Notes about this chapter: Atemu is old enough to drink! He was 18 when he was sealed inside the Puzzle. Though I admit I'm not quite sure if the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 or 18…but pay it no mind, 'kay? Most teens of today usually start drinking when they're like 13 anyway. And I'm speaking from experience here. People in my class did that back in Junior High. Not myself though. The biggest amount that I've touched alcohol was in my confirmation ceremony.

Oh, and Battle City was pretty different. Malik knew about the existence of Marik and they were lovers. However, in order for Malik to be able to live in the light, Marik allowed him to banish him to the shadows. So there ^^;.

Warnings: AtemuxHeba, some mild Puzzleshipping

Hangovers: Atemu


"Good morning." Atemu greeted sleepily as he entered the kitchen.

The first thing Yami and Akunamkanon noticed about the adopted Amun was that there were heavy and dark rings around his crimson eyes and that his hair was all messed up. He was also ghostly pale under his tanned skin. It didn't take a genius to understand he had been out drinking yesterday night again.

As Atemu had begun learning more and more about the meaning of Christmas, he had slowly started becoming depressed. It seemed the more he learnt, the more depressed he became. At first it hadn't been that bad, he'd just been slightly more quiet and seemingly more dazed off than usually. But then it had got worse to the point Atemu would do nothing for hours but stare out of the window while sighing and knitting things. And eventually it had gone to this point: Atemu had been out drinking the last few nights and every morning he was down with a massive hangover from hell. He wasn't quite used to those unfortunate side-effects of alcohol, as the ones they had had in his time hadn't been strong enough to make him very drunk.

Yami felt guilty about his big brother figure's state, after all he had been the one to tell him about Christmas the most, about its meaning and traditions. But also because he knew why Atemu was so depressed. It was because he knew he wouldn't be able to be with the one he loved on Christmas. He was still stuck in this era thanks to Yami. He couldn't be in the afterlife with his loved ones.

The dark violet-eyed youth sighed softly as he watched Atemu prepare himself some honey-flavoured tea to ease his stomach.

-

Later that day, during the break time at Domino High, Yami's friends were all gathered around his desk and talking about their holiday plans.

"I managed to convince my parents to let Mai stay at our house this Christmas. I hope that if they get to know her a bit better they'll see what there is in our relationship aside from the fact we're both girls…" Anzu was speaking at the moment.

"Good luck with that. I know I've had none…" Honda said to that.

Yuugi slowly trailed off of listening to the brunettes, and instead took a sideways glance to Yami, who hadn't so far said anything. He was just miserably staring down at his desk top.

"Hey, Yami." The small boy began. The taller one looked up. "Is something wrong? You've been awfully quiet today…"

Now everyone else's attention turned to Yami as well. Yami blushed a bit at all the stares, and glanced away sideways. "Well, it's just…Atemu hasn't been doing very well lately."

"How come?" Jou asked.

"Well, he's been kind of depressed. Ever since he learnt that Christmas is the holiday to spend with the ones you love, he's been bummed out, because he can't be with the ones he loves during it. And it doesn't feel fair to me either. Everyone should be able to be with the one they love on Christmas."

"Have you talked about this with him?" Ryou questioned softly.

"No. He'd just deny it all and tell me not to worry. He is like that."

"You're pretty similar then." Anzu teased slightly. Yami's cheeks flushed.

"Still, it's not like we can do anything about it, right?" Yuugi murmured softly, sympathetically for Atemu. "It's not like the dead can come back to life…"

"Actually, they might." They all heard Malik speak up. Since the Ishtars had moved to Japan because of the job offer Ishizu had got in the Domino Museum, the said woman had thought it'd be better if her brother started going to a normal, public school and finally lead a normal teenager's life. And that was exactly what had happened. And, though it had taken a while for everyone to get adjusted to it, Malik had slowly been included to the gang.

"What do you mean?" Yami asked curiously.

"Well, last month some old Egyptian documents were given to my sister to translate. They included some pretty interesting spells. I don't know the exact details about them, but I'm sure if you ask her, she'll be able to tell you more."

"Then let's go to the museum after school!" Jou exclaimed enthusiastically.

-

"Hmm…I see your problem." Ishizu murmured, her chin in her hand in a thoughtful manner.

"So can you help?" Yami asked, sounding almost desperate. He really hated seeing Atemu like that.

"I might be able to. However, the documents say the reason for wanting to summon a person from the afterlife must be very sincere and unselfish one. It might not work if you're only doing this to ease your own guiltiness."

Yami frowned. He knew that was a part of it, but he also knew he just wanted to see Atemu truly happy just once. He wanted Atemu to be able to be with the one he loved during Christmas. "Well, we won't know until we try, right?"

Ishizu smiled at him. "That's true. But there is also that the person summoned won't be able to stay here forever. In other words, that person's time here is going be limited. The dead can't be permanently brought back to life. That goes for the Pharaoh as well."

Something really cold tugged in Yami's heart strings, but he decided not to let it bother him this time. He had already accepted the truth in Ishizu's words, he had since Battle City. Still, he dreaded the day Atemu would eventually have to leave. Losing his mother had destroyed him almost completely from the inside, and he was already afraid of going through that again. That horrible sorrow and the icy pain in his chest…the endless tears.

Still, he supposed this time it'd be a bit different. He had friends now who would no doubt back him up, and a wonderful lover who would lead him back to the light when he would wander in the darkness of sorrow, just like he had done before. The thought of that eased the fear at least a bit.

Ishizu's voice brought him out of his thoughts: "There are a few things I will need to take care of before we can summon the Prince. How about you come back this Sunday? I'm sure I'll be able to get everything ready by then."

"That's fine, Ishizu-san." Yami told her. "One question though."

"Yes?"

"How long will that limited time be, until he has to go back?"

Ishizu shook her head softly. "I'm afraid the documents don't say. I suppose it varies for every person. The gods decide it. But I'm pretty sure we'll know if the summoning is successful."

Yami nodded, and the gang began leaving. Malik decided to walk them out of the museum.

"Wait a moment!" Ishizu's voice stopped them and they turned to look around. "When you come on Sunday, I need to ask you to bring some of your spare clothes. The ones the Prince will be wearing won't be very good for him to wear here and since he won't be staying for long, it would be unnecessary to buy him some. He's about your size, Yami-sama."

"Got it." Everyone said, with Yami murmuring under his breath, something about too many formalities.

They finally reached the door and departed their ways. Yami and Yuugi stayed back, though.

"Malik, I must ask you something." Yuugi stated and the tanned boy blinked down at him in acceptance. "If those documents have been here for several months, why haven't you tried to bring Marik back with them?"

Malik chuckled. "With the way my sister feels about him? Not in seven hells." But then his face turned a bit more serious and he took a glance upwards to the dark, star-lit sky. "And besides…it might not work for me. Wanting to be with him simply because I love him wouldn't be an unselfish enough reason. And anyway, it would only be temporarily. The last separation hurt enough, I don't want to force myself go through that again."

Yami felt his heart wretch.

-

Later, Yami and Yuugi were walking towards their homes together.

"Are you still going to go through with this?" Yuugi suddenly asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Don't give me that Yami, I saw the look on your face when Malik said he wouldn't make himself to meet Marik again just to be separated from him. Besides…" he frowned softly. "is it really right for us to do this kind of decision for Atemu? Are we really doing the right thing? Would he really rather want to have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing?"

Yami thought about it, considering Yuugi's words carefully for a rather long while.

"If I know him even half as well as I think I do, yes, I think he would." He finally said. "Besides, it's not like it's going to be a 'lifetime' for him. I've always known he probably won't be staying longer than two years at the most…probably not even that."

"And you're okay with that?" Yuugi asked in disbelief.

"Yes and no. I've accepted that day will eventually have to come, and when it does, I'll be happy because he's happy. But losing someone you care about is never something you are 'okay' with. It is going to hurt and sting, but this time I think I'll be able to hold on a bit better."

"And why is that?"

Yami stopped, and out of nowhere hugged the smaller boy. "Because you are here with me, now."

Yuugi blushed against his lover's shoulder, but then smiled and hugged him back tight.

-

The Sunday morning came all too fast. Atemu was once again knitting something while sitting on the Amun living room couch. His head was still aching a bit from the yesterday night's alcohol, though he'd taken some aspirin for it already. But knitting made him feel a bit more peaceful.

He then heard steps coming down the stairs, and soon saw Yami standing at the doorway, holding a cloth bag in his hand that looked rather heavy. "I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back before lunch."

"Okay. Take your time." Atemu sighed softly, feeling more lonely than ever. But he knew he couldn't stop Yami from going. Yami was still alive after all, and young. He needed to live his life fully, just like Atemu always told him to. Atemu couldn't hold his little brother figure back just because he felt lonely.

Yami grinned at him, and left the doorway. Atemu heard him walk away, and the front door open and close. He sighed heavily, and decided to leave the knitting for a while. Maybe a small nap would ease his headache.

-

Sometime later, Yami and the rest of the gang were at the museum. Everyone had brought a lot of spare clothes, except Yuugi since his clothes would probably be too small. Ishizu had led them all in a private room, where she had set up an altar with some scented torches that she now lit. She told everyone to get on their knees and they did. She herself did that as well, setting herself right in front of the altar.

"Oh, the ancient and mighty gods of Egypt, hear my plea!" She spoke to the air and suddenly a wind coming seemingly from nowhere filled the room. "Allow me to bring one soul back from the dead, I beg of you! Please answer this present day Prince's wish for his brother-Pharaoh and bring the Pharaoh's loved one back for a limited time!"

The wind was blowing really hard by now. They all heard a massive voice ringing through the room: "My name is Osiris. I am the god of the underworld and control the dead." The voice spoke. It was a deep, yet elegant and very respectable one. "Pray tell, young Prince Yami, why is that you wish Pharaoh Atemu's loved one to be brought back? And look up while you say it, so I know you're being honest."

Yami did so, rising his head. "Osiris-sama, I merely want to see Atemu happy for once. You might not know it, but there's a holiday called 'Christmas' in this modern culture of ours. It is the holiday to spend with the ones you love. Everyone should have the right to be with their beloved one during Christmas, and Atemu is no exception. In fact, there are a very few people in my option who deserve it more than him."

"I see your honesty in this wish, young prince of today." Osiris continued to speak. "However, don't you wish this also to ease your own guilty feeling of keeping the Pharaoh here with you?"

Yami fought to keep himself from frowning. "That might be true, mighty lord, but…that's just what we humans are like. But I assure you, that that selfish side of my wish comes merely from the fact that I care about Atemu. I don't want to see him in this much pain because of me. If that is being selfish, I can't help it."

"You've been sincere with me, young prince. You didn't deny your selfishness like most humans usually do. You weren't falsely defensive about it. I'm very satisfied with you." There was a smile in Osiris' voice. "Your wish shall be granted. The Prince can be with you until the end of this year. He will disappear the moment the year changes for you. Make sure the Pharaoh understands this and uses the time they have wisely."

The smoke that came from the torches somehow began tangling together and slowly began getting mixed with a blinding light came from nowhere in particular. Everyone were forced to shield their eyes.

When they were able to look again, the first thing they saw was a young softly tanned and wild-haired boy lying on his back on the floor, and dressed very strangely.

The boy blinked his violet eyes that were rather cold in colour. "Where am I?"

-

Atemu heard the door open and close once more, which woke him up from his nap. "I'm home, Atemu!" Yami's voice rang through.

"Welcome back…" Atemu murmured a bit sleepily and rubbed his eyes. He heard several steps approaching, so he was able to conclude Yami hadn't come alone. Sure enough, at the doorway with his little brother figure stood most of Yami's friends and Yuugi.

"Atemu, we have a little surprise for you. Something really special for you for Christmas." Yami said, grinning and sounding excited. "Everyone should be able to be with the one they love on Christmas, so…we felt there was no better present to give you." He looked over his shoulder. Atemu heard steps.

When the one who produced the steps came to his view at the doorway, Atemu couldn't believe his eyes.

"Heba?"

The boy nodded, blushing just a bit and looking kind of shy. "Yes, beloved. It's me." For a while, Atemu could do nothing but stare. "Don't worry, this isn't a dream. These people apparently care enough about you to try and bring me back for this holiday of theirs. I'll be staying for a little less than a month."

Atemu still couldn't believe this wasn't a dream, so he pinched himself just in case. It hurt. And he was still awake.

He stared again for a while, but only for a while. After that while was gone, he rushed through the room and pulled Heba tight into his arms.

"It's you…oh, Desert Flower, it's really you…" Atemu murmured into Heba's shoulder in Ancient Egyptian, starting to cry. Heba's grip around him was just as strong as his own.

"Yes, it's me, beloved…I'm here. Right here…" Heba murmured back in the same language.

They stood there hugging for a while, until Atemu loosened his grip, but left his arms around Heba's waist loosely. He said something in Ancient Egyptian that the gang didn't understand, but it earned him Heba's nod.

Slowly, the pair let completely go of each other, and Atemu quietly approached Yami. When he reached him, he pulled him into a tight, but merely brotherly loving hug. Yami and Atemu weren't by no means very touchy-feely with each other, but Yami understood this was a very special occasion. This was just the only way Atemu could tell how much he appreciated this. So he hugged Atemu back as tight as he could without hurting him.

"Thank you…little brother." Yami heard Atemu whisper into his ear.

"Anytime, Nii-san." Yami replied.

Atemu slowly let got of him and Yami could see the tears of gratitude and happiness in his warm crimson eyes.

Atemu walked back to Heba, took his face into his hands, and passionately and fully kissed him on the mouth.

Everyone smiled at the sight, though Yuugi also blushed. He always felt like kissing was something private that should be done when no one else was seeing, so…

As if reading his thoughts, Yami quietly whispered to the gang. "Let's go up to my room. Let's let them have some privacy."

And so they did, but Yami very much doubted the two reunited lovers even noticed they'd left.

Aww…Nothing much else to say about this. I really wanted to maintain the brotherly relationship between Yami and Atemu in this one. But it is not to be taken in a romantic fashion! They are drawn to each other because they are the halves of the same soul, which kind of…ties them together and they feel more content with each other than separated. Or something like that ^^;.

The next is Sending Christmas cards. Don't know yet how long that'll be.