"Thanks for staying back to help me, Anzu-chan," Yuugi said as the two left the school building, the sun high and hot in the sky as they walked towards the gate. "Sorry, I forgot that I had cleanup duty today of all days. I would've been lost without you."

"Don't worry about it, Yuugi-kun." Anzu smiled at her friend, watching as he sighed at his own forgetfulness. "We couldn't have you be late, after all. What would Atem-kun say if you missed his party?"

Yuugi didn't answer the tease, his faint grin broadening before he turned away from her, staring out across the baseball field as he played with his backpack straps.

And Anzu just shook her head, smiling at Yuugi's silent, but clear delight at the reminder of the other Yuugi.

Of Atem.

It was still strange to her at times, thinking of the two as two in the fullest sense, but it came far easier recently, as she had had chances to actually see them together, interacting as naturally as any two friends would. For over a year it had been nothing but talking about one another, and though she knew they spoke, saw constant evidence of an unseen dynamic growing in recent months, the mental image of two Yuugis playing a constant 'tag out' game with one another had never truly faded.

Now, the bond she had seen only little peeks of here and there was plain to see, obvious in retrospect even with one absent, and it was reassuring in a way, seeing how close the two truly were. They lit up around each other, were so naturally comfortable, and attentive, and Anzu thought… She worried so constantly lately, about the magic, and what would happen, and Egypt, but still. Somehow, she felt like she never had to worry about Atem or Yuugi when the other was right there, looking after the other.

The thought stuck in her throat.

She swallowed it and smiled. "Besides, I had more than enough time. It was either stay here and help you, or go on ahead to the shop and help your mother. And the others– well, Otogi-kun should be more than enough help. Bakura-kun, too, once he picks up the rest of the food from his house."

Yuugi sniffed, grinning her way again. "Jounouchi-kun and Honda-kun will help, too. Mama will know to find something outside of the kitchen to keep them busy."

"Wise woman."

Yuugi chuckled properly, then a crack sounded from the baseball field and they both turned to watch a student drop their bat and bolt to first base, running to the cries of a few supportive club members.

They watched the game for a few seconds, then walked on, Anzu murmuring as though to herself, "I wonder if they mind, giving up most of their Saturday to practice."

"Maybe some," Yuugi answered in the same distracted way, just as they crossed the threshold of the gate. "The sports club members are probably the only ones left in the building, now that we've left."

"Probably."

"But you know," Yuugi went on, playing with his chain necklace as he grinned her way. "I never thought about it much before, but if anyone in school was going to be in a club, I would've expected it to be you."

Even with his good-natured tones, Anzu had to sigh, frowning as she looked down the street. "I thought about it, definitely. But we had to pick a club the moment we joined high school, and, well, for the first year there, I thought I would be working after-school jobs."

She looked Yuugi's way in time to see his surprise shift to understanding, his smile almost apologetic. "Right. Your dream."

Anzu didn't answer for a few beats, smiling as gratitude and warmth filled her because he remembered– "That's right. And I haven't given up on making that happen, but my parents started worrying I'd get expelled if it got out I was working. So, they promised to cover my dance classes and top off what I already saved up, so long as I kept my grades up…" She shrugged, embarrassed to admit it. She had wanted to earn her own way to New York, and even knowing she was capable of it, had nearly done it, she couldn't shake the irrational shame that she wasn't going to manage it all on her own. "And even with the time freed up, they wouldn't let me pick a club in second year."

"Right…"

"I don't really mind, though," she said, focusing back on Yuugi, smiling to see him so quietly focused on her. "It kept my time open for everything we've done. And besides," she grinned, a joke in her voice. "There isn't a dance club in school, anyway."

Yuugi beamed for her lightened tone, insisting, "Yeah, but I bet you'd be really good at all sorts of things. Sports or drama or–"

"What about you?" Anzu interrupted, earning a baffled blink in response. "You could have easily joined a club in our first year, Yuugi-kun."

He grimaced, his expression prompting a patient disappointment from Anzu before he even spoke, for she knew roughly what he was about to say. "Even if I didn't have a pass to work for family, there's not much I'd be any good at, or interested in. At least, nothing more than my own games… Besides, can you really see that? Me in sports, or choir, or–"

"You could have started your own club." The interruption earned Anzu nothing more than a doubting look, but she ignored it, adding a playful prod to her smile and words. "You know, a gaming club? 'Traditional Gaming' or something like that. I've seen a few different people play Shogi and Go at lunch time. You probably would've had some bites."

Yuugi blinked at her… then stopped walking, his expression downright aghast as he stared straight ahead at nothing.

And Anzu could only laugh, making Yuugi jump and stare at her and blush bright red. "Haha, too bad, huh? You probably could have been president of a club like that in a second!"

Yuugi just burned redder with the claim, but glowered at her continued laughter, pushing on her shoulder. "Hmph, what do you mean, 'too bad'?! Suggesting that now is just mean!"

Anzu simmered down to a chuckle, but felt no remorse as she smiled at Yuugi. She could tell that, beneath the complaint, he was pleased by the claim. "Well, it doesn't matter now. You could have joined all sorts of clubs, but right now it's good that we're free. All we have to worry about are the finals–" Yuugi grimaced. "And today, not even that. We can focus completely on Atem-kun's party."

Slowly, Yuugi smiled again, the tension sliding out of his face and shoulders, he looked at her, a quiet happiness in his eyes.

Anzu's grin twisted into something shy, and she turned her head, finding it hard to look at Yuugi right then. "Do you think he'll like it?" The party itself, and… Her fingers caught on the little keepsake tucked in her pocket. It had been so hard to think of anything to give him. Anything Atem could actually use in the time he had left. He couldn't possibly keep anything long-term, and while she'd wanted to give him something, when she had let her mind linger on the subject for long, she just couldn't…

A chuckle pulled her out of her quickly fogging thoughts, and Anzu found Yuugi still smiling, a touch of humor in his voice as he started walking again. "He'll probably be stuck somewhere between ecstatic and an awkward duck the entire time."

Anzu laughed, an anxious gratitude filling her chest as she rushed to catch up, quickly slowing to match Yuugi's stride. "You think so?" It was easy enough to believe, if she were honest. She hadn't seen Atem nearly as much as she would like, but she still had discovered entirely new sides to him in the last month– sides she had only seen faint peeks of prior to his split with Yuugi. The reserved, confident person she had known outside of the shining sun of a duelist and friend and hero had expanded into someone more… in reach. Someone who was rather awkward at times, to be honest.

It was really quite sweet.

And Yuugi was happy to fill in some of the blanks, passing along little stories of what Atem said or did in the Mutou household, or when she and the others just weren't there to see it.

A little prodding as they walked, and Yuugi slid right into such a tale, laughing as he recounted a conversation from breakfast that morning. "Jii-chan wanted him to stand in front of the shop on Marine's Day and offer games to people passing by– and when he refused and I offered to do it instead, he started in on Atem offering himself as a game opponent, instead. He was refusing that, too, until I introduced bargaining into the conversation."

"What did you do, Yuugi-kun?"

"Nothing!" he yelped, the mischievous little grin on his face wiped away as he blinked wide, innocent eyes at Anzu and her suspicious smile. "I just said that mou hitori no boku would be more comfortable dueling! You know, if he was going to play so publicly with others… and that if we're promoting dueling, we should really get more cards in the shop…"

Anzu's amusement faded, her expression going flat. "You used Atem-kun to get more Duel Monster cards in your shop?"

"We used him, Anzu-chan," Yuugi corrected, a faint pride behind his smile as he held up a finger. "Both of us. And if you really think mou hitori no boku has the harder job when I'm the one who has to push Jii-chan's weirdest items on innocent bystanders–"

"Hyuh." Anzu flinched as she recalled some of the Mutou family's stranger merchandise. "Still, is Atem-kun comfortable with that?"

"Oh," Yuugi smirked outright, a giggle beneath his words. "He was offering to take on three duelists at once the second Jii-chan wavered on the card packs."

"He didn't."

"I won't let him," Yuugi promised, the assurance so easy and fond that Anzu stared at him, half-baffled and half-awed by his quiet confidence. "Not without some tweaks to the rules, at least, to keep it fair. Anyways, mou hitori no boku will be pretty busy prepping for the sale while the rest of us study and go to school, inventorying and cleaning out old stuff and all that. I'll have to prod Jii-chan to let him go tomorrow afternoon, at least, so I can take him shopping. We still need to buy some stuff for the trip, after all, especially from the book shop. Some travel books and Egyptian etiquette guides and all…"

Anzu's amusement died as she kept staring, watching Yuugi's light airs and quick words slow, levity and laughter ebbing away, even as he kept on smiling.

Anzu didn't. She just stared, heart hurting.

And in the silence, Yuugi noticed. Looked at her, and… stared back, face empty, and tense. "What?"

She shook her head, both their steps stalling as she stared at the space between them. "I just… I don't understand how you can talk about it like that, Yuugi-kun."

His hands clenched on his bag straps, then pointedly relaxed, and when she looked up, she saw he wasn't looking at her. He was staring forward, at nothing, his heart somewhere a mile ahead of them.

He'd run away.

She flinched to see it, following his gaze like she'd actually find where he had gone if she just looked. "I'm sorry. It's just, I don't even see him everyday, and I can't… every time I think about it… I just don't know how you do it." She knew that he must hurt, too. Must worry. But every time he showed himself capable of skating over the truth, the little proofs of what was to come in less than two weeks, she envied him.

Envied, and pined for the same ability.

If only she could find that strength, too. But she couldn't even run.

"I do think about it."

…Anzu turned back, and stared at her friend.

Yuugi was still staring ahead, but those soft words had certainly come from him, and as she watched, he spoke again, right before her eyes. "Constantly. I constantly think about it… I can't not think about it."

"Yuugi-kun," She tried, but nothing would come out, the envy she'd felt flipping on its face and twisting into sympathy, for Yuugi… so little changed in his expression, everything about his face and voice stiff and distant, but distant like a thundering storm a hundred miles away, the direction it would turn still unclear, and– and the idea of such disaster, it was… was she… how wrong was she, actually?

…

And then it cleared.

Yuugi blinked, turned back and smiled at her, the sudden sincerity behind that warmth clenching in her throat, disturbing her even as she clung to the hope it offered. "But, when I do think about it? I just tell myself, I need to be honest."

Anzu stared, the impulse to protest that contradiction and push what Yuugi himself had just shown her back at him burning in her gut… then dying away. Because the certainty of the consequences left her mute as she watched him smile.

"I need to be as true to myself as possible so long as he's– so long as mou hitori no boku is here, so that later, I won't…" he looked down, the break in their eye contact easing some of the tension and freeing Anzu to truly take in the struggle behind Yuugi's reticence. The fight for peace. "So that I won't look back and regret. I won't think about the time I did have with him, and think, 'I should have done this. I should have said that.' …I won't regret."

He said it like it was an oath. Like it was a promise to himself.

And Anzu knew he meant it, but– but that didn't change anything. He was clearly not as ahead of his worries as he seemed, and there was far less there for her to envy than she had thought.

…And, yet…

She nodded, looking away from his downturned face, shame nipping at her feet. "Yeah. That makes sense."

The silence hung for a while, the city around them unnaturally quiet to her ear. But finally, someone called out something a street or two over, and the disturbance prompted her to look up– and Yuugi was staring at her.

Had already been looking at her.

And she didn't understand the look in his eyes, but it was gone in a blink, and he smiled for her. "So, it'd be a big shame to waste time thinking about it, right? Especially when he's waiting for us."

…She offered a smile back, weak as it was. "Right."

"Right." Yuugi dodged her gaze again, starting their walk back up with a simple, "Come on, the bus is coming soon."

And Anzu didn't respond, trailing after him only after a few seconds, and even then hanging back, far enough to stare at his back. Far enough to look at him and think, it really hadn't been fair of her to bring up Atem's departure. Yuugi was struggling in his own way, that much was clear, but even if he hadn't, that didn't change the fact that when she spoke… when she pressed him about it, Anzu was just pushing her own fears onto Yuugi.

She was afraid, after all, just as Yuugi said.

Afraid of building regrets.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!"

Atem shook his head, allowing the humor and embarrassment and delight to float openly across his face– while the lights were still out to hide it.

"Happy birthday , dear–" He bit back a snort as unsynchronized cries of 'Atem' and 'Atem-kun' and 'mou hitori no boku ' all tripped over his head in a garbled mess, the voices scrambling back together into a coherent string on the final line of the English song. "Happy birthday to you!"

"Come on, Atem! Blow out the candles!"

"I'm not a kid, Jounouchi-kun," he said through a laugh, but a hand prodded him in the shoulder, just before Yui spoke.

"You are from where I'm standing. Now come on, before the wax ruins the icing."

Atem shook his head again, but didn't protest further. Just leaned over the illuminated cake, blew, and the room went even darker to a chorus of claps and calls.

"Whoo!"

"Yeah! Now we can eat!"

"Aren't you full yet after the sushi and sweets?"

"Not on your life!"

Atem squinted as someone found the switch and the Mutou living room flooded with light, revealing the friends and family gathered around him.

He focused quickly on his partner, sitting on the couch beside him with a big grin on his face. "Happy?"

Atem sniffed, relaxing into an easy smile. "Yes. Although, I don't recall you having a birthday like this in years." It had been Saturday nights out at Yuugi's current favored restaurant since he was twelve, with a present or a promise for dessert– and more recently, gifts from his friends on the nearest school day. Just last month, the boys pitched in to buy Yuugi a copy of Tetris 64 while Anzu gave him a pencil bag with Dark Magician on the zipper– but that was over lunch. They didn't come over or have a party.

Which was probably for the best, since his grandfather had tried to gift Yuugi a strange looking urn that brought back ugly memories of dragons and elemental cards.

"Come on, I've never had a party like this!" Yuugi countered, smiling as he looked to their friends and missing the way Atem tensed at the reminder. Because no, Yuugi never had friends like this when he was young enough for cakes and candles, did he? "Who cares if we're too old? This is awesome!"

"Aw, who says you have to give up cakes and candles when you get older?" Jounouchi scoffed, grinning at Yui as she cut the white sponge birthday cake, splitting the first character of Atem's name, formed in red icing. "This looks great!"

"Thank you, Jounouchi-kun."

"Oh, uh, welcome, Mutou-san."

"You didn't know Mama made the cake, Jounouchi-kun? Haha– Thanks, Mama," Yuugi said, accepting the piece of cake his mother handed him. Rather than eat it himself, though, Yuugi passed it on to Atem, smiling at his instant surprise. "Come on, you should have the first slice. It's part of Mama's gift to you, after all."

Atem opened his mouth– then quickly shut it, ingrained habit keeping him mute when he would have certainly stumbled for words. He just nodded, expressing thanks with a quick look at Yui before taking a bite– and his eyes went wide, and he pulled out his fork, looking to Yuugi. "There's raspberry in this."

Yuugi's eyes went wide, and they both looked at the cake, a line of red now visible in the layers.

When Atem looked up, he saw most of his friends staring, too, most with simple surprise, but Jounouchi– "That means we can have a slice now, right, Mutou-san?"

"Of course, Jounouchi-kun."

"Yes! Make mine super big, then."

"Seriously?" came a sigh from behind Atem, and he looked over his shoulder to see Otogi just behind him, leaning over the back of the couch, arms folded and eyes narrowed on Jonouchi. "You eat half the stuff I brought for Atem-kun's party, and now you're planning to eat half the cake, too?"

"Pssht, shuddup. Those were just leftovers from your cafe and we all know it!"

"No, it was food I prepared special at the cafe, you g–"

"Oh- kay," Yuugi cut in with a laugh, smiling anxiously at both of his friends as a plate was pushed into his hands, his mother hovering over him with an approving eye as Yuugi focused on their guests. "I'm sure Jounouchi-kun ate that much just because he likes your food, Otogi-kun."

"Sure."

"And between Mama's cake and you and Bakura-kun's sushi, there's more than enough to go around," he insisted, shooting a quick smile at Bakura with the mention.

The pale-haired teen returned the look from his spot between Anzu and Honda, sitting on the floor before the family room table. "Thank you, Yuugi-kun. But you know it was all just from our dinner yesterday."

"A dinner you made for us," Atem pointed out, smiling as he swallowed another bite of cake. "Don't belittle your food. It was a good gift."

Bakura laughed, scratching the back of his neck before reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. "Thank you, but in that case, I hope you won't consider this overboard."

Atem blinked down at the hand Bakura held out to him over the cake and table… putting down his plate to accept it as Otogi muttered, "Wait, I thought food could be a gift," behind his back. Yuugi mumbled back reassurances, but Atem missed the actual words as he opened the unsealed envelope, shaking out the contents.

A pile of tickets fell into his hand.

"They're for an exhibit opening at the university a week from Tuesday," Bakura explained, his smile shy and almost wary as Atem inspected the text on one of the paper slips. "They moved the remnants of the museum collection over there, you know."

Atem schooled his face into curiosity, only aware of the disquiet that struck him after he'd already squashed it. And it couldn't have shown on his face, but his lack of reaction or pleasure was enough to leave Bakura uncertain, a grimace invading his smile before he grinned even wider, rushing to add, "And they've taken advantage of the move to the university to add a planetarium show! Something about the role of stars in Ancient Egypt. You can get in to one showing with the exhibit tickets."

"That should be cool," Yuugi said, offering Atem an encouraging smile when he looked at him. "We've never been to a planetarium before."

"…No, we haven't." Atem smiled at the thought, turning back to Bakura in time to see the tension slide out of his posture. "There are enough tickets here for all of us?"

"That's right! So, you'll go?"

"Of course. Thank you. It's a good gift."

Bakura's smile curled wider, Jounouchi snickered, and Atem blinked at them both in confusion, then hardened his face against an embarrassed flinch.

He'd just repeated himself, hadn't he?

"That really was a good idea, Bakura-kun." Anzu's voice dragged Atem out of his self-ire, but he was left confused all over again when he heard the faint regret in her voice. "I wish I'd thought of something like that. Something to experience is definitely better."

What?

"Well! If we're getting out the gifts–" The group turned to watch as Sugoroku hopped out of his armchair, leaving the room in a few quick strides that left them blinking and silent, taken aback.

Hadn't he been asleep since lunch…?

"…Were you mentioning something about your present, Anzu-chan?" Yuugi finally said, and they all focused back on the girl as she turned thrown eyes on them– then flushed faintly, her smile shaky as she reached into her pocket and pulled something out.

"Here. It's not much, and more about old memories than new ones, but I hope you'll use it while…" She trailed off, grimacing like she regretted what she didn't even say, but Atem ignored the likely meaning in favor of accepting and eyeing the item she dropping his palm, smiling as he recognized it.

"This is the Domino Park logo."

"Yes," Anzu acknowledged, visibly relaxing as Atem dangled the keychain from a finger so the others could see it. "I got the idea after Honda-kun gave us keychains at the park, so I while you guys went to the restrooms near the gift shop, before we left…"

"Wait," Honda jumped in, leaning forward to frown at the girl beside him. "You stole your birthday gift idea from me?"

"It's not like I won it in a game like you did. I specifically bought it, to remind Atem-kun of our trip."

"I like it," Atem proclaimed, cutting off the minor banter before it could really start, delight and relief clearly replacing Anzu's frustration as he smiled. "Thank you, Anzu."

"Y-yeah. You're welcome."

"But yeah, you say you like Bakura's idea of giving him another trip better?" Jounouchi asked, drawing their attention as he grinned at Anzu. "I agree! Bakura's on the right track with that star thing–"

"Planetarium show."

"Right." Jounouchi waved a dismissive hand at Bakura, his grin still focused on Atem. "But we should come up with some other stuff! Lots of places are overcrowded on the weekends, but if we go places after school, like the beach or the park, or Akihabara, always wanted to go there– We could fill up pretty much every night with–"

"Jounouchi-kun."

The blond flinched, freezing for a heartbeat before looking reluctantly up at the speaker, hovering beside the table.

Atem followed his gaze, tense himself as he eyed Yui's frowning face. "You aren't talking about going out every school night next week, are you?"

"Er–"

"Your finals start on Wednesday, and I know Yuugi-kun will be spending most of his free time focused on his studies."

"Mama–"

"And I am certain all of you plan to do the same thing, right?"

It wasn't just Yuugi. All of them kept their mouths shut as Yui shot each and every one of them a hard look, until her gaze fell on Atem.

Then her expression softened. "Of course, you can do whatever you like with Atem-kun once the tests pass. You'll still have the week after next to plan anything special. The flight isn't for a couple of weeks still, after all– and Atem-kun, you don't have any tests. If you'd like to do something while the others study, you can go wherever you like. I'll be happy to take over the shop work and Marine Day preparations if you would like some time to yourself."

Atem stared at her, the urge to fidget under her offer making his skin itch. He settled for clearing his throat, shaking his head at the offer. "Thank you, but I'll keep helping here. There isn't much point in time off until the others are free…" That phantom itch grew stronger along his left jaw, making him think his partner was looking at him.

He kept his eyes on Yui as she gave him a nod, eyes approving. "Very well… Did any of you want more tea?" she asked, turning to the rest of the group with a smile, the atmosphere in the room suddenly much lighter.

"I– I could use a refill, Mutou-san."

"Of course, Otogi-kun. I'll just go brew some more."

And with that, Yui walked out of the room, freeing the teens to relax, and Jounouchi to let out a long, irritated huff, like he'd been holding it in for forever. "Man, there goes that plan."

"Sorry, Jounouchi-kun," Yuugi apologized, earning an incredulous look from the blond and Atem and the room at large. "I already knew I'd have to focus on studies this week. I guess I should have mentioned it."

"Don't you apologize for that!"

"Well," Bakura jumped in, his smile and voice far softer than Jounouchi's snap. "At least the planetarium show is the Tuesday after Marine Day? Our finals will be over by then."

"Yeah," Anzu agreed, her tone encouraging as she looked at Yuugi– then Atem, her smile shrinking and lightening all at once somehow as their eyes met. "We just have to set any other plans for the days after that."

Atem grinned at the optimistic idea, but shook his head, keeping his features pointedly composed as he said, "If it's all right with everyone, I'd like to leave it at that."

The smiles around him died, withering away as everyone asked why without a single word.

But Atem kept smiling, focusing on his partner and finding some solace in the patience already there in his eyes. "I'd rather keep things quiet. Meet up when we've already decided, maybe after your exams and before the flight, but other than that? If we have time to hang out, that's great, but…" There really wasn't that much time. A week of studies and work, the Marine Day sale, the Planetarium, two evenings after that, and then… they left first thing on Friday.

And, Atem wouldn't say it aloud, but he would have all of them around him when they went to Egypt, the entire trip… and he wanted to devote at least a little time to Yuugi.

Just Yuugi.

And Yuugi understood that.

Perhaps not fully, but he saw the question dissolve in his partner's eyes, shift into something raw, and fragile… then disappear, folded behind a smile.

Atem allowed himself to return it, if only for a breath, then turned to their friends. "If that's all right with you."

"–Hey, man," Honda said in a rush, like he was trying to jump in before anyone else could speak. "It's your time. If that's how you want to spend it, we're not going to fight you over it."

The allowance was dismissive, but Atem still shot him a grateful look, convinced that Honda realized what Atem actually wanted– and the strained grin Honda offered back all but confirmed it.

He turned his eyes briefly on the rest of them, earning allowing smiles from each one save Anzu, who stared at the cake, a heavy, thoughtful look on her face.

"Yeah, well," Jounouchi sighed before Atem could ask Anzu anything, scratching his elbow before reaching into his jacket pocket. "If that's what you want, fine. We'll drop it. So, here: your present."

…Atem had honestly forgotten they were still doing gifts.

But he jumped on board quick enough when he saw what Jounouchi was holding, beaming as he snatched up the card pack. "Duel Monster cards?"

"Yup! They had a new spellcaster one on sale."

"Wait, what?" Yuugi started, leaning sharply into Atem's unreactive shoulder as he tore open the foil and pulled out a small handful of cards, sucking in a breath when he saw the art and read the description of the one on top.

"Special Summon one Dark Magician from your hand, then Special Summon one… Jounouchi-kun, this is amazing!"

"Heh heh." Jounouchi let out a proud chuckle, meeting Atem grin for grin when he looked up. "I thought you'd like it."

"The cards are randomized."

"Oh shuddup, Otogi. I knew there would be good magic ones in there!"

"And he was right," Atem agreed, grinning at them before inspecting the rest of his new cards, flipping past a couple familiar ones until he found– "Ah."

Chocolate Magician Girl. Once per turn, you can discard one spellcaster-type monster...

"Hey… that's…" Atem blinked out of his intrigued reading to discover his partner, leaning closer than ever with a fascinated, fascinating look on his face, his focus entirely on the card and the girl on it. "Hey, uh, can I have a look–"

Atem swiped his hand back, eyes narrowed in a smile as his partner blinked out of a daze. "Wait. If I keep this, I might want to surprise you with the effect in a duel."

Yuugi frowned, practically pouting a second until begrudging acceptance started to rise– only to collapse into shock when Atem held the cards out with a smirk, voice warm as he teased, "I'd be happy to give it to you, though, depending on the offer…"

Yuugi flushed, his eyes going wide and catching and he didn't breathe for a second and just as Atem reconsidered his actions, wary to look at the others because perhaps he'd been a little too clear with his affection and the sincere meaning behind the taunt–

"Uh, fun as it is to hear card trading talk–" came Honda's voice, cutting through the tension and leaving Yuugi coughing and Atem blinking at their friend, barely comprehending Honda's exasperated smile until the brunette tossed something bright green at him, making Atem jerk back before it hit his face. "Here. Happy birthday."

Atem took a quick, assessing look at the group, and relaxed when he saw nothing but amusement and baffled confusion looking back at him. Reassured, he turned his attention to the t-shirt in his lap, grinning when he saw the image printed on the front. "Where did you find a Cactuar shirt?"

"Eh, I got lucky at the mall."

"Thank you."

"Course."

"You gonna try it on?" Jounouchi asked, leaning over to inspect the Final Fantasy character before smirking at Atem. "It might be too big for you, you know– Ack!"

Atem blinked as a hand popped out from behind his back and pushed Jounouchi nearly off the couch. As the blond fumbled and cursed, Atem turned to his partner– who glowered at Jounouchi a couple seconds more before grinning at him. "Ignore him. It'll look great."

"Thank you, aibou."

"Yeah, but uh…" Yuugi scratched at his cheek, staring at the table in a way that left Atem smiling, staring expectantly until Yuugi finally shook his head and reached down under the couch to pull out a small box, wrapped in red paper. "Here."

"…Thank you, aibou," he repeated, letting his eyes linger on Yuugi's a moment before looking down and accepting the gift, tearing off the wrapping once it was in his lap.

There was a game inside. A familiar one.

Super Mario All Stars.

Atem traced the lines of the title with a thoughtful finger, confusion and fogged understanding blending in his mind as he tried to think, why would his partner choose that of all things? Atem liked the game, but it wasn't just a random pick. There was something about the choice that seemed so–

I would have preferred Super Mario All Stars, but the store didn't have it in stock.

His breath caught with the memory, sticking in his throat as he turned shocked eyes on his partner… and saw in Yuugi's smile, that he was right.

He– Atem had said that to Yuugi months ago, on White Day. He had gifted his partner Super Mario World in thanks for the chocolate Yuugi gave him a month earlier, but. Atem had said it then. He had wanted to give him this game.

And Yuugi remembered.

…Atem smiled, clenching the game in his hands, hoping Yuugi would see his want to hold him, instead. "Thank you, aibou."

Yuugi grinned, joy in his eyes. "You're welcome."

"…What prompted you to get that, Yuugi-kun?"

Atem looked up at the hesitant question and saw Otogi, frowning down at them both with a faint uncertainty in his eyes– and chuckled, holding up the game. "It's an old favorite of mine. Aibou knows that."

"Oh."

"Well," Bakura said, and they turned to see him grinning at them. "It looks like you had a nice haul, huh, Atem-kun?"

"Aa."

"In that case–" Jounouchi rolled his shoulders before picking up a fork, a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he looked at the cake. "What do you say we skip the plates while Yuugi's mom finishes brewing that tea, and–"

"Hold up, kids!"

They all looked up– and balked when they saw Sugoroku standing in the doorway, a wickedly bright smile on his face and a black, dusty urn in his hands, its lid covered in strange symbols written in suspiciously red ink. "I haven't had a chance to give Atem-kun my gift yet–"

"Jii-chan, we talked about this!"

"Well, maybe Atem-kun will be a better sport about it than you were, Yuugi!"

"You are not giving him that–" Yuugi jumped to his feet, rushing around the table to confront his grandfather… and Atem looked down, distracted from the fight by something moving in his periphery.

Jounouchi was eating the cake.

"You know," Atem pointed out, grinning as his partner used a Pow Block to knock over three Shy Guys at once. "You never know. There could be another spirit in that urn, just waiting to pop out."

"Then he can find someone else to let him out. I'm perfectly happy with the one I've got, and as if I'm giving you up to anyone."

Atem chuckled, making Yuugi fidget when the sound vibrated against his side. Atem was all but draped across Yuugi's lap, an arm around his partner's waist keeping his cheek pressed against his chest, Yuugi returning the hug via the arm supporting Atem's back as he played the game.

The game Yuugi had gifted him.

And Atem's turn was coming up fast, but he was seriously considering telling Yuugi to play one player, just so he wouldn't have to move… "Aibou?"

"Yeah?"

"Didn't you say you had homework?"

Atem didn't look up, but he was sure that Yuugi smiled, the game pausing just before lips brushed his brow. He let his eyes fall shut at the warm touch. "Tomorrow. The guys will be back to study in the morning… And it's still your day."

"…Aa," he breathed, giving in with a grin as he relaxed into Yuugi's side, watching him unpause the game and continue playing…

"…But, uh, don't tell Mama, okay?"

"My lips are sealed… Though, if you doubt me, you could always seal them for your–"

The game paused again.

A hand cupped Atem's cheek and turned his face up, and his laughter was smothered in a kiss.

"Welcome to Kame Game, I'll be right–" Atem started, the half-conscious greeting cutting off when he looked up from the display shelf he was cleaning and locked eyes with the person who just walked into the shop.

Anzu smiled, letting the door shut behind her. "Hi," she managed, chest instantly tight when she saw the baffled look on Atem's face. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"…Of course not." Atem's shock faded fast, his movements as smooth as always as he straightened his back and wiped his hands on the clean side of the cloth he was holding, eyes curious as he focused on her. "I just didn't expect to see you today. I thought you were studying at home."

"Oh, I was, but I finished," she started to explain, only for the words to die on her tongue as her initial nervousness passed and she actually looked at Atem properly, and noticed that, aside from wearing that t-shirt Honda gave him yesterday, the one with the cactus character, half-hidden by the shop apron, he– "You have new glasses."

"Ah." Atem chuckled at the apparent reminder, taking off his spectacles to look at them himself. "They're the more expensive pair we ordered when I was first examined. So far I think I prefer my other ones, but," he shrugged, sliding them back on before smiling at Anzu. The design was slimmer than the other pair he wore, the gray color far more muted, but the half-frames followed the natural lines of his eyes. "They came in this morning, so I'm trying them out."

"They're nice," she said, relaxing into the sentiment even as sincerity and humming nerves made the words come out too fast. "They don't bring out your eyes the same way as the others, but they look very sharp."

Atem stared at her, gaze questioning, but– "Thank you."

Anzu breathed in, grinning as she fought back the urge to fidget under that stare. "But, yes! I finished my studies early today." Got up especially early just to make certain she would. "So, I thought I'd come by. Is… Yuugi-kun inside? Are the others here?" She glanced at the door that led to the private side of the Mutou's house, but Atem shook his head.

"No, they're all at Honda-kun's," he said, drawing her attention back to him. "His mother is making sure they actually study. They didn't get much done here today, and Yuugi's mother had to go out. So, she chased them out and called ahead to Honda-kun's."

Anzu chuckled her way to a grin, relaxing at the explanation. "What exactly were they doing?"

The smile Atem offered could warm the heart of a tin man. "I've been sworn to secrecy."

"Uh -huh." Her gaze lingered on that smile, but her attention still slowly strayed back to the door as she wondered… braced herself.

"Sorry, but I don't think aibou will be back until bedtime. He's eating dinner over at Honda's place."

"N-no, that's fine! Don't apologize!" she assured, grinning as she forced herself to face him, not really taking in Atem's features as she asked, "But, if everyone is out tonight? For dinner?" Atem didn't correct her. He hadn't mentioned Yuugi's grandfather at all, so it was possible she was wrong… but Atem didn't correct her.

When she dared to focus properly on him, Atem was just staring at her, waiting.

She swallowed. Smiled. "Would you… like to have dinner with me? After the shop closes, of course," she rushed to add, taking a quick look around the empty room. It was still a few minutes to closing, wasn't it? She was a bit earlier than she had hoped…

When she looked back, Atem was still staring, his gaze quiet but intent, weighing her in a way that left Anzu feeling exposed. And painfully obvious.

…But finally, he smiled, voice accepting as he asked, "Sure. Where did you want to go?"

"I never imagined you as a coffee drinker."

Atem hummed, taking a testing sip of his drink before replying, "Aibou's mother introduced me to it. Though I've never had one that was cold or decaf before."

"Ah…"

He ignored the hesitant edge in Anzu's voice, leaving her to collect her thoughts as he eyed his iced coffee, unsure if he cared for it or not… Still ambivalent, he set it aside on the table he shared with Anzu.

They were in a cafe. Some little corner of a place a few blocks from the game shop that Atem had never noticed before, since it was on a street Yuugi never frequented on his way to school. Anzu claimed she saw it when she walked over that evening, though Atem knew her house wasn't that direction. He didn't point that out, though, and the two ordered their food and drinks and found a spot to sit, little said in the process.

Presumably their soba noodles would be along soon, but until then, they had their silence.

It wasn't a disgruntled or uncomfortable thing on Atem's part, as far as the company went. He was just leaving room for Anzu to lead the discussion, since she clearly had something on her mind. But she kept receding into silence, filling the gaps between chatter with frowns at the table, or by playing with the straw of her flavored tea… She popped out of the latest reticence with a smile, though, chuckling as she said, "Well, it's good you went decaf. You shouldn't be up all night, even if you don't have school like the rest of us."

Atem quirked a brow, musing over the long delayed reply before nodding. "No. I have a shop shift in the morning, and I wouldn't want to keep aibou awake by staying up."

"No…" Her agreement came easily, but fell off to nowhere, a frown forming on her face as she stared at the tabletop again.

And Atem finally gave in to the urge to help, tapping fingers on the table before crossing his arms. "We won't have too long to eat," he said, apologies in his voice. "I need to stop by the bookstore, to pick up some books we ordered."

"…Some travel books?"

Atem's eyes narrowed, and he tried to read it: the meaning behind the look in Anzu's eyes. But she still wouldn't look up. "Among other things, yes."

Anzu tried to smile, but it there was no happiness behind the look. "Yuugi-kun mentioned them yesterday. He said you were going to go pick them out together."

"Aa. But we couldn't find a good time since he had to study. So, we called ahead and the staff helped us pick some things out over the phone. I said I'd pick them up today before they close."

"Right…"

Atem frowned, stared at Anzu's downcast face… and decided.

Steeling himself for what was sure to follow, he unfolded his arms, pressing both palms to the table. "Anzu."

She startled, blinking up to catch his gaze, her own shot with tension. "Yes?"

"If there's something on your mind, you can say it. It's fine. I'm listening." He'd tried to infuse as much encouragement into the words as possible, but Anzu still flinched at the callout. Turned away and looked towards the staff counter, and the kitchen door beyond… perhaps she had been stalling until the meal was over.

But the food could still take a while, and they couldn't linger afterwards, so whatever she had to say would be rushed, perhaps even lost to the pressure… and Atem could swear he saw those realizations zip across her face just before her expression went tight, as though she gathering herself. Bracing herself.

And Atem watched, resigned.

He was no fool. He did not understand many things that he likely should. But he knew Anzu, and he could guess what this was about… and he had gone along with it, even invited the situation because if she spoke while he expected it, had the chance to prepare himself–

And yet, when she took a long, deep breath, and looked at him, fear and determination in her warm blue eyes, his resolve shook.

"I want to be clear," Anzu started, both her hands clenching before they slid off the table to her lap, out of sight. "I know it won't change anything, and I'm not trying to make you change your mind, or make you feel guilty about anything. I know you are leaving…" she trailed off, looking down as pain swept across her face, and Atem was too distant from himself to know if it was sympathy or her words that made his gut twist until it hurt. "I just– I know I'll regret it if I don't say anything, and… Atem-kun, I love you."

The words were a mere whisper, meant only for him amid the sparse, unknowing café crowd. But she looked at him, and Atem could only mirror her thrown, anxious look, dizzy at the words– and it was all he could do not to crack.

"I've loved you from the first day I heard your voice, and as silly as I know that sounds, I have only grown more sure of my feelings as I've come to know you, as a friend, and a person, and as just Atem-kun, so I… I am certain it's true… and I wanted to tell you, at least once… before you go…" Her voice grew so little by the end, her gaze finally breaking with Atem's, "Before it was too late…" said more to the table than to him.

And Atem could only stare, dizzy, sweat burning on the back of his neck. He was sure that his expression stayed steady, but he couldn't even speak, regret and admiration and feelings he didn't even deign– refused to parse out whirling about in his head, until finally, he swallowed.

Anzu remained mute, her eyes sliding up to stare blindly at about his throat, not quite meeting his eye… and her gaze dropped again when he said, "I understand."

She knew then. Atem saw that.

The tension holding her up wilted out of her shoulders, and her expression emptied out, and Atem made himself breathe again to say it clearly. Gently, but– "I care about you, Anzu. You're my friend, and very dear to me. But I cannot return your feelings. Not like that."

She nodded slowly, only for a sad smile to strike her face as she processed his words, and, "Cannot?"

"I am already devoted to someone."

…

Their eyes both went wide at once, and where Anzu found the will to look up, stare at him in shock, Atem could only think, I shouldn't have said that.

He shouldn't have said that.

But, no. The life remained in Anzu's face, and curled into something surprised, and oddly… satisfied?

Why?

Was it– happiness… for his sake?

…Yes, Yuugi had spoken about that long ago, hadn't he? About Honda, when he was let down by an old crush. He'd said– knowing the girl he liked was happy with someone else, that made it easier.

Was that it?

If so, perhaps it was all right. Perhaps he should be clear that his heart was simply taken, and nothing Anzu had done or could have done was to blame. Perhaps it was all right that, when she said, "I see… then I hope, whoever they are, they know how lucky they are. That they make you happy," he said, "He does."

…

No. No, that wasn't right.

Her shock returned, folded into something deeper, froze, and Atem knew–

She knew.

It wasn't just that Atem said 'he'. She knew.

Because of course she did, who else could Atem possibly mean?! Who else did he… why had he spoken without even thinking–

But it was too late.

She knew.

Yuugi.

His name was never spoken, but Atem heard it all the same. Saw it in Anzu's eyes, and the way she smiled.

Smiled like she was going to cry.

And his throat burned.

"Oh," she breathed, staring at him through such bright blue eyes… then shook her head, that smile still on her face. "Then, I guess that makes you lucky, too."

"…"

"I'm happy for you. For both of you."

And she was, as kind and loving a soul as ever.

But she wasn't, too.

Atem stared at her, saw the new sadness behind her smile… and said nothing.

A rock in his gut.

Yuugi stretched, humming to himself as he left the bathroom, rubbing his hair with a towel. He'd tried to dry off already, but his stubborn spikes liked to hold in water like a sponge. So he gave up for the moment as he reached his bedroom, draping the towel around his shoulders and reaching for the doorknob.

He stalled before stepping inside, though, because he heard a creak– a footstep on the stairs.

He turned to check, and smiled. "You're home."

Atem blinked back at him from the top of the stairs, one hand still on the railing… and Yuugi's smile fell as he took in his boyfriend's face.

"Aa," Atem breathed, smiling in a way that made Yuugi stare harder.

"You were out pretty late."

"Yes." Atem looked over his shoulder, as if he would find the reason somewhere in his shadow. "I walked Anzu home and picked up our books."

And indeed, there was a shopping bag in his hand. But the shop must have closed for a good hour or so ago. And it wasn't that far away.

And Anzu.

Atem faced him again, but volunteered nothing else. And Yuugi didn't speak. Just stared into Atem's distracted, heavy eyes, lips pinched.

Twenty minutes later, he was worrying it between his teeth.

He thumbed blindly through a new travel book at his desk, lingering on a page covering the city of Luxor, and temples he would likely never see… when the door opened and he looked up.

Atem walked in, pajamas and wilting spikes mirroring Yuugi's, and Yuugi abandoned the book, turning his chair to face him. "Hey."

"Hey," he echoed, and Yuugi could see at a glance that Atem was a little lighter than before, loose shoulders and easy smiles showing the good a quick, hot bath could do.

But their eyes met, they assessed each other… and Yuugi stood, sliding from chair to bed, hands gripping the edge of the mattress as he sat back down and looked up at his other self.

That faint, easy smile fell, and Atem's gaze dropped to the floor, catching there until, eventually, he turned, locking the bedroom door behind him before crossing the room to the bed. And Yuugi.

They sat there, a bare centimeter or two between their hands: a hesitant but intimate distance as Yuugi took in his boyfriend's profile, somber and clouded as Atem kept his gaze on the carpet. "…Do you want to talk about it?" Yuugi knew he did, or at least that he was willing. He wouldn't have locked the door or joined him like that if he wasn't.

But Atem was still silent for a while, not even responding to the offer… likely trying to find the will to speak, given when he finally did, it was to say, "Anzu confessed she has feelings for me."

Yuugi stared at him for a while, then turned to look at the television, a listless feeling settling in his gut, heavy but not sharp. He'd been expecting that, but once it was said, he found he had nothing to say.

"I told her I don't return them, of course."

Yuugi turned back and eyed Atem's profile again. The set dismissal in his frown. "That's not really the whole truth, is it?"

Atem flinched, his expression outraged as he looked up, ready to protest– only for the fire to fizzle out when they locked eyes.

Yuugi didn't know what he saw, but he knew it was no suspicion, nor distress.

He was just certain.

So, it must have been certainty.

…Atem swallowed whatever he was going to say and looked back at the carpet, his expression more impassive than Yuugi had ever seen it.

And he didn't push. Yuugi trusted his own judgement, and they had been too intimate in their bond, and too constantly aware of one another for Yuugi to miss the screaming No Trespassing sign Atem placed over his heart when it came to Anzu and her obvious affection for him. The whys were not clear cut, and beyond a wall even Yuugi had never breached… but the fact remained: he was certain Atem's feelings for Anzu weren't platonic.

At least, not fully.

But Atem wouldn't touch it. Likely never would have, even if they had never come to be. Atem had admitted, after all, that he struggled to parse out the nature of his affections for others, and he had little motivation to try – save with them in the end – and everything said that he never would have tried with Anzu.

Knowing that saved Yuugi some amount of shame or regret. But still, he just… he felt so bad for them both. That they had to go through this.

Especially Anzu.

But, Atem didn't let him linger in the thought, a flat, "That's not all," falling from his lips before he looked up, such regret in his eyes that Yuugi forgot to breathe for a moment. "I think I screwed up."

…Finally and properly lost, Yuugi could only blink, melancholy giving way to concern. "What do you mean?"

Atem's gaze dropped, the shame still shining on his face as he stared at their hands. "When I told her no, I let it slip that I love someone else… that I am with them." He looked up again, eyes gleaming and serious. "I didn't intend to, but I made it painfully clear that it's you."

Yuugi… felt lightheaded, staring back at his other self as he strained to process, "She knows…"

"About us."

"…Oh." Yuugi turned away, fell into the reflections in the television screen as he realized… it didn't concern him as much as it probably should have.

Of all of their friends, Anzu was one of the first Yuugi would trust to keep a secret to herself, and to not judge, even if she didn't approve.

But, did knowing it was him hurt her more? That the one Atem liked instead of her was–

"She seemed… very upset by that. Though she wouldn't admit it."

Yuugi slumped to hear it. "I imagine so." For the person you love to love someone else, and not just anyone, but your own friend, the one Anzu once thought of as the same person–

"Because it was you."

…

Yuugi frowned, turning back to Atem.

He was staring back at him, an oddly exhausted look on his face as he shared, "She has feelings for you, too. I'm sure of it."

Yuugi's eyes went wide, then narrowed, a frown forming for the idea. Because could that really– Yuugi had a hard time believing…

…It didn't matter.

Not when Atem made a face like that, bowing his head as he murmured, almost like he was talking to himself, "And now I've gone and put it in Anzu's head that we're together–"

"We are together."

"That's not the point!" Yuugi jumped at the sharp words, tensing as he looked on in– in surprise as his other self grimaced and glared at him with such regret, such– "She knows. Even when I'm gone, she'll still know. And you'll know what she said to me–"

"I already knew about Anzu's feelings about you," Yuugi tried to say, but the words were choked and weak and baffled, because he hadn't expected such an outburst, no anger and all despair–

And Atem just shook his head, calming down to a lost stare as he asked, "Doesn't it complicate things? Anzu sounded like she resigned herself to it. Like it changed something, knowing that you–"

"That I want to be with you?"

The impulsive interruption caught Atem off guard, left him breathless, and staring… but he shook his head again, and asked– properly asked, "I know… I felt your feelings like my own once, aibou. I know how you feel about her. And if Anzu has feelings for you, too, has them now, but has been discouraged by this… haven't I made things harder?" he finally got out, and Yuugi's heart hurt, eyes burning for his other self's struggle, and he could only stare back as Atem looked at him, begged for an answer. "Have I cost you both some more lasting happiness by being with you now?"

…Yuugi didn't think so.

In the end, he and Anzu both having Atem in their hearts shouldn't alienate them from one another– or, at least it wouldn't have in his case. He couldn't swear for Anzu.

But the bigger question was, did knowing Anzu might have feelings for him– did that change anything?

…It honestly didn't.

Atem was right, to a point. He had had a deeper insight into Yuugi's feelings than any soul naturally should, just as Yuugi had with him. And that included his feelings for Anzu.

But, that was before. However close they felt, their hearts hadn't overlapped to the point of mixed feelings in months, Atem's growing sense of identity leaving room to feel things all on their own… and, in that time… There was a time when even the thought of Anzu could set Yuugi's heart racing. Paint a smile on his face.

But, when he thought of her now?

His feelings were… at peace. There was no other word for it. They weren't gone, he had just moved on. And while he couldn't truly claim he was over her, he just couldn't imagine anything coming of it anymore. Wanting to make anything of it. The old fantasies of being with Anzu as more than a friend had long blurred over, overwritten by investment in the future she saw for herself, and… and by his own dreams… however irrelevant they might prove in the end.

A part of his heart was still with her, might always be with her, but his focus was fully elsewhere, and likely to stay there. And he had a feeling that he wouldn't feel such tightness in his chest when the time came to let Anzu go, because it was easy to accept that their hopes and dreams led in different directions, and that had nothing to do with Atem himself. At least, not in any way he should accept blame for.

But, Yuugi couldn't say any of that. Chances were that Atem would simply mistake that peace for resignation, and feel the worse for making it easier for Yuugi to 'give up' on Anzu.

Instead, he stared into Atem's distress, and shook his head, a faint smile on his face. "I get it. I get why you'd think that. But you shouldn't. You're right, she isn't just a friend to me. But that doesn't mean I want anything to come of it. And even if I did, I would never regret this," he insisted, reaching across that bare space between them to hold Atem's hand, pulsing a grip over it as he looked into frozen red eyes, smiling. "I love you, and I would never give up what we have. No matter how long we have it, no matter what it costs, I could never regret you."

Atem… didn't breathe. He just stared at him, not daring to move… and when the need for air inevitably struck, it came with tears.

Yuugi's breath caught. He stared in disbelief at the tears running down his other self's cheeks, free and heavy… and melted, understanding striking his brain as he reached out to comfort, brush fingers over cheeks and tears. He breathed Atem's nickname, reached for his shoulders– and had a heartbeat to watch Atem's face crumble before arms wrapped around him and clutched him close, tight, the chest against Yuugi's trembling with wet breaths. And Yuugi pinched his own eyes shut against the burn of tears, clutching him back.

"I love you," fell hot against his ear, and Yuugi nodded, squeezing harder as he turned his cheek to Atem's shoulder, the move turning his ear away from Atem. So, when he muttered something else, Yuugi didn't catch it.

He lifted his head a bit. Whispered, "What?" but Atem didn't reply. His silent sobs folded in on themselves until he was still, not even breathing again… and eventually he shook his head, shifting to rest his cheek against Yuugi's, the contact wet from drying tears caught between them.

"Nothing."

…It wasn't nothing. Yuugi knew that.

But a heavy weight in his chest said there was a reason Atem didn't repeat it… so he didn't ask. He wouldn't give Atem another reason to feel guilty.

About breaking down. About Anzu.

About leaving.

Yuugi shut his eyes and leaned into Atem's arms, pretending not to notice how tight Atem's grip was.

How long he didn't let go.

He never let go.

When Atem opened his eyes again, it was to a room still bright, but only because neither of them got up to turn out the light… it was a wonder that Yuugi's mother or grandpa didn't notice when they went to bed, and walk in to check on them.

Catch them.

A small miracle, perhaps.

The world outside the skylight was slowly creeping towards light, though, competing with the light within the room.

It was almost dawn.

If the alarm was set at all, it would go off in a couple hours or so. There was still more than enough time for sleep.

But Atem didn't shut his eyes. He just laid there, in the bedroom light, clutching his partner to his chest.

Atem hadn't wanted to let go, and rather than coax him to release him, Yuugi had guided him up onto the bed, and they'd lied down there, over the covers, curled together in a tight ball on their sides.

And Atem hadn't commented or hesitated. Just smothered his face in his partner's hair and breathed deep, finding peace in the way Yuugi pressed his nose to his chest and clutched his back.

And they'd nodded off like that, wrapped up in each other… and Atem had no idea what had woken him, but he didn't get up or go back to sleep. He just stared, focusing on the faint sunlight reflecting off the television… thinking nothing, until the body pressed against his stirred.

He looked down, watched his partner shift in his arms… then relax again, pressing closer. A cheek to Atem's heart.

Atem squeezed his eyes shut, knowing. Yuugi was awake, but he didn't want to move either.

He was listening to his heartbeat.

Atem let him. Laid there, and let him, basking in the weight of his partner in his arms, shutting his eyes and breathing in, taking in Yuugi's smell, his presence… the same words he'd whispered the night before playing through his head.

You are my home.

It was only in his head, but Yuugi still stirred like he heard him, not looking up or moving, but– but making a sound Atem thought must be a sniffle.

He opened his eyes, waited, but no further sounds followed. No shoulders shook. No tears stained his shirt.

It was no certainty, but Atem took the reassurance anyways, combing slow, sleepy fingers through Yuugi's hair as he stared over his head. Stared at the television, and nothing… combing fingers through Yuugi's hair as he waited for the clock to run out.