily, a promise that sent a thrill of desire through Yugi's body. Oh yes, he wanted that very much.

"Yes, yes. Please Atemu..." Yugi leaned up and pressed a kiss to Atemu's mouth, agreeing wholeheartedly to his heated words. Atemu pulled away after a moment, taking Yugi's hand and leading him back into the restaurant, needing to get home now before he gave in to the urge to throw Yugi down and take him in front of everyone. He was so wound up right now, and all he could think about was having his way with the gorgeous boy trailing behind him.

"Atemu, wait." Yugi tugged on his hand as Atemu tried to take him towards the exit, and he turned to Yugi with a questioning look.

"What is it?"

"What about Mai and Tea? We all came together..." Yugi murmured. "And we still need to pay for dinner." Atemu cursed in a low voice and began to lead Yugi back to the table they had started at. Yugi blinked in surprise when he saw neither woman sitting at the table. There was a note laying there however, and Yugi picked it up, quickly scanning the words.

Yugi,

I left the money for mine and Tea's meal, please take it. And don't worry about us, I'm hailing a cab so we'll get home alright. You and Temy just focus on having fun tonight, and lots of it. (wink) And Yugi, you two look so cute together. Good luck honey.

Love you cous cous,

Mai

Yugi blushed furiously, and he handed the note to Atemu, who laughed as he read it. Atemu then leaned down and whispered in Yugi's ear. "She shouldn't worry. I'm sure we'll have tons of "fun," won't we Little One?" Yugi's blush darkened, and he snatched up the money Mai left him and set it with the bill, along with the rest of the money, which came out of his wallet and a tip. That taken care of, Yugi turned and began walking towards the exit, well aware of Atemu right behind him. Yugi was so happy right now, it was almost like being high. He's mine, he's all mine, and he wants me too. Yugi thought as they walked out of the restaurant into the chilly night air.