Yami watched Yugi sleeping, his motionless hovering spirit ever careful of waking the boy. A hovering spirit wouldn't make much noise but the sight of Yugi sleeping uninterrupted, his dreams not shattered by a clamoring world, was a rare one. Yami wouldn't risk splitting his dream world by some careless motion or sound.

Yami watched the last fading light stretch across Yugi through the cracks in his navy curtains. The shafts of light only added to Yugi's youth and innocence. Some people only seemed young and innocent in sleep but Yugi seemed to be some heaven bound deity, resting before sprouting wings and leaving the earth.

Yami sighed as he eased onto his back beside the boy. He wasn't only a Pharaoh from ages ago, he was also bound to guard Yugi. A strange duty that had taken an even stranger turn. He guarded Yugi because he loved him, not because he was bound to. He guarded the boy at all times but his spirit form wandered free while Yugi was most vulnerable. While Yugi slept, Yami watched him and made every attempt to keep his sleep untouched by outside influences. Sometime inner influences forced Yami to wake the boy. Yugi's dreams were Yugi's but Yami saw flashes of the intense nightmares that would cause Yami to wake him, fading as the boy opened his eyes.

Yami wondered what Yugi would be like without his domineering presence in the boy's life. Yami didn't mean to steer Yugi's life but it seemed to work that way. Yugi didn't mind. It would be different for him without Yami though and Yami thought about it often. He would most certainly have a significant other. Yami wondered why Yugi didn't spend more time with his friends and get an intimate friend. He wondered, but dared not hope.

Morning light split through the curtains and Yami sighed. He wished his spirit body could block the light and shelter Yugi. Instead, light beams bounded through him, creating odd glitters where his form rested. Light again spread across Yugi's frame and Yami sighed. Yugi would wake soon. He would fade and protect the boy from his own mind and the exhaustive reaches of the puzzle that bound him to the boy.

Yami sighed as Yugi's lavender eyes fluttered. He wished just once to gaze into those gem colored eyes without fading away. He didn't dare wish for a physical form. Physical forms had responsibilities and Yami wouldn't be able to hide behind the puzzle. Physical forms could do so many things where spirits could only wish.

Yami sighed and shut his own eyes as Yugi opened his. He wished nights lasted longer and Yugi yawned.

"Good morning Yami. Are you awake?" Yugi asked.

"Yes." Yami said.

"Then open your eyes." Yugi said. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Yami started when he felt Yugi's small hand on his own. He opened his eyes and looked into Yugi's lavender eyes. "How-"

"You have your body now? Did I miss something?" Yugi asked, smiling as Yami entwined their fingers, staring in disbelief. He didn't seem surprised or not nearly as shocked as Yami was.

"How did this happen?" Yami asked.

"You've more than earned it Yami. I know you protect me all the time, maybe it's more effective if you have your own body." Yugi said, smiling.

"I can not believe this." Yami said, blinking.

"I can. It's what we've always wanted for you." Yugi said. He reached to his nightstand and got the Millennium puzzle, sliding it around Yami's slim neck.

"No Yugi, you keep it. I will still protect you even if my physical form isn't by your side." Yami put it back around Yugi's neck, draping his arms around the boy's neck for a moment.

"I know you will."

Yami kept protecting Yugi. Yugi insisted that a Pharaoh didn't need or want the experience of high school so Yami stayed home, waiting for Yugi's safe return. Some days it was questionable whether Yugi was well or not. Yami sensed those days coming. Yugi would wake late, stumble through his morning routine and leave late. Even further back, the previous night would be filled with nightmares that even Yami couldn't shake off. When Yugi came home, it would usually be him trudging up the stairs and collapsing on his bed. Yami could only protect him so much but once he came home, he was safe.

Yugi trudged up the stairs, wondering how his night spent thrashing in the wake of horrible dreams could've been the pinnacle of the last twenty-four hours. He woke late, Yami blinking his crimson eyes at the boy with a sympathetic smile. He left even later, knowing Yami was watching him leave with a usual air of contriteness. The Pharaoh's protection didn't count everywhere.

Yugi opened his door and let his backpack slide from his narrow shoulders. Yami peered at him from where he perched on the boy's desk, eyes quizzical.

"Bad day?" Yami asked.

"Haven't had one worse in a long time." Yugi sighed. Yami smiled and patted his lap. The slim teenager slid into Yami's lap and Yami held him there, waiting for his breathing to calm.

"What's wrong?" Yami asked.

"Everything. It feels like something is wrong with me. Something is missing." Yugi said. Yami sighed and carried the weary boy to his bed.

"Rest Yugi."

"I have homework-" Yugi protested as he kicked his shoes off.

"I don't even need to point out how valid that argument is." Yami said, tucking him in.

"Yami-"

"Sleep, little one." Yami said.

"Thank you Yami. It must be very hard protecting me when you don't know what's wrong." Yugi said.

"I know what's wrong but I'm not sure if we can fix it little one." Yami whispered.

Yugi woke in the morning to a familiar sight and sighed in comfort. Yami resting beside him provided such peace it almost seemed childish. Did he really need his Pharaoh doll to sleep well? Yami really did look like a doll. Too perfect to be real. Yugi blinked and realized what a strange occurrence this was. Yami didn't sleep near him ever since he received his own form. He would usually stay awake, sitting at his desk chair. He wondered why Yami stayed; protecting Yugi even after it became obvious he wasn't in danger. He didn't have the courage to ask.

Yami woke and sighed, draping an arm around the startled boy. It was long past the time to tell Yugi his feelings, whether they were reciprocated or not. It was dishonest to hide feelings from Yugi who had shared everything with him. Perhaps not everything, but nearly everything. The Pharaoh didn't dare guess the few things Yugi kept in the more obscure recesses of his mind.

"Yugi, there is something I must tell you."

"Does it have anything to do with why you stay by my side?" Yugi asked, blinking his lavender eyes. God he was an angel. Yami almost groaned at such purity. He knew he could have his light without tingeing the glow.

"Yes my light." Yugi blinked at the term. Yami had stopped referring to him as that when he got his own body. He only called Yugi that when they were alone and close.

"What is it?" Yugi asked, swallowing. He'd felt the same hope when he held the last piece of the Millennium puzzle, wishing against everything that it would fall into its place and give him what he desired, even if he didn't know what it was.

"I love you." Yami breathed the words into Yugi's lips and stayed very close to his face, his crimson eyes closed.

"Yami,"

"Anything beyond this is your choice Yugi. You know what love means to me, protection and anything that would make you happy. If that means leaving you because of my love, I am willing to do so. If that means extending relationship, so be it. I would do anything."

Yami breathed and waited. He expected the boy to speak, ask questions or at least stare in silence with his blinking amethyst eyes. He was startled when Yugi brought his lips to Yami's, closing the thin gap with a dormant love and passion prodded awake by a hesitant Pharaoh.

Author: Should I go on?