Summary: Illness, snacking, and revelations of a vomit-inducing type - there's your content warning for this.

As weeks passed, the time Atem and Mana spent together became more frequent. So, too, did Mana's headaches, doubtless brought on by being in constant close proximity to the former Pharaoh. There were only so many times Atem could offer to massage her head without looking creepy, and yet, it still felt too early to drop the bombshell on Mana about her past.

The confusion and guilt did no favours for Atem's nerves. Ryou suggested inviting Mana over so they could all talk, but with how much time Bakura spent in the apartment, Atem knew she was likely to react badly, considering how bad her migraines became if she recalled his name...or whatever it was she heard.

"Bakhure, did you say?"

"Yeah, that's it. I guess it's similar, but she keeps pronouncing it differently."

Malik and Atem had gone out for coffee together, a rare moment of companionship for them. Atem appreciated the time and effort they had both put into understanding each other, after everything they had been through, and when it came to talking of unlocking deep-set memories, there was nobody better to ask than the former tomb-keeper.

Malik fussed with his cup a moment, making the espresso within ripple and swirl into waves of deepest black. "I wonder if she's recalling Bakura's original name," he mused. "It's been so long that the dumb oaf himself has forgotten it."

"Does it mean anything?" Atem asked.

"You can read it as "sunrise," or "trap for Ra." Come on, Atem, this is your native language!"

"I meant, does it mean anything for Mana's pain? Can we do anything for her?"

Malik shrugged helplessly. "If she carries on spending all this time with you, then she's going to remember stuff sooner or later. I get that you're feeling bad right now, but withholding this from her will only make her hurt for longer. If it were me, I think I would rest easier knowing I'd told a friend a truth that they deserved."

"Or I could..." Atem sighed and pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Maybe it's better that I cut off contact, if being around me makes her suffer."

Malik threw a sugar packet at Atem, hitting him in the middle of his forehead before dropping into the milky foam of Atem's latte. "Don't be stupid," Malik scolded. "Your face fucking lights up when you talk about her. The only other time you look that happy is when Yugi hugs you."

"..." Atem dug out the soggy packet with his spoon and plopped it onto a saucer.

"Look, it's obvious she's important to you. Walk away from her now and you'll both be in pain." Malik pinched the bridge of his nose and huffed heavily. "This girl, Mana...she carries on like this, and she's going to be terrified of her past, the same way I was. She won't be able to accept it because of how it was hidden from her. Tell her, Atem."

He rubbed his shoulder blade and shuddered. "Don't let her hide in the darkness. You saw...you saw what it did to me."

Atem reached out and squeezed Malik's slightly shaking free hand. Once upon a time, Malik would have jerked back at the touch, but the years had softened his tough defences, and he instead managed a weak smile as he returned the gentle squeeze. "I'll try," Atem said. "I don't know how she will react, but I'll try."

"Good. I'll be waiting to hear how it all goes."

The following morning, Mana was nowhere to be seen on the commute to work. Atem looked around the packed carriage, frowning; they had each other's' numbers now, and she definitely said she was working today…he'd not heard his phone go off, so where could she be?

On his lunch break, he called Mana's phone, but it rang through to her voicemail, so he texted Yugi instead and let him know he'd be coming home a little later tonight. It took Yugi an hour to reply, as he was working also, but he eventually responded with a "thumbs-up," and Atem was satisfied that his aibou wouldn't be worrying all night wondering where he was.

It was on his walk to the train station, after finishing work, that Atem's phone started ringing with Mana's name flashing up onscreen. An unexpected lightening in Atem's chest surprised him, and he exhaled a heavy breath, smiling as he accepted the call.

"Hey there. Is everything alright? I didn't see you this morning, so…"

The reply that met Atem's ear had the air of a creaky door, being pushed ever so slowly in the dead of night.

"Mana…?" Atem frowned.

"…Hi, Atem." A minute hint of a smile tinged a soft voice fraught with exhaustion. "Sorry to make you worry."

"You sound ill. What's happened?"

"Usual."

"Migraine?"

"Mm. I've been in bed all day. I…" Mana let out a dull groan. "I just need this to stop, Atem. It's screwing me up royally."

He sighed. "I know. I know, Mana. Just hang tight, okay? I'm coming over now."

"Are you sure? You don't have to…"

"Very sure, but only if you want me there."

Mana chuckled quietly. "I'd never say no to your company, Atem. Okay, I'll make sure the door is unlocked for you."

The train ride back to Domino might as well have taken a year; Atem found himself increasingly fidgety and irritable with each passing minute that it felt he'd never arrive back. By the time the rickety old thing rolled into the station, the former Pharaoh couldn't have rushed off faster, a mixture of guilt and urgency throbbing in his chest. He hurried to Mana's apartment, only stopping to dive into a convenience store along the way.

Rucksack substantially heavier, but heart lighter, Atem reached Mana's apartment with little additional distraction. As Mana promised, the door was unlocked; Atem let himself in and promptly wrinkled his nose at the pervading aura of malaise hanging thick in the air. Darkness ran through every room, as Atem remembered from his first time caring for Mana during a migraine. He kicked off his shoes, changed into slippers, scratched behind the ear of the cat rubbing against his leg, then made his way to the bedroom.

The door stood slightly ajar, but Atem tapped on it lightly with his fingers to make his presence known before poking his head around and peering into the room.

"Hey." Mana's dark eyes flashed above her duvet in the dim light of the room. She had the thick duvet pulled up over her nose, only the top half of her head being visible. Even in the gloom, she appeared pale and worn down.

"I brought snacks." Atem held up his rucksack by way of greeting.

Mana's eyes crinkled at the corners as she giggled lightly. "You're so sweet." She patted the spot beside her on the bed. "Come sit down and comfort me."

"Of course." Atem tossed his rucksack to the side of the bed, and settled cross-legged by Mana. "How's your head?"

"Painful," Mana muttered. "Haven't puked my guts up for a few hours, so maybe it's starting to cool off now, but I still feel raw and gross."

"There's some ginger tea in my bag. My mother used to say it was good for settling stomachs."

"Would you?"

"I'd be glad to." Atem gave Mana's hand a gentle pat. Reaching over for the bulging rucksack, he grabbed the attractive-looking yellow box and hopped up to go to the kitchen.

He made a cup for Mana and another for himself while the cats made their displeasure at not being fed right this minute known. "Oh, hush, you noisy lot," Atem grinned; cats might have been as mighty as gods themselves back in his day, but in modern times, he wasn't exactly averse to throwing the odd swear word in Malaika and Hamza's directions.

He finished making the drinks and carried them back to Mana's bedroom, where he found her nibbling on daifukumochi, the opened box sat in front of her. "Yugi loves those," Atem said, indicating the box as he set the cups down on the bedside table. "They seem popular with most people."

Mana nodded, smiling. "They're so good. You should have one, too."

"Ah, no, thank you. I don't have much of a sweet tooth."

"Then what will you snack on?"

Atem pulled out two large bags of potato crisps from his rucksack and several packs of sushi rolls. Mana's lips lifted in an amused grin. "Do you plan on sharing?"

Atem returned her grin. "Only if you promise to rest up afterwards."

"I promise. Can I have one of the futomaki?"

Atem passed them over. "I'm not a fan of salmon. You can have all of those ones."

"Damn, you're the best. Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

A wordless splutter almost choked Atem, and he had to take off his glasses to wipe the steam that suddenly fogged them up. Mana chuckled as she settled against her pillows and popped a roll into her mouth; Atem slipped his glasses back on and took a hurried gulp of his tea. It burned his throat in an exhilarating distraction. "You look to be perking up a little," he remarked.

Mana pursed her lips, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do feel a bit better." She reached out for her cup of ginger tea and took a small sip. "Thanks for all this, Atem. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through these last few weeks without you."

Atem opened his mouth to reply, but the words caught in his throat, tough little claws of hesitation fighting against his urge to spit them out. They hurt, to hold them in, but he knew it could cause more hurt if he were able to say them.

"Atem?" Mana frowned. "You look like you swallowed a frog."

"I…" Atem took a deep breath. "Can I tell you something super weird and totally not possible?"

Mana giggled, a rosy flush darkening her cheeks. "Of course."

"What would you say if…if I told you I think I am the cause of your recent illnesses?"

Dark eyes blinked rapidly from over the top of hands clutched around a second and third daifukumochi. "What do you mean?"

Atem twirled a stray thread on the bedclothes round his finger. Somehow, his eyes seemed to have frozen on the unconscious urgency with which he tugged on the thread. "Do you remember what you told me, that first night we had a drink together? About feeling as though you had a past life?"

Mana nodded slowly, never taking her eyes from Atem.

"I…wanted to keep it from you a little longer, because I wanted you to remember on your own, but I never could stand to see my friends suffering because of something I did, so…" Atem's free hand reached out and grasped one of Mana's as it came to rest on her knee. "I was born into nobility, destined to inherit the kingdom my father reigned over. Around us was a council of great advisors, and amongst them was a friend…and behind him…there was another."

Atem's eyes lifted then, searching Mana's face, as if to read her thoughts. "Mana, I…I believe you are the reincarnation of the priestess of the same name, who grew up in the court of Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen and befriended – "

"The prince!" Mana gasped and wrenched her hand away from Atem's to press both over her mouth, eyes wide and shiny, breathing heavy as though she might vomit.

"The prince…oh gods, I…how could I have…? Atem! My prince, but I - "

With a cry like shattering glass, Mana flung herself into Atem's arms. "How did this happen?" she sobbed into Atem's shirt. "I d-don't understand…and you're here, and…oh, Atem, I can't, I can't, I…"

Atem made to embrace her, to calm and steady her shaking body, but as quickly as she'd nestled into him, she was pushing herself back; a moment later she leaned over the side of the bed and heaved.