Disclaimer: It's not mine... yet... -shifty eyes-

Christmas Dreams
Yugi sat before the fireplace with his grandfather one cold December night, Atemu across from him in another chair. The expression on the older boy's face appeared lost, detached. Though his facial expression showed no emotion, the waves of thought crashing and foaming in his eyes were enough to tell Yugi that something was majorly up.

"Atemu, what's wrong?" Yugi was startled when their grandfather voiced the very question Yugi had been planning to.

"Nani?"

"What's up?" Yugi asked. "You're all quiet... Well you're usually quiet, but still..."

"I- I really don't know. I feel... odd."

"What do you mean? Do you not feel well?" inquired Sogoroku.

"No, it's not a physical feeling..."

"Then what is it? Spit it out," Yugi pressed.

"How do you expect me to, when I don't even know...?"

"Well you'd better figure it out, because if you keep up the way you're acting it's going to be a very boring Christmas this year," the younger boy joked. Even though Atemu believed in and worshiped his ancient Egyptain gods, he used Christmas to worship them because they didn't have any holiday of their own. He had taken delight in helping set up the pine tree in their living room that now glowed brightly with lights that played and frolicked with the various ornaments of the tree, their warm shine glistening off every surface in the room. It was Atemu's first Christmas, and Yugi planned to make it special for the older boy.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Sogoroku asked, his face giving off those I-know-you-and-how-you-think vibes.

"I'm not sure... Can we just drop it for now?"

"If you insist," the elderly man replied, but his last word rung uncomfortably in the air, making known the fact that they had not really closed off the topic.

"I'm going to bed," Atemu declared abruptly, getting up swiftly and lightly ascending the stairs to the upper rooms of the Kame game shop, home to the three.

"That was..."

"Uncharacteristic?" Yugi's grandfather supplied as Yugi nodded his agreement.

"Do you have any idea what he's thinking?" Yugi queried worriedly. It was not at all like Atemu to be so quiet, nearly... moody.

"I have a guess. He's up in your room, correct?"

"I suppose, I mean, where else would he go?"

"I'm going to go up and talk to him... Yes, I'm going to ask him something. I wonder if he's ever..."

"Ever what?"

His grandfather shook his head. "If I'm correct, it's his business to tell you what he thinks he feels." With that he left for Yugi and Atemu's room.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm being left out of a joke or something?" Yugi asked the Christmas tree, which in barely over a fortnight would be alive with brightly wrapped packages of all sorts, candy canes and cards. Yugi thought about what he'd gotten all of his friends.

For Jou he'd bought a few Duel Monsters booster packs the blond had been raving about for nearly a month, but couldn't afford after blowing all his savings on a video game. For Honda he'd gotten a new biking helmet he'd come upon one day at an old retail store. The helmet was black, with flames hand-painted onto it in green and blue. No doubt his friend would like that. Ryo's present, Romeo and Juliet which BlackCharmgirl does not own, hadn't been hard, and Otogi's nearly as easy to do, though he had made Otogi's. It was a set of Dungeon Dice Monsters dice, except they were painted with different Christmas symbols instead of the normal crests. He'd get a kick out of that.

For Jou's sister Shizuka, he'd found a necklace in the shape of a butterfly on a thin leather cord that he'd thought she'd like, and for Mai a bottle of inexpensive but sweet perfume. For Anzu, there was a bracelet he'd beaded himself saying 'f-r-i-e-n-d-s-4-e-v-e-r.'

He'd made the three Ishtars name plaques with their names written on them in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, which Atemu had helped him form, and for his grandfather there was a puzzle he'd made of thick cardboard, on which he had painted the words, "Best Jii-chan in the World, Merry Christmas!" and then cut into many, many pieces. He yawned and glanced at the clock. It's been nearly half an hour since Jii-chan went upstairs to talk to Atemu. They must be done by now.

He slowly climbed up the stairs, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, and walked down the hall until he was standing in front of the door to his room. To his surprise, he could hear that Atemu's usually strong, deep voice, which had made Yugi insanely jealous on more than one occasion, sounded choked, as if he had been crying.

"I just don't get it, Jii-chan. When I was one with Yugi, I could just blame it on his feelings, and it was really impossible to separate what he felt from what I did, but now I'm not sure what I'm actually thinking and what I'm just used to Yugi thinking, but the thing is, what if it wasn't ever Yugi thinking this, but really me? Then what do I do?"

"What would you normally do?"

"I-I don't know..." Yugi was shocked when he heard deep sobs coming from the direction of Atemu's voice. "I'm just so confused.."

"Ssh, it's okay. Though you're not used to it, what you're feeling is natural for your age. Calm down."

There was silence on Atemu's end, except for the sound of him taking a few ragged breaths. "Thanks Jii-chan."

"You're welcome. Good night, Atemu."

"'Night Jii-chan." Yugi heard heavy footsteps approach where he stood, and realized all too late that he was going to be found out. And he was.

"How much of that did you hear?" his grandfather snapped, an unusual ferocity in his threatening violet eyes.

"Just you two saying good night."

"Are you sure?" the older man asked, eying his grandson with apparent suspicion.

"Yes."

"All right... By the way, don't ask him anything tonight. He's been through enough lately by the sound of it. He'll tell you when he's ready." With that Sogoroku left down the hall for his room, leaving Yugi utterly confused.

"That was... weird." Yugi entered the room shared by the two boys. Atemu's breathing was ragged, making it clear that he was still awake, but the boy didn't give any indication of wanting to talk. Sighing, Yugi changed into his pajamas quietly and got into his bed, his breath evening out long before his yami's. While Yugi slept, the older boy was deep in thought, not able to sleep.

What if I do like her, though? I know Yugi does, and I would be stabbing my aibou in the back with a rapier if I asked her out... but I want to. Now what do I do? And what do I tell aibou if he notices?