Day 15: Their first winter break together and Yugi wanted to share a classic hot drink with the spirit of the puzzle as thanks and reveals something the spirit had been pining about for some time.

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Winter had fallen upon the city of Domino. The children were out of school and enjoying their winter break. Snow blanketed the streets and created the perfect image of a winter wonderland. Yugi was in the living area with a warm cup of hot cocoa, TV on low before him. There was nothing of interest on but even if there was, his mind was on something different. Since Monster World and the threat that was Ryou's dark half, Yugi felt a new kinship with the spirit inside the puzzle. When they first became aware of each other, Yugi will admit he was frightened of the spirit. He didn't know whether he was dangerous at first but with time, he understood the spirit meant no harm. He only wanted to protect Yugi and keep him safe from those that wish to hurt him. It was a kind gesture and one Yugi felt odd about.

For so long he went without protection from anyone, no one to watch his back or deal with anyone that teased or picked on him. Sure, Anzu was around but even she couldn't be there for Yugi all the time. Yet here was this ancient spirit that he released without knowledge who devoted himself to him as his guardian. And if Yugi had to take a moment, he felt that there was more to the spirit's devotion than just mere friendship. But he felt like he would be invasive to ask the spirit something so personal when they're just getting to know each other. So here he sat now, on this wintry day with his cocoa and wondering to himself if there was a way to share the sweet, warm treat with the spirit. It was a gesture of thanks, Yugi had thought to himself. Well there was no better time to try than now, where talking to himself wouldn't alarm his mother, who was out doing errands, or his grandfather who was downstairs manning the shop even if business had slowed due to the snow.

"Mou hitori no boku...can you hear me?" Yugi called softly. There was silence before there was a touch to his mind, a response that was mild but curious. What did he wish of him, the spirit asked. Yugi wasn't in any danger and was safe at home, for what would he call upon him. "Don't be so worried, I actually wanted to thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. So I wanted to share something with you." Another curious thought came from the spirit and Yugi giggled softly as he settled back into the couch. He held up the mug as an offer, to have a taste of the cocoa. Another touch of interest now before a gentle press against the newly formed bond they have created and acknowledged now. He has the spirit's attention, now was the matter of how he could allow the spirit to taste the cocoa.

Before, the spirit would take over when Yugi was under fire from bullies or someone of evil intent to handle them and those times is where he was left with gaps in his memories caused from the shift. For this...he wanted to remember it, wanted to remember the spirit's reaction to the delicious and classic winter treat that likely didn't exist in the time where he hailed from. Yugi was sure things like cocoa were a trade item back where the puzzle originated and would have tried it at least once if not a few times but what about as a warm drink? "How to do this...?" Yugi mused and felt another press at the bond, the spirit asking him to try something. "You have an idea?" A gentle press of confirmation and Yugi smiled. The spirit was kind and didn't know why he had been so afraid of him before. Then again, to suddenly know he had another self would rattle anyone's thoughts. There was another gentle prod to his mind and felt the pull to draw him in, Yugi allowing the spirit to do so. It was a weird sensation but was done with such care as if the spirit feared hurting him and it made his heart flutter suddenly.

Once settled, tucked away in his special room, Yugi felt the spirit take over but with an interesting connection. While he wasn't in control of his body, Yugi could feel what the spirit felt and see what he saw, even hear what he heard. He felt the warmth of the mug in his hands and the low hum of the show that was on the TV. It was an odd sense of disconnection between his mind and body but the spirit kept a link between it while harboring control temporarily. It was a flattering thought that Yugi was to experience this moment alongside the spirit instead of being left out. "Go ahead, try some." Yugi urged and the spirit on the outside nodded, bringing the mug towards his lips, pressing the rim of the mug against them and slowly took a sip of the warm drink, cooled just enough to where it wouldn't burn his tongue and startle him.

The comforting liquid traveled down, leaving the spirit to feel a sense of content, the sweet lingering taste of the cocoa on his tongue and Yugi smiled brightly as he felt the very same through their bond. The spirit really enjoyed the cocoa! The spirit took another sip, smiling softly before trailing a finger over the rim of the cup, preferably over the spot where his lips touched. Yugi grew curious about the mild gesture before seeing the spirit pull his hand away from the mug and press the fingers to his lips. What...did that mean? Yugi pondered for a while of what the spirit could've meant before a thought clicked. Wait, wasn't that around the same spot in which he was drinking the cocoa from? So...was the spirit treating it like an indirect kiss?! A flush crossed Yugi's face and covered his cheeks with his hands, startled by the sudden realization that the spirit really did like him for far more than he thought!

"Mou hitori no boku...?"

The hesitance in his voice had worried the spirit, clear with the growing sorrow in the bond, the creeping shadows of guilt. Was Yugi disgusted with him? The smaller teen gasped as a litany of emotion flickered through the bond. Guilt, shame, fear. The mug shook in his hands and was quickly set onto the coffee table as the spirit was ready to return Yugi back to his body and hide away in his space. "No, no! Wait! It's ok!" Yugi called, standing in the room of his soul. The smaller male didn't want the spirit to hide away from him again but he had to figure out how to address the spirit's feelings for him. For one, Yugi didn't know if he was ready for such a thing. In fact, he knew he wasn't ready. For too long, he had pined for Anzu, a childhood friend he knew for so long and started to have small feelings for. But he was too shy and reserved to ask such a confident girl to go out with him on anything more than a simple outing as friends.

Then there was the spirit, a new and sudden addition to his life that was sweet and nice in his own way but also very reserved and timid of Yugi's emotions after finally understanding him, if even the smallest margin. Yugi would feel terrible to ignore the spirit's feelings but the very same, how is he to explain that he wasn't at that kind of commitment. It would be hard to figure out but damn if Yugi won't try just to spare hurting the spirit and having him fear abandonment or stay distant. He couldn't bear that thought of who was practically his other half. A prod of concern met the bond and Yugi jumped from the touch, reassuring that nothing was wrong. "I just have to think. It's not you, I promise. I just need to decide on something. But don't ever think I'll leave you. I can't even imagine that for a single second after all we've been through."

The words sparked relief in the spirit and Yugi smiled, glad to see the other was at ease and offered him the rest of the cocoa as reconciliation. The spirit accepted the gift happily, a little bubble of content floating through their bond as he made himself comfortable as the cocoa wasn't just the only gift that he was allowed to have but the moment of unchecked exposure to the modern world without disturbance. A taste of Yugi's world extended than just a mere game or punishment to a soul that had trampled on the threshold of Yugi's soul or that of his friends. The spirit was able to see the snow fall outside and stood, moving towards the window and touched it gently with a hand, feeling the cool glass pane under his fingers and within, Yugi felt the same. Felt the gentle tingle of chill on his fingers.

This was the spirit's first experience with winter and Yugi was happy to have shared it with him with the use of his own body. It was an interesting out of body experience but one that the spirit wanted to share with his host just as Yugi had shared his world with him. "Maybe," Yugi whispered to himself as he looked at his hand, remembering the gentle press of lips to the tips of his fingers from the spirit. "Maybe...I don't have to think as hard as I think I do. Perhaps, mou hitori no boku and I..."

Yugi was sure they had all the time in the world to work it out. The spirit cared so much for him, far deeper than his friends for sure. Maybe he shouldn't take his feelings for granted for someone that may not work out as he hoped. They had time...but for now...

"Enjoy the winter scene, mou hitori no boku. You deserve it for all you've done for me."

Yugi briefly kissed his fingers as the spirit had, smiling a little as he settled back onto the small bed in his little mental space.