"Jounouchi-kun," Atem said, tone flat, eyes never straying from the table. "You're dripping right by my deck."

"Huh? Oh, shit! Sorry, man!"

Atem didn't truly react, not even when there was a sharp sound and Honda hissed something about restaurants and being kicked out, but there was a thought of a smile on his face as Jounouchi grumbled and wiped away the melted ice cream beside his cards.

Atem's cards.

Three monsters, two face downs, 500 life points. Atem had nothing else on his side of the field save the knowledge of 100 life points and The Winged Dragon of Ra at the top of his graveyard… but he could still end it all right there.

If it worked. If his combo was interrupted, he'd have no backup plan.

If he risked it–

He looked up and locked eyes with Yuugi, sitting across from him at the table. Like himself, his partner was quiet and still, the cards he held in his hand obscuring half of his face. But the expectation shone in his eyes, and it hummed in Atem's blood as he stared back… looked back down at his cards… and decided.

Even if he was wrong, it was certainly the better show.

He played a card. "Dark Hole."

Around them, the group let out muffled gasps and groans, all smothered by the recent reminder that they'd get kicked out of the ice cream parlor if they made a scene.

Honda had suggested they move out to the park when the concern was first raised, and Jounouchi had backed the vote since he could loan one of the two his Duel Disk and add holograms to the game, but Atem wouldn't hear of pausing the duel. Once they started, they had to see it through to the end, no interruptions, and Yuugi agreed.

They didn't need Duel Disks. They could leave the crowd holding their breath with cards alone.

Cards, and them.

No one had spoken for a few turns, and no one did then, either. Not even Yuugi. He just smiled in the faintest, knowing way, and plucked Silent Swordsman, Marshmallon, and Valkyrion the Magna Warrior up off the field to drop in his graveyard, leaving only his two face downs.

Atem focused on those next, playing another card, "Dark Magic Curtain," before picking up his deck and looking for his Dark Magician.

Yuugi was smiling fully by the time he found it and put it into play, the slight drop in his shoulders saying Yuugi knew what Atem's last card would be.

And his partner's reaction said it would work.

The knowledge struck Atem with more contentment than pride or satisfaction, and he smiled himself as he made his play. "Dark Magic Attack."

"Heh, quite a 'dark' deck you have there, Atem-kun."

"Shuddup, Otogi. This is it."

And Jounouchi was right: Either Yuugi would have some means to counter the destruction of spell and trap cards, or Dark Magician would clear his field. And if Yuugi had no apt quick-play spells or monster effects in hand, then it was over.

And it was.

Yuugi cleared away his unseen cards, they looked at each other for a breath… and Atem moved. "Battle phase. Dark Magician attacks your life points directly."

Yuugi breathed out, set his hand down, and nodded. "You got me."

And Jounouchi crowed. "Holy crap, that was awesome!"

"Ssshhhh!" Honda swatted Jounouchi's raised arm until he got the message and looked with the rest of them across the room, locking eyes with the employee staring at them from behind the counter… but the man turned back to the first person in line, and they all relaxed back to grinning at each other, focusing on Yuugi as he said, "Well played, mou hitori no boku."

"It was," Atem agreed, relaxing into the sight of his partner's subdued but proud smile, beaming right back at him. "The duel, that is. I thought you had me right until the end. If I hadn't had all of those cards in hand–"

"You would have had others," Yuugi cut in to finish, grinning as Atem tried to shake his head– both of them looking up as Jounouchi slouched into his seat with a loud exhale.

"Seriously, I thought I'd have a heart attack three times there!"

"It was impressive when Yuugi countered Ra," Bakura agreed, smiling at him before focusing on Atem. "But that you summoned it in the first place, and then won despite losing it–"

"You should have seen our first duel," Atem shared, focusing his attention on Yuugi, only growing more insistent in his praise at his partner's twisted smile. "I didn't pull out Ra, but the way aibou handled Osiris–"

"I still can't believe you did that without us!" Jounouchi grumped, pulling a deep red flush from Yuugi that left Atem smiling, not at all troubled by the heat in his own face at the memory of that morning.

"There were special circumstances!" Yuugi tried to argue, but no, there was no heading off a glower from his best friend as Jounouchi said he would never forgive him if Jounouchi dueled Atem without Yuugi there to see it, and Atem could only chuckle through Yuugi's insistence that he absolutely would–

"Guys," Anzu said, the sudden cut in prompting them all to look her way, then follow her gaze to the counter.

The man behind the counter was staring at them again.

Five minutes later, they were out on the street, cones and ice cream sticks certainly not purchased out of guilt or shame in each of their hands.

The chocolate and mint flavor Atem discovered at the mall still proved to be good, and he was devouring his treat happily as his friends walked around him, Otogi giving his apologies that, "I just can't skip my shift. I want to hang out tomorrow, but I can't leave my dad to handle the shop all alone every day."

"You help him, Otogi-kun. Don't put yourself down like that."

"Thanks, Anzu-chan, but it's still not enough."

"That's fine," Jounouchi cut in, allowance in his voice even as he looked around the group. "But what about the rest of you? You can't all have an excuse like that, right?"

Anzu and Honda both flinched, glowering right back at him– but Yuugi was right there, ready with a smile and a headshake. "Actually, Jounouchi-kun, we couldn't hang out, either. Our morning's open, but we'll be busy from lunch to bed working or prepping for the Marine Day sale, so…"

"Oh." Jounouchi blanched, turning back to his ice cream without another word, though disappointment still shone beneath his shame.

Atem eyed his expression, then allowed his attention to shift to the group at large, gaze unfocused and never settling on any of them. And even with such a vague look as that, he saw it: the allowance and lack of answers from all of them.

No frowns or averted eyes or pained looks. Just acceptance.

A mute, heavy acceptance.

He looked at his partner out of the corner of his eye, and saw an apologetic smile, still focused on Jounouchi.

Heavy.

"Do you still want to go to the planetarium Tuesday?" Bakura asked, breaking the silence. "I know you said you wanted a few quiet days before Egypt, so if you want to skip it, I understand."

"Of course not!" Atem insisted, happy to smile, and have a reason to. "That was your gift, Bakura. I won't ignore that. And I want to go!"

Bakura grinned back at him, and the tension that was never really there dissolved. When Atem looked again, all he saw were smiles.

"Come on," Yuugi said, and Atem turned to see the light back in his partner's eyes as he looked at their friends. "Tomorrow might be out, but we still have today! You can't stay for dinner since Mama won't have enough to cook, I know we're short on food, but you can still all come over until then, if you want!"

"Whoo! Can we get another duel in, ya think?"

"Jounouchi, you promised there would be one today."

"Oh, come on, Anzu!"

"You're cheating," Yuugi accused, frowning as he got his twelfth z-shape in a row, what the–

"I would never do that, aibou."

Yuugi nearly dropped his controller, the urge to glower at Atem for such a boldfaced lie when he was doing it right then almost too much to bear.

But he didn't give into it. He'd have to look away from the screen to do that, or at least pause.

And he was going to win.

And their Tetris game was going so fast that he could barely speak without losing focus. He definitely couldn't afford to look away. Couldn't afford to lose focus.

And yet.

Atem was clearly able to focus elsewhere, able to split his attention enough to come up with such a thing– assuming he hadn't just planned it from the beginning.

Able to make a perfect show of being relaxed as he lounged on his futon.

On his side.

Head on Yuugi's crossed leg, cheek to a thigh.

Perfectly content, with a smirk Yuugi could see without even looking.

Because he knew Yuugi's focus was upset.

Really, what happened to the relaxing Sunday morning he was promised?! It started out so perfect, waking up in Atem's arms, his other self never even touching the futon the night before beyond putting it out, slipping under Yuugi's covers at the mildest of prompting. And they'd left the bedding out, too lazy to even change clothes before trudging downstairs in their pajamas to eat breakfast and wish his grandpa a calm shift in the shop and Yui a safe trip to her book club before they retreated back upstairs to their games and greedily guarded fun. If they were going to be knee-deep in sales drama from lunchtime on, they were going to get all of the laid-back entertainment time they could until then.

If only Atem didn't find teasing Yuugi so entertaining!

Heat rose in Yuugi's face as his boyfriend shifted, rubbing his jaw into his thigh. "Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"That."

"Mhmm, so clarifying."

Yuugi snorted– and burnt bright red as Atem shifted a little closer, pressing his cheek into the soft inner part of his thigh, so close to–

A bright red, long Tetris block fell prematurely, smack dab in the middle of Yuugi's screen, in the worst possible place.

Yuugi paused the game. "What the fuck?"

Atem looked up and shot him the warmest, brightest upside down smirk he had ever seen– and Yuugi's cheeks and blood burned with interest on top of frustration. There was just no denying his other self's charm, even when he said, "A good strategist uses every tactic at his disposal, aibou," in the smuggest way imaginable.

So, when the light of vengeance burned in Yuugi's heart, it was with a soft glow.

Atem reached up for Yuugi's controller, clearly planning to hit the START button and unpause the game– and Yuugi slid away, pulling his knee out from under him.

Atem's head hit the futon with a thump, surprise flashing across his face. He was quick to recover, sitting up with a frown and twisting around to face Yuugi and tell him that was uncalled for, that he was just playing, or some other protest.

But Yuugi didn't let him speak, grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a kiss.

A hard one. One that demanded a lip and sucked until Atem's mouth fell open, and Yuugi could slide right in for a deeper, more insistent kiss.

Once he had, the contact turned sweet, his own frustrated needs so met that Yuugi forgot his revenge for a breath, running soft hands down wilting shoulders. He could feel Atem's arms trembling, even through the sleeves of his pajamas. He was thrown off, but clearly pleased by Yuugi's attentions, growing soft and more eager with each heartbeat until Yuugi could feel two hands ghosting at his waist, fluttering in their touch.

Atem had dropped his controller.

Yuugi grinned around their kiss, drawing gently back to look at his other self… and his mind hummed at the lost look on Atem's face.

"There," Yuugi breathed, leaning in for one last, quick kiss before pushing Atem back by the shoulders. "See how you like that tactic."

His other self tumbled back, not even blinking as his elbows hit the futon, and Yuugi turned away with a grin, laughter bubbling on his tongue. He reached for his controller, checking the screen as he waited for Atem to recover. Catching him off guard like that was amazing, but Yuugi wouldn't actually unpause the game until Atem had a chance to grab his own–

Yuugi's controller slipped from his hands.

He frowned, turning to ask, to see if some new vengeance was about to come his way– but Atem was just staring at him.

Holding his controller, and staring at him… and he set it aside without looking away.

Still staring at him.

And Yuugi stared back, mind blank as he forgot to breathe and his throat closed up, making it impossible to speak.

Because Atem was staring at him, still and unblinking and asking. Not daring to ask, but still seeking, gaze molten red as he sought for something in Yuugi's eyes.

And Yuugi couldn't respond, wasn't even sure what the question was– but he knew.

He knew.

And he knew that there was only one response he could possibly give.

He reached over, took Atem's hand, and pulled it closer. Tugged Atem slowly closer, towards himself. Never looking away.

Something sparked in Atem's eyes– and he was there. Leaned in so fast that Yuugi blinked and he was there, kissing him, fingers tangling in the hair at the base of his skull to turn his face up to meet him. Meet his kiss, soft and hot and so, so slow… like Atem was delaying the inevitable end for as long as possible.

Yuugi's eyes shut at the rolling contact, heart pounding against his bones as he squeezed Atem's hand, grip almost painful. He was paralyzed, and floating… and completely still, until Atem whispered into his mouth – "Aibou, please." – and shameless need played up his spine.

Yuugi moved, clutching Atem's arm as he kissed him back.

The sigh Yuugi earned was a fire in his belly, sparks on his tongue as their hands parted and contact grew intimate, fingers pressing and seeking more than holding, finding nothing more than innocent skin set ablaze through fabric.

Yuugi couldn't breathe, and he didn't try, let Atem's hands drag him in until his chest was flush against his, shirt buttons digging into his chest and belly until he slid back just enough to make Atem chase him, make their kiss stubborn against the threat of an end.

It was bliss.

Bliss, and mutual desperation.

When they finally fell back for air, gasping for breaths just a nose apart, the fogged pleasure in Atem's eyes kept Yuugi's pulse thrumming in his ear, sharp and satisfied… but not.

The look in Atem's eyes. His grip on his back. The buzz in Yuugi's head.

They all screamed for more.

So Yuugi kissed him again.

The relief Atem breathed out was sweet, but not so sweet as the gasp he choked on when Yuugi abandoned his mouth in favor of his throat, lips and tongue anxious and clumsy but undeniable, and far more fearless when Atem didn't jump but preened at his touch.

Atem's fingers clenched in his hair, drew him closer… and a touch ran up Yuugi's back.

Touching skin.

Yuugi sucked in a breath as his eyes popped open. He stared at Atem's shoulder, tongue still caught in the groove of his collarbone… because yes, Atem's fingers were on his spine.

Under his shirt.

…He leaned back, far enough to see Atem's face.

Far enough to see his shock mirrored back at him.

They said nothing. Stared at each other with wild, shaken eyes, all of the questions clogging up the air making it hard to breathe… But Yuugi saw it.

The want for a yes in Atem's eyes.

And doubt became anticipation.

Yuugi sucked in a breath, held it, let it shudder out of him… and let Atem go, reaching for the hem of his own shirt.

In the tiny window it blocked his vision, catching on the chain around his neck as Yuugi pulled it over his head, he heard Atem let out a sound. A sharp huff of air, like he'd been punched.

And when Yuugi could look again, he saw Atem staring at his chest like he couldn't see it, all composure shot from his face.

Yuugi stared into that face, the hand still clutching his shirt fisting the fabric to wrinkles as he searched, dared, "Are you… is this what you–"

He couldn't find the words to ask, is this what you want, are you comfortable with this, is it too much– but Atem looked up, found his eyes, and reached for him. And it didn't matter.

Yuugi fell willingly into his arms, and an echoey part of his brain thanked the stars that the sharp-edged Puzzle was still on the desk, beside Atem's glasses, while the rest of him shuddered as his other self kissed him. Pressed so close that Yuugi couldn't breathe.

So close, they fell to the futon.

And there was nothing but fog, blurred and heady and so good to drown in that Yuugi could only dive deeper, Atem's weight on him keeping him grounded as hands clutched and mouths parted only when nearby skin seemed more appetizing, more effective– Yuugi's eyes fluttering shut as lips and teeth played along his jaw, making him melt even as he scraped up ribs, scratching and catching at Atem's shirt until he had handfuls and could tug up, up enough to find skin. To press palms against warmth.

Atem's kisses stalled at his touch, cool air tickling Yuugi's face as his other self sucked in a breath, and Yuugi opened his eyes… to see Atem staring back at him, flushed and gasping for air and staring–

"Are you…" he tried to say, and parts of Yuugi clenched tight to hear the gravel in his voice. "Are you sure?"

Yuugi blinked. Let the question sink through his skin… and smiled.

Smiled, and reached up, cupping Atem's cheek to brush a thumb under his eye, along the line where kohl must have been, once upon a time. In another world.

"Yes." That easy. No thought to it. Because there could only be one answer.

Yes.

The rickety want in Atem's eyes shone, warmed into joy– and he smiled bright enough to blind the sun.

And Yuugi let his eyes shut as Atem kissed him. Let his hands drift to draw Atem closer. No thought to it.

But, he did think.

Atem asked, and even with his answer given, Yuugi marveled at the idea that he would ever say anything but yes. Obviously his answer was yes. How could it ever be no? How could he ever turn away a chance like that, unprompted and unplanned as it was?

No. No, the surprise made it better. Truer. Yuugi had never presumed he would have such a chance, and he didn't think Atem had, either… and yet, it was.

So how could he ever let it pass him by?

The very possibility colored Yuugi's touch, his pliant, eager acceptance shifting into purpose, his hand sliding to Atem's neck to keep him still and caught in his kiss as Yuugi fought to sit up. His force prompted nothing from Atem but compliance, mouth turning soft beneath Yuugi's lips, as though there was a balance between them that had to be maintained. Yuugi stepped forward, Atem stepped back. Bent himself to his will to fall beneath him to the futon with nothing but a shattered gasp, Yuugi chasing the sound with kisses down his throat.

"A-aibou–"

Yuugi's breath caught at his name – at the word that meant as much to who he was as any name – and he swallowed it back, whispering assurance and fire against Atem's skin. "What do you want, mou hitori no boku?"

Fingers clenched in Yuugi's hair with the question, tugging gently up. Atem wanted Yuugi to look at him. He didn't. "That's… what–"

"Anything," Yuugi whispered, answering the question he heard. Or chose to hear. But his answer was completely sincere and true, eyes squeezing shut with the weight of it as he bent to kiss Atem's chest, just above his shirt collar, fingers catching and tugging and shaking at the hem of Atem's shirt. "I don't know what I'm doing, you know that. But anything. We can do anything you like."

And there was nothing mistakable about the shudder that rolled through Atem then, humming up through his chest into Yuugi's, coaxing Yuugi to linger against his warmth.

But he couldn't. Yuugi needed to move forward. Catch the moment, before it was gone forever.

Yuugi leaned back, just enough to pull Atem's shirt up.

Hands caught his.

Caressed up his arms with the most tender touch, but still stalling him as he breathed, "Aibou, if it's– if it's too much–"

Yuugi blinked. Stared blind and stubborn at Atem's neck as the words registered. As he realized, Atem had been trying to reach out to him. Trying to make him look at him.

And Yuugi had been fighting that call to connect, because–

"If it's too fast–"

Yuugi's head snapped up at those words, and he finally met Atem's eye as– "How can it be too fast? When else will we have?!"

…

The words… those raw, thoughtless words hung in the air, and Yuugi watched everything soft and worried and wonderful in his other self's eyes fracture into pieces. Into regret, and dismay, and–

A tear ran down Atem's cheek.

Yuugi's tear.

Yuugi sucked in a breath, felt the heat rise in his face, pain filling his lungs.

Pain, and shame.

For speaking. For crying. For letting himself give in and actually say something so stupid–

Warmth cooled his hot tears, and Yuugi flinched when he realized Atem was cupping his cheeks.

He tried to duck his head, to hide, but Atem wouldn't let him. He pulled him to him, and the hands still buried in his shirt got all twisted up, painfully caught between them as Yuugi shook, choking back a cry– but he knew he couldn't hide anything. Couldn't hide his sobs from Atem as he clutched him close, kissing away tears that were replaced in seconds.

"It's all right, aibou. It's all right."

"I'm– I'm sorry."

"No. Don't apologize. Never apologize. Never."

Yuugi bit his lip to hold back his sobs. To hold back the tears.

But when he succeeded, he still felt them there on his cheeks, beneath Atem's kisses.

Tears.

And he sobbed all over again realizing they weren't his.

The house was quiet.

If Sugoroku was even in the shop, and not sweeping the sidewalk outside as an excuse to get some sunlight, there was no way to tell. No footsteps or voices echoed down the hall from the shop, and nothing disturbed the quiet in the kitchen, save the hum of the refrigerator.

And Atem, brewing tea.

Yuugi stared at his back, Atem's obscured motions as he moved cups and stirred tea doing nothing to soothe, but at least giving Yuugi something to focus on beyond the muck in his own head.

Preparing tea was a quick, simple task, though, and soon enough Atem turned around, his face a mask of nothing as he sat down in his usual spot, at Yuugi's side.

Facing the counter instead of him.

Yuugi didn't look up fully, but he knew Atem wasn't looking at him. That he kept his eyes on the tea as he set Yuugi's cup down in front of him… lingering a moment before retracting his hand.

Neither of them drank.

Atem held his tea, hands likely burning on the hot cup.

Yuugi mimicked him, cupping his tea in both hands to feel the heat seared through his palms… the sensation a comfort as he stared into the green liquid, saying nothing.

The house was quiet.

"Aibou."

…Yuugi faced him.

The pharaoh considered his tea a while longer, and Yuugi waited, the sound of the wall clock thumping between them as the seconds dragged on… then Atem face him, his gaze solemn, and warm. "You said, at the very beginning, after I got this body, that you wanted to spend whatever time we have left together doing as much as we can. With our friends, yes, but with each other, too. We decided that. To share as many happy memories as possible."

…

Yuugi searched his face, his words… and something inside of him wilted, understanding.

He said nothing. Felt only flat expectation as Atem smiled for him, care but no happiness in his eyes. "I want that, too. You know that. That's all I wanted… But, even if I want to make the most of our time, that doesn't mean I…"

He didn't finish.

A frown slowly slid across the face, his gaze dropping between them as whatever words he meant to say slid away, unfound.

But Yuugi caught them.

He watched Atem look away, understanding heavy in his chest… and swallowed the rock in his throat to say the words for him. "That doesn't mean we should do things because you're leaving."

…Atem looked up, gratitude and regret shining through the cracks in his mask.

And Yuugi stared back, knowing there was nothing for Atem to see in him save resignation.

Atem nodded. Said, "Right," without looking away.

But Yuugi looked away, staring into his tea as he echoed him. "You're right." He couldn't look at him. Not while he said, "I agree. That shouldn't be why we do anything. That just… it wouldn't be right." Not unless they wanted it for its own sake.

"…No. It wouldn't."

It wouldn't be right, if it were true.

But they were lying.

Yuugi had never been pushing himself to sleep with Atem because he was leaving… and Atem likely knew that. And Yuugi had seen no loss or fear behind Atem's want, either.

Yuugi couldn't swear for Atem, but he would sleep with him in a heartbeat, if desire and trust and feelings were all that mattered.

That wasn't the problem.

Atem leaving didn't prompt Yuugi's desire. It was what got in the way.

Yuugi couldn't… he couldn't share something so intimate, so honest with Atem without his feelings coloring it and shining through.

If they did that, Atem would see.

He would know everything Yuugi feared. How it hurt.

It hurt too much.

And whatever their promise to be open with one another, there were some things that just shouldn't be shared. They'd only stain what time they had left, and Yuugi didn't want Atem to feel anymore guilt than he already did.

He needed to go, to find his memories, feel complete and be with the ones he had lost and loved.

Yuugi knew that. Had sworn to see him off, wholeheartedly… and tears could only harm.

So, he agreed.

It wouldn't be right.

But, he feared it was too late. That Atem had seen too much to let it go any longer.

So, when a hand touched his, and pried it away from his tea cup, Yuugi tensed… and looked back at the pharaoh. Wary.

But Atem was smiling, so much strained joy behind it that Yuugi ached.

"I told the others I wanted to hold off on any plans this week," he said, Atem's voice wrapping around Yuugi's heart and cushioning it from his own dread. "Because I want to spend all of the time I can with you. Because, once we leave Domino, even before Egypt? With everyone coming along and the tight quarters and the unknown of what we'll face when we get there–"

"We won't have time for us," Yuugi murmured, and Atem's expression melted, seeing how easily he understood. They couldn't set aside any time for them once they got to Egypt, or act like a couple without making it obvious to everyone else.

So…

"So, until then," Atem went on, squeezing his hand and pulling it gently towards himself, the side of his arm warm against Yuugi's. "I want to spend as much time as I can with you. Make these last days in Domino the best they can be, and be happy."

And he smiled. A soft, sad, sweet thing, and Yuugi's throat closed up against the tears he denied.

Atem had been so happy that morning, not a single thought of leaving in sight, focused on only being with him, and it would have all been perfect.

But now, even though they were saying nothing new, that truth was undeniably there and it was Yuugi's fault . He had never meant to cry, never meant for Atem to see and regret, to doubt what they'd become to each other. To let him see how much it hurt… Atem didn't need to see that. It wasn't his fault. He needed to go, as much for himself as to keep Zorc at bay. Yuugi knew that. He knew that!

And Yuugi would face it, when the time came. He would be all right.

He promised himself he would be all right.

…So, he would be. He would endure.

He would smile.

He would spend what time they had left together embracing what he could, seeking smiles.

There would be time enough for tears later, though he knew he would likely never allow himself them.

Not again. Not even after.

Not when there was any chance Atem might see.

And worry.

And regret.

Atem didn't need his grief. He deserved happiness, untroubled by guilt.

He deserved smiles.

So, Yuugi would smile.

And he did, even when Atem didn't mirror him properly, uncertainty and awe both clouding his face as Yuugi squeezed his hand. "I know. I want to spend that time with you, too… So, why don't we take our tea, go back upstairs, and watch something? I can find some old movie we both like."

"…Aa," Atem breathed, but there was still so much doubt in his voice that Yuugi made himself smile brighter. He leaned over to kiss the bridge of Atem's nose… then his lips.

Gently.

And when he drew back, the softness in Atem's eyes helped him find some small, true joy, a shy grin curling at Yuugi's lips. "Come on. You've still got a while before your shift. There's enough time."

Atem still looked uncertain when Yuugi stood and offered his other hand, but there was too much trust there for Atem to ignore him. Too much love.

Atem took Yuugi's hand, staring up at him like he'd follow him to the ends of the earth. "I'd like that."

Yuugi smiled.

"Will there be a sale on dice tomorrow?"

"Yes, on some sets," Atem answered, watching the young man frown down at the dice inside one of Kame Game's display cases. "All solid colors will be available for half-off."

"But not the translucent ones?"

"No. If you buy two sets, though, you can get the second half-off, no matter its color."

"And you can combo that with the half-off?"

"No."

"Aw… well, I guess I could gift the second set to a friend. He might like them."

"He probably would. What colors would you like? I can reserve them for you until noon tomorrow."

"Just noon?"

"With the sale, we have to sell as much as possible, so we can't hold anything back the whole day."

"Right, I get that. Um, I think he likes green. Could you hold that clear green set, and this gold one?"

"Yes. What's your name?"

Two minutes later, the customer was gone. Atem dropped his pen, rubber banded two dice boxes together with a piece of paper marked 'Takaya Keiichi', and put them on a shelf behind the shop counter, among the other merchandise set aside for the sale.

There was a faint thump from the next room.

Atem's head jerked up, and stared, listening… but no, there was Sugoroku, grumbling about something Atem couldn't make out. And Yuugi, huffing in clear, easy annoyance at whatever his grandfather said or did.

The assurance of those voices eased the tension in Atem's back, and his expression relaxed.

Into nothing.

He turned back to the counter and reopened the binder he'd been working through before the customer came in, marking items off on an inventory list as he thumbed through yesterday's receipts.

His face still blank.

Mind blank.

Because, what was there to think about? Everything was essentially as it had been yesterday. Everything was going as he had expected. Nothing, really, had been a surprise.

At all.

Because he had known.

He should have known.

…There was a hole in the paper. He was pushing too hard.

He turned the pen over in his hand, clenching it as he shut his eyes. To contain the damage.

Containment was all he had left.

Because– what had he expected?

Exactly this.

Loss. Dread. Desperation and guilt and grief– All things he had caused. Was still causing. All things he couldn't avoid. It would be so much easier if he could, but it wasn't a choice. He'd seen that when his efforts to claim only friendship with Yuugi ended in nothing but pain. That was why he gave up his doubts, and embraced their relationship. He'd dismissed his fears on the assurance that his partner was strong. He would be fine. Yuugi loved him, but he didn't need him.

And he didn't. Yuugi was strong. He would be fine.

And Atem made him cry.

And maybe making Yuugi cry was unavoidable, no matter what he did, but he still did it.

And, was Atem really so innocent? Had he not cost Yuugi new tears, specific tears, because they…

…They didn't want regrets. They didn't want denial between them. To lose the opportunities they had. That's what they said. They agreed.

But, didn't finding so much mean that they had so much more to lose? The closer they got, the farther Atem had to step back. So… was it really better?

…It didn't really matter. But it was too late. He would not turn from Yuugi now. Never.

But he still wished–

"What kind of face is that?"

Atem opened his eyes. That voice–

Kaiba was scowling back at him.

Across the counter from Atem stood Kaiba Seto, arms folded, mouth set in a tight frown.

…Atem set down his pen, staring. "Kaiba?"

His only response was a foul snort, but then Kaiba's gaze settled, and his scowl grew more baffled than irritated.

Atem frowned, realizing Kaiba was staring at his glasses. He ignored it, put insistence in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Kaiba kept staring, but finally focused on him properly, the faint shift of his attention making the blue of his eyes catch in the light. "I decided to come in person. I'm back in Domino for the time being, anyways."

"Come in person for what?"

Kaiba didn't answer. Just swung his briefcase onto the counter, Atem refusing to flinch at the sharp crack of sound the glass made. He just stared as Kaiba turned dials and opened clips, popping the thing open to pull out a small leather-bound book.

He passed it to Atem. "Your passport."

…Atem accepted it, expression emptying out as he stared at the government insignia on the cover.

Kaiba took out more envelopes and paperwork, but Atem didn't watch, the movements just blurs in his periphery. "The rest of the things should be here. If you need anything else, that's on you. Mokuba got everything you asked for."

"I'm sure it's perfect," Atem assured, deaf to the sharp hmph he received as he stared, mulling over opening the booklet right away, and looking at it. His picture, and his name. All of it. Everything that defined this person he'd become in the last few weeks of false necessities and genuine acclimation.

'Mutou Atem'

…He set the booklet, unopened, on top of the papers on the counter. "Thank you."

"I didn't do it for gratitude. We had a deal."

"Right," Atem agreed, but frowned, the rebuffal finally dragging something out of him beyond regret and listlessness. And when Kaiba gave him nothing but a short look before closing his case and turning to go, not another word said, Atem watched him walking away… and spoke. "Kaiba."

His rival stalled, turned on a heel to look at him, impatience and curiosity in his eyes. "What?"

…Nothing. There was nothing to say.

Nothing Atem didn't expect to see dismissed, at least. If he could, he would say a lot of things. There would be no other chance to, after all. He didn't expect Kaiba to see him off at the airport, or swing by the shop again.

If he was going to say something, now was the time.

But there was only one way Atem thought he could reach him.

He relaxed back on a heel, smirking. "Do you want to duel?"

Kaiba didn't move. At all. "What?"

"I can get coverage for the shop. You do have your deck, don't you?"

Finally, Kaiba's expression shifted, the glower on his face growing darker. He didn't appreciate that.

But his eyes were burning, and Atem was satisfied. "No stakes this time. I would just like the chance to duel you again, one last time."

…That was the wrong thing to say.

Kaiba's rising ire disappeared, the faintest surprise flashing across his face, along with– something else. Something deeper, and sharp enough that Atem stalled, uncertain, and honestly concerned.

But then Kaiba calmed, expression all but dismissive as he turned away. "No."

Atem stared, speechless.

"If you want a duel," Kaiba told the door. "Ask when you get back."

Atem's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding until he forced his mouth open, his brow pinched. "Kaiba–"

"I will be here," Kaiba interrupted, turning to look over his shoulder. And whatever the thunder in Atem's voice, it was nothing to warning in Kaiba's eyes. "When you get back. So ask then."

…

Atem should speak. Deny it.

He didn't.

Kaiba turned away, "Goodbye, Atem," shot over his shoulder with nothing but contempt.

And Atem watched him go, a lump in his throat and an ache in his chest that felt disturbingly like gratitude.

He didn't answer.

Didn't say goodbye.

And when he turned away, accepting the parting for what it was, Atem was surprised again.

Yuugi.

He was leaning in the doorway to the house, like he'd been there all along – How long had he been there? – uncertainty and… and a smile on his face. "We finished breaking up the boxes for recycling. And Mama said dinner's ready."

Atem blinked, then relaxed, falling slowly back into his skin. "Oh."

Yuugi's attention slid over his shoulder, towards the door, but Atem wasn't sure what to make of his expression. If anything, he would have named the emotion in his partner's eyes envy… but that made no sense. "You know it's closing time, don't you?"

…Atem looked up at the wall, and the baffling numbers on the clock. "I didn't notice."

Yuugi smiled, shaking his head as he pushed himself away from the door frame. "Come on. I'll help you. If we hurry and eat, we can catch the next taiga episode before bed."

"…Right." Atem watched his partner move, took in the subdued manner of his expression and air as he crossed the room to lock the door, turn the shop sign and close the blinds, everything about him quiet until Yuugi noticed his attention and brightened before his eyes, smiling reassurance.

Atem smiled back, the gratitude in his chest spreading and shifting into something new. Something like relief. Small as it was, it was there.

They went about the motions of closing up shop without words, the silence easy between them, like it hadn't been since that morning, before everything.

And when his partner walked by, heading for the door to the house, Atem reached for his hand.

Yuugi was shocked, but his smile then, so relieved and wonderful and unsure… perhaps a little stubbornness wasn't so wrong. A little refusal to let go, if just for a little while.

Atem held on until the kitchen came into sight.

"Aibou! Aibou!"

"What– it, mou hitori no boku, why are you over–" Yuugi started to ask as he turned around, anxious awareness that someone could walk up to the sales table set up in front of the shop at any second keeping his senses divided as he faced his boyfriend– until he came up short, staring in surprise at the wary lady at Atem's side. "O-oh."

Atem beamed, waving between them. "Aibou, this is Nagase. Nagase, Mutou Yuugi."

Her smile was twisted, even pained, but she still nodded with a polite, "Hello."

"Sorry, I didn't mean–" Yuugi shook off his shock and forced a smile on his own face. "Hi, it's nice to finally meet you."

"You, too. Mutou-kun has told me a lot about you."

"H-has he?"

Atem smirked at the uncertain look his partner shot him, ignoring it in favor of his blue-haired friend. "You shouldn't call me that. He's Mutou-kun, too, you know."

"You expect me to call you by your first name?"

"I don't care."

"Anyways, 'Atem'," Yuugi cut in, prompting a baffled look from the pharaoh that yes, might be adorable, but, "Aren't you supposed to be dueling right now? The expo?"

"Ah. About that. We're trading places."

"…What?"

Atem didn't answer. Just grabbed Yuugi's wrist and pulled him out from behind the sales table to push him towards the other end of the store front– towards the crowd that had gathered around an hour ago to watch Atem take on challengers, all now looking at Yuugi and murmuring amongst themselves with confusion in their voices and curiosity in their eyes. "Go on, aibou! Nagase and I will man the table!"

"H-hey! What are you–"

"Go on! Don't leave her waiting! I told everyone they have to let her have a turn. And remember, I'll be watching from here!"

"W-would you just explain what you–" There was a tug on the back of his shirt before Yuugi could finish, and he turned around, expecting someone to be there, demanding a duel already… and looked down.

At a girl.

A little girl with big, round glasses that framed big, round eyes, dark and shining with anxious hope.

Yuugi stared, speechless.

"U-um," she started, shooting a look Atem's way before looking back at him, biting her lip. "W-would…"

"…Would?"

"Honoka." Yuugi and the girl turned to look at the table. At Atem, who smirked at them both, completely ignoring the dry look Nagase was shooting him. "I told you, didn't I? Go on! Ask him."

"Mou hitori no boku, what are you talking–"

"U-um!" the girl, Honoka apparently, yelled, and Yuugi turned back, baffled but unable to ignore the desperation in that little voice and little face. "A-are you… are you really Mutou Yuugi? The real Mutou Yuugi?"

Yuugi blinked… and slowly smiled, uncertain and confused but steady before such tiny hope. "Well, yes. I am."

…Honoka looked like she was going to cry.

Yuugi tensed, ready to spiral into a complete internal panic because how did he end up with a crying girl on his hands– But no. A wildly determined scowl crossed the little girl's face, and her request was more demand than question as she yelled, "Would you sign my Kuriboh card?!"

"I… well… sure, if you want– Ahh! Please don't cry! What did I do?!"