Greetings everyone! Well, here's another chapter on this gripping, dramatic story. Not really, but whatever. There are some cheesy translations, you've been warned. I'm going out of town about the 5th or so, so my goal is to update with at least one more chapter before then, as I'll be gone till about the 20th. So, um, yup. Sorry this chapter isn't very long, but I couldn't really add more to it. The last part is definitely a final piece, and the chapter needed to be cut off right there. Anywayz, enjoy!

(Yami's song, by the by, cheesy as it is, I made up, and to the tune of The Steward of Gondor. I know! Embarrassing, huh? Well, anywayz, it goes to the tune of that, the part where Pippin's singing, if that will help your reading experience any. :) )

The next morning Yami tried his best to avoid Yugi. He moved around in silence, not talking but the barest he needed to, and tried to get things done out of sight.

He just couldn't look at Yugi. He just couldn't do it. Now that he thought about his actions, he realized how stupid they were. What was he thinking? At the time he found every way to justify himself, but now, when realization struck, he understood that that was the worst thing he could do.

The secret couldn't be kept. Mai would certainly mention something about them making out the night before…. And when she did Yugi would know exactly what had happened. How could he do such a thing to Yugi?

But Yami knew there was only one thing to do. No, the secret couldn't be kept, but the façade could. There was only one way to smooth it over now…that is, if it worked.

* * *

His hands slung lazily into his pockets, his shoulders hunched and lunging in turn against the pleasant breeze, his eyes smiled upon seeing her.

Mai stood in a floral sundress, her hands grasping a generously sized picnic basket, her blonde hair blowing around her face innocently, a flower barrette holding one side of her hair back just a bit.

She looked innocent and almost angelic, and he was reminded that in the past couple months her beauty had softened into something more natural, something simpler but not any less striking.

She turned to him and smiled, and Yami grinned in return. Her sandaled feet adjusted themselves towards him, and her smile seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.

"Hey there, stranger." It took him a moment to slip from himself to Yugi, but if she noticed anything amiss she didn't show it. "Ready for a picnic in the park?" Her brow rose, and his gut gave a pleasant lurch, a flash of the feeling of her warm lips against his sliding across his mind in reminiscence.

Those same brows he had seen rise and knot themselves during that recent night together, and he couldn't help the guilt that seemed to seep inside him. It should have been Yugi kissing her, touching her, basking in her every scent and her very soul, not him. It should be Yugi that was here with her now—to her knowledge he was—and Yami didn't look her in the face for a moment, feeling she would be able to read the entire scenario from his very expression. Her eyes would be able to withdraw it all from his own, he knew it. Knew it from experience of how well she could read ones mind, take out pages of their history, merely by meeting their gaze.

She swiftly spread out a blanket on the grass of a lightly descending hill, and cheerfully began taking out contents of the basket. She handed him glasses and soda to be poured while she dug out sandwiches and several picnic-usual dishes.

Later, the food having served its purpose, the couple leaned on their backs and watched the beautiful day unfold. Both were content with the silence, it not being awkward, and he heard Mai sigh and looked over to her.

"What are you thinking about?" It was something Yugi wouldn't have said, but she answered with a slight chuckle.

"In honesty?" He nodded, and she gave a lighthearted sigh. "I was thinking how farfetched this picture is than what I would have imagined six months ago. But it's a pleasant surprise, ne?" Her eyes seemed to twinkle, and a relaxed smile spread across Yami's lips without him noticing.

Mai gave Yami a soft, lingering kiss, her blonde hair brushing against his neck and cheek, and he resisted the urge to shove her down on the blanket and kiss her back. instead his mind won over his urge, and instead settled to let the kiss linger—just a bit.

She parted their lips and leant on his chest, pulling him down to lie on the blanket and snuggling into the crook of his arm.

Yami wondered how long he could keep up the façade without becoming attached to more than the make-out sessions…if he wasn't already.

* * *

Yami slowly stepped into the game shop, shutting the door quietly behind him, his jacket slung over his arm. He heard Yugi's small steps tap down the stairs and a happy grin spread across the boy's face when he saw the Pharaoh.

Yami returned a weak one of his own, without a word, and made his way upstairs, avoiding an exchange of conversation.

"Yami?" Yami, just at the top of the stairs, stopped, and slowly turned around. "Is everything OK?" His innocent, big eyes were round as saucers. Yami shook his head.

"I'm just not myself lately." He said lamely, and Yugi's face bore an expression of concern for a moment before clearing so as not to appear nosy or to bother him. "Oh, and Yugi," The King of Games looked at Yami expectantly. "Mai called earlier. She apologized, but said she's really busy and probably won't be able to hang out much this week. She's working on something—she felt really bad—but she said she'd call you when it was over." Yugi looked disappointed.

"Oh. OK. Thanks, Yami." Yami turned without another word and went into their bedroom, the feeling of being slime increasing with every breath he took.

* * *

Yugi wasn't doing well. Yami could see—and feel—the difference in the boy. They were connected, their spirits inseparable, and he could also feel a block. A block, keeping him from exact thoughts, glimpses of events and the like.

He didn't like this separation, but he knew he was the cause of it, and he could end it if he so desired. For two days Yugi had been overly quiet, overly dedicated to everything; his chores, Duel Monsters, and reorganizing the game shop—something he claimed demurely one morning that needed to be done, especially while his Grandpa was away for a while, checking out some things in Kyoto.

* * *

After another evening with Mai, Yami returned to the gameshop. Summer was ending—it was early august—and the musky air reminded him of Egypt when he shut the door behind him and scanned for a light.

There was none. Yugi must be out. Yami pushed back a pang of guilt—there was never a night spent with Mai that didn't involve kissing anymore—but he stifled it. This was something he had grown used to doing, and something that made him feel sick inside.

He trudged up the stairs and looked at the open window of the bathroom curiously. Yugi never left windows open when he went somewhere. He tossed his jacket in the bedroom and walked over to it, glancing outside, poking his head through the opening.

There was a ledge, to his left, that sloped upwards and into the roof. There were several scuffs on the little slope, like someone had walked upon it, and Yami lifted himself through the window and stepped onto the ledge.

He followed the slope that curved to the left, and lifted himself on to the roof. What he then found was what he was not expecting, and the King of Games didn't even look his way.

Yugi sat, arms encircling legs curled up to his body, his chin on his knees, and his wide violet eyes staring at the perfectly round moon.

Yami made his way over to him and sat down, still without a word, and Yugi made no move to signify that he knew Yami was there. But he did, Yami could sense it.

"It's so beautiful." Yugi said simply after a few moments, his big eyes still intent on the ghostly white orb. "I told Mai a story once. About the moon. I made it up, but it comforted her. She…she needed that story then." He blinked, and Yami saw a tear slide down the young ones cheek.

"She…she doesn't love me anymore, does she?" With a jolt Yami almost threw up he felt that sick. "Not like I love her." Yugi tightened his hold around his knees, his knuckles almost white.

He blinked more rapidly, his face scrunching a bit, tears sliding down his cheeks, and Yami threw his arms around Yugi who just as swiftly grasped onto the shirt of the Pharaoh sniffling into his chest.

"What did I do, Yami?" He asked, and Yami fought back tears of his own as his brows furrowed and the guilt was just too much to bear.

"Azhimm, inkorj kamed." He held onto him tighter. "Azhimm." He uttered in the ancient tongue that came to him quicker than English.

Soon Yugi's tears began to come more slowly, and the Pharaoh released his hold when he knew Yugi was ready.

"I'm sorry, Yami." He apologized, wiping at his tear-streaked face. Yami shook his head, unwilling to accept an apology, and Yugi took to his own seat again, still trying to clear his eyes and nose.

"I…just needed that." He smiled. "Just like Mai needed the story." Silence ensued for several moments before Yugi chose to speak again. Yami listened to his words intently.

"I always came up here—when I was little. I found it just after I moved in with Grandpa. It's always been my special place. I've always been able to think things through here, take comfort. I think it's because of the moon. It's always so pretty from here."

"It reminds me of the moon in Egypt. I always loved the moon as well. There was a special place for me, in the palace, that I would sneak to when no one was watching, and just look at it, and think. Just like you do here." Yami sighed.

"Inish nehab,

nehinor kinslad.

Te kindoh,

Te nehab inijo.

Yuk quena itik oleano.

Nehab.

Inish nehab…

Te nehab inijo."

Yugi turned to the Pharaoh, and Yami let out a breath reminiscently.

"A song of the moon. From my time, from my people." He gave Yugi a smile, but it was sad.

"You loved someone once, didn't you?" Yami, not expecting this question, turned to Yugi slowly, but said nothing. "I've heard you joke about her before…but you loved her, didn't you?" Yami sighed once again this evening; his mind turned to the past.

He didn't want to answer the young one's question, didn't know if he was ready to turn to the memory just yet…

"Yes."

"A servant." Yugi stated, and the other nodded. "She did your laundering, didn't she?" Yami nodded again, letting out another breath slowly. "With hair…"

"The color of ebony, skin like alabaster." Yugi looked to the Pharaoh in a new light. "She…yes. Yes, I did love her." Yugi saw the hurt that this statement had caused upon Yami's face, and he felt bad for bringing up the subject.

"Losing her…" Yami continued. "was the most painful thing that had ever happened to me." And with that the Pharaoh drew himself up, and left Yugi, going back through the bathroom window.

* * *

The "Egyptian" isn't unique—as if you even thought it might be. It's totally made up, by me. Here are the translations, though, for what Yami said and for the song.

Azhimm—nothing

Inkorj—little

Kamed—one

Song translation:

Beautiful moon,

Light divine.

Of wonder,

Moon of mystery.

Time and ages, still the same.

Moon.

Beautiful moon.

Moon of mystery.