Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh characters belong to Kazuki Takahashi. This fic has Yaoi; you have been warned.

Main Pairings: YugiXAtemu

"blah" - talking

blah - thinking

Full Summery: (AU, Yaoi) In the year of 3005, Domino Japan had changed greatly, but sadly leaving a confused ex-pharaoh in the dust. Could he survive this odd time, and win the heart of one Yugi Vontane, a decent of his loveable Aibou?

Cyber Affection
by Yami-Yugi

Chapter 10

Once they returned home from the ocean house, life returned to normal. Atemu went to work with Rebecca, helping keep the graveyard (and especially Yugi's grave) looking nice and well taken care of. Yugi returned to investigations at the Police Department. At night, both would talk about each other's work day at the dinner table. Tonight wasn't much different. "So, Rebecca showed you how to take care of the grass today huh?" Atemu nodded. Yugi smiled. "That's good. Work's been pretty slow lately. Not even one case this entire week."

"I see..." Atemu said slowly.

"Atemu, you alright? You seem a little tired."

"Maybe," he yawned. "I think I'll go to bed early."

"Good idea. Goodnight," Yugi said as Atemu slowly stood from the table. Yugi cleaned up dinner and got ready for bed. He smiled to see that Atemu was fast asleep. He checked his forehead. He seemed to be sleeping just fine. He shrugged it off and smiled at a sleeping Chirp before going to sleep.

- - -

The next morning, Yugi got up for work. "C'mon Atemu. Time to get up for work."

"...five more minutes Aibou..."

"Come on," he said pulling back the covers and trying to pull him out of bed. Chirp chirped loudly and started to sing.

"...alright...I'm up..." Yugi smiled and went into the bathroom to get ready. Atemu slowly got up, feeling a bit woozy. He shook it off and got out his clothes for work. He slowly waked over to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

"Okay, I'm almost done." Atemu waited outside, his head throbbing again. He shook it to clear it as Yugi came out. "You alright?"

"Yeah...I guess I just have a headache." Yugi shrugged as Atemu walked in the bathroom. Atemu stared at the mirror and found it hard to focus. He shook his head and squeezed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. When he opened them he could see fine. He finished getting ready.

"Atemu, hurry up. We've got to get going."

"Okay," he said getting out of the bathroom. He got a dizzy spell and fell onto Yugi.

"Whoa!" he cried catching him. "I think you should stay in bed today."

"But..."

"No, but's. I don't want you to get sick or worse. Lie down and rest for today. I'll call Rebecca." Atemu nodded. He was confused. Why did he feel this way all the sudden? He was fine. He was perfectly healthy and functioning properly. He checked himself over as he changed back into his pajamas. "You'll probably feel better after you rest awhile." Atemu nodded and got back into bed. Yugi smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll call the house on my way home from work to see how you are." Atemu nodded and pulled him down, pulling him into a full kiss. Yugi smiled as he pulled away. "I have to go now. Get some rest." Atemu nodded and closed his eyes. Chirp watched all this and decided to keep an eye on Atemu.

- - -

Atemu didn't know how long he had slept. He looked at the clock near the bed. It was noon. Yugi was probably having lunch right now. Atemu decided to get up and have something to eat. He slowly got out of the bed, met with his headache again. He shook it away and trudged into the kitchen. Chirp chirped worriedly, giving a warning that something wasn't right. He started to make lunch and reached up to a high cabinet. He slowly got a bowl out. He had the headache again as a shiver ran down his spine. He went into a small fit and fell to the floor. The bowl crashed into a million pieces on the floor. His dazed, dialated eyes stared out into space intently focused on the cabinet in front of him. He tried to move his arms but they only fell back down to his sides. His legs wouldn't budge. Wh-why...Why...can't...I...move...? All he could do was lay there in silent panic and stare at the cabinet. He kept trying to move his arms. They soon stopped even twitching. He gave up and decided to just lie there until Yugi got home. He kept chanting Aibou in his head, wasting the hours there stuck on the floor. Chirp went into a frenzy.

- - -

Yugi looked at the clock. He sighed, anxious to get home to his beloved. He called the house en route. He found it very strange when no one answered. He waited for the familiar beep to signal the message. "Hi Atemu, it's me Yugi. I'm on my way home now. I really wish you'd answer. I'll be there in a few minutes. Please be okay. I love you." He hung up and increased his speed a bit.

- - -

He raced in the door. He checked the bedroom and grew panicky after finding Atemu wasn't there. Chirp chirped wildly at him and made gestures to the kitchen. Yugi obeyed the pet sparrow and headed in. His eyes widened as he entered the kitchen. "ATEMU! OH MY GOSH!" Atemu was hunched over on his side. His eyes were cold, dark, and lifeless. "Atemu! Atemu wake up!" Yugi shouted lifting him up and shaking him. He noticed he felt heavy. He looked into those once bright crimson eyes. Chirp was going nuts in his cage. "ATEMU WAKE UP! PLEASE! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!" He started to cry as he tried desperately to wake him. He lifted him into his arms, slightly straining under the weight and rushed over to the lab.

- - -

He got Atemu out of the backseat and readjusted the blanket he had wrapped him in. He banged on the front gate. "OPEN UP! OPEN UP NOW!"

"Hello? Who's there?" Pegasus's voice said over the intercom.

"It's Yugi...OPEN UP DAMNIT!"

"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Calm yourself." The door was opened and Yugi ran in. He caught up to Dr. Pegasus down the hall. "Slow down. What's the hurry?"

"SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH HIM!"

"I can see that," he sighed. He looked at Atemu's eyes. "Well, there's a few possibilities. Come on." Yugi followed him to a familiar lab room where the new equipment was. Yugi noticed a few more doctors around the complex. He watched them walk by curiously. "New staff. It helps. Since the opening ceremony, people have been pouring in. I have you to thank for that. Atemu too." Yugi smiled for a brief moment.

"..."

"How did you find him?"

"Lifeless on the floor. There was a broken bowl like he just collapsed in the middle of something." He started to cry worriedly.

They reached the room where the three of them had been once before. Pegasus led him over to the far side of the room. He walked over to another capsule-like device, similar to the other one he used before. This one was much bigger. It had a bigger computer control panel too. It was also completely enclosed, until it was opened at the top like the other one. Pegasus turned it on and opened it. He walked over to the smaller one. "Put him inside. I want to make sure my assumptions are correct." Yugi nodded slowly and carefully put him inside. Pegasus smiled as the computer flashed the results he wanted. "Just as I thought. It's nothing serious."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IT ISN'T SERIOUS!"

"Calm down. How long has it been since I last saw him?"

"What's that got to do with anything!"

"Everything. Just answer the question."

"...That would be when he was fully upgraded to be just like my arm."

"Right. How long ago was it?"

"...Uh...three months. It's been three months since you last saw Atemu."

"That's what I thought. He's perfectly fine. He just needs a complete systems repair."

"What?" Yugi asked confused and worried.

"It's like fixing a computer or any other type of technology. To keep it, or in his case, him functioning properly, it needs to repaired or recharged or both. In Atemu's case, he needs both."

"Like an android?"

"Well, not exactly. He's part human so there's a few other things to take into account."

"So...he's going to be okay?"

"Yes, perfectly fine. It should only take a few hours." Yugi sighed in relief. He trusted Dr. Pegasus so he knew by now that Atemu would be alright. Yugi carefully took Atemu out of the scanning capsule and waited for instructions. Pegasus walked over to the other, bigger capsule. The metal sides were down and there were small lights on inside. It hummed as the computer control panel flashed a "Ready" screen. "Put him inside."

"A-are you sure? What's it going to do?"

"The complete systems repair. He'll be alright, I promise. I've used it three times before."

"You keep pretty busy, huh?" Yugi asked. Pegasus nodded.

"Having equipment to give me an extra hand helps." Yugi nodded as he carefully put Atemu inside.

"You promise it's not going to hurt him?"

"I swear on my license and my Ph. D. I would never let any equipment hurt anyone, especially Atemu." Yugi sighed in relief and let Atemu go. The sides went up, sealing his comatose form inside. Pegasus typed on the controls and went through a few option screens before pressing a green button on the side. "Now we wait. I have to go tend to some other clients now. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. I should be back in time."

"Okay." Pegasus left with a smile. Yugi watched the capsule for a moment, curious as to what was going on. He watched the computer screen as it made its noises. A quick rush of wind could be heard as a computerized picture of a figure moved to the middle of the screen. Then words flashed on it.

Initiating Stage I: The computerized picture of the figure appeared on the screen with a wave symbol moving across it from head to foot. There was the sound of rushing water coming from the capsule. Yugi supposed it was washing him off before starting the repairs. Once it was quiet again he decided to walk away and let it do its thing. He found an empty chair and a computer and sat down, occupying himself by searching the internet and playing games. Every now and then, he'd look towards the capsule to make sure it was doing its job.

Initiating Stage II: The computerized picture with the figure now showed two red lines moving from just below the neck down to the feet as the capsule stripped off the artificial skin coating down to Atemu's mechanical parts.

Initiating Stage III: The screen pictured the figure surrounded by flashing, robotic arms as twelve different tool-equipped arms worked on repairing every circut, every wire, and every vital system.

Initiating Stage VI: A fresh new coat of the artificial skin was put on by four specially equipped arms.

Initiating Stage V: A special fan on the bottom and a special fan on the top moved from his head to his feet, softly blowing hot air.

Initiating Final Stage, Full Systems Check: A special scanner on the top and bottom moved from his head to his feet and back up again.

The computer on the capsule beeped loudly as the words "Restoration Complete" repeatedly flashed on the screen. It startled Yugi out of his daze and he went over to check. Dr. Pegasus walked in the room at that moment. He walked over to the capsule and smiled. "Good as new again," he said as he opened the capsule and carefully took Atemu out. Yugi grabbed the blanket and wrapped him in it again.

"Wow! He looks exactly like he did when he was put in."

"Except he's brand new, inside and out. Except for the part of him that's human, anyway."

"He's okay now?"

"He should wake up soon." Just as Pegasus said that, sleepy crimson eyes opened.

"Wh-where...Why are we at Pegasus's lab? The last thing I remember was helplessly staring at the kitchen cabinet."

"I found you when I came home. You're fine now." Atemu lifted his arm out of the blanket and was relieved he could move it again.

"Now, to make sure he doesn't end up like that again, bring him here every two months. Two months, no later or earlier."

"What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong, Atemu."

"You're perfectly healthy, my friend. You just needed a complete systems repair."

"What's that?"

"Well, since you're part machine on the inside-..."

"Since you're a cyborg, you need a CSR every two months to keep you functioning properly." Atemu looked sad. He was just getting used to being human again. Well, sort of.

"Just when everything was normal again..." he said slowly standing up.

"Atemu, what's wrong?"

"Everything..."

"Atemu..." Yugi said reaching towards him.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"But Atemu...!"

"GET AWAY! BOTH OF YOU! KEEP AWAY FROM ME!" With that he burst from the room and ran, blanket billowing around him.

"ATEMU!" Yugi shouted trying to run after him.

"I was afraid of this."

"What? What upset him?"

"...He's still dealing with the fact that he's not human anymore."

"But...everything we've been through. He was happy again."

"That may be, but he'll never be 100 human. Never. He'll always be a cyborg, even with the pretty skin coating. On the inside, he's still 84 machine. In the back of his mind, he knows that."

"But...I..."

"It's something he has to live and cope with."

"...Every two months...he'll be reminded of that..." Yugi said sadly.

"In time, he'll grow used to them. It will be second nature, like going to the doctor's office for a check up. But until then, he'll have to try and get through it."

"...What...What can I do?"

"Just do what you've been doing. Be there for him. You picked up where his Yugi left off. Go to him, Yugi." Yugi nodded and rushed out.

- - -

Atemu ran until he couldn't breath anymore. He collapsed under a tree in the forest a few miles from the lab. He curled up, pulling the blanket tightly around him. "WHY! WHY HAVE THE GODS FORSAKEN ME AND CONDEMNED TO THIS FATE! I WANTED TO BE WITH YUGI! YOU HEAR ME RA? I WANTED TO BE WITH YUGI, NOT HERE IN THIS TIME! I WANTED TO...be with Yugi...I want my hikari..." He sobbed and sobbed, burying his face in the blanket. Yugi looked around for him, not finding him. He grew worried until he found footprints in the forest dirt. He headed into the trees, following his footprints. He could hear sobbing and it got louder as he walked. He saw Atemu a few trees away from him. He slowly crept over, not wanting to disturb his solitude. He took a step closer, snapping a branch. Tear-stained, startled eyes looked over at him. "Go away...I don't need you...You aren't Yugi..."

"Atemu..."

"Just leave me here. I want to stay here and rust so I can be with Aibou."

"You don't mean that..." Yugi said as he slowly neared him.

"Just get away from me...I don't want to be here anymore..."

"...Atemu please...don't be like this..."

"Why do you care! I'm just some scrap heap you found! I don't want to be here!"

"...Atemu I...I do care...you know I do..."

"I've done nothing but cause trouble...I can't adjust to this time...I don't belong here..."

"Of course you do...I think..."

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK! How could you know how I feel! You aren't Yugi! You aren't Aibou!"

"No, but I'm relat-..."

"IT'S NOT THE SAME!"

"...It is to me..." Yugi said, now standing next to him.

"SO WHAT! JUST GET AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE ME TO DIE SO I CAN BE WITH HIM!"

"I'm not gonna do that!" Yugi shouted starting to cry. He knelt down and buried himself in Atemu's arms.

"GET OFF! YOU MEAN NOTHING TO ME!"

"NO!" Yugi sobbed, hugging him tightly. "I can't let you throw your life away. You...You mean the world to me..."

"How could I!"

"...Because...my life...was lonely too...All I had...was some...annoying cousin...I was m-married to my work...I never had someone to love...or love me back...You...you changed me...I'm not willing to give that up!" Teary crimson eyes blinked. "...I...I know this is hard for you...I know you wish you were human...I know you want great grandpa back...I know you're hurt...and scared...and you feel alone...But please...please let me be there for you...Please...let me love you like Great Grandpa did...please..." Yugi sobbed. Atemu didn't know what to think. He WAS alone. He WAS scared and still adjusting to being different. But...there was someone who was willing to help him through it. Someone right there on his shoulder. Yugi could never replace his Yugi...but he wasn't trying to. He was trying to pick up where he left off. He was trying to give him someone worth living for. He was trying to be his partner, his Aibou.

"No...You aren't him, but you're still my Yugi, my Aibou...and I still need you..." he sniffled hugging him back. Yugi smiled a teary smile and pulled away.

"And I will be there," he sniffled, wiping his eyes and smiling at Atemu.

"Ai-...Aibou...?"

"Hmm?"

"H-hold me...just hold me close to you..."

"Okay," Yugi smiled as he hugged Atemu tightly against him, letting him bury himself in his arms. "SSSsssshhhh, it's alright. I'm here. Ssshhh...Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain. We all have sorrow, but, if we are wise. We know that there's always tomorrow..." he sang softly. He sang the whole song until he knew Atemu had fallen asleep in his arms. "Let's go home," he whispered as he carefully picked him up, blanket and all. He carried him back to the car and drove towards home.

- - -

Yugi got him out of the backseat of his car and carried him inside. Chirp was frantic as he entered the bedroom. "Sssh! It's okay Chirp. Be quiet, he's sleeping." Chirp did the bird equivalent of a sigh as he settled back down in his cage. Yugi smiled at the sparrow and turned towards the bed. He gently tucked Atemu in, making sure he was warm enough. He softly kissed his forehead before going back over to Chirp. He opened his cage and let him out. He perched on Yugi's finger and looked towards the still sleeping Atemu. "He's okay," Yugi smiled as he pet the small sparrow. Chirp gestured that he wanted to go over. Yugi smiled and carefully set him on the pillows. He hopped up to Atemu's face and nuzzled against it. He looked up at Yugi and hopped back towards him. He gently took the small bird into his hands and left the bedroom. He carefully closed the door and let Atemu sleep.

- - -

Yugi was watching TV with Chirp perched beside him. He laughed during a funny scene and didn't notice the figure slowly coming towards him. Chirp chirped and Yugi felt someone staring at him. He turned to see who it was and was surprised to see Atemu staring sleepily at him, still wrapped in the blanket. "Atemu? What's wrong?" He didn't say anything but just sat down on the couch and nuzzled against Yugi. He rested his head on Yugi's shoulder. "Where you lonely?" Yugi smiled. Atemu nodded and nuzzled deeper into Yugi's shoulder. Yugi smiled and put his arm around him, pulling him closer. He turned the TV down and let Atemu fall back asleep. He smiled at his sleeping form and readjusted the blanket more warmly around him. "Sweet dreams..." he whispered.

- - -

An hour later, Yugi's stomach growled. He sighed and turned off the TV. He smiled to see Atemu curled up against him, still fast asleep. He carefully moved him and got up from the couch. He made sure Atemu was okay before going into the kitchen and starting supper.

- - -

Groggy crimson eyes slowly opened as new smells wafted into the living room from the kitchen. Atemu slowly got up from the couch and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He grew frantic to find the TV off and Yugi no where in sight. He followed the smells into the kitchen and sighed in relief to find Yugi cooking. "You scared me..."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you. Feel better?"

Atemu nodded. "Where's Chirp?"

"I fed him and put him back in his cage. He was worried about you too," Yugi smiled. Atemu smiled a little. "Why don't you get dressed and you can help me finish up?"

"Okay." Yugi smiled as Atemu left the kitchen and went into the bedroom to change.

- - -

He came back into the kitchen dressed in a navy blue t-shirt with jeans and white socks. He went over to Yugi and put his arms around him, nuzzling into his shoulder. Yugi smiled. "I thought you were going to help? Not smother me," he laughed. Atemu chuckled and pulled away.

"Okay, so what do I need to do?"

"You can start by setting the table and then check on the food in the oven." Atemu nodded and did what he was told. The two laughed as they played around and tried to make dinner. The two would be happy for the rest of their lives, Atemu wanting to be deactivated and buried beside his love once the time came. They would live together in that house for 130 more years. Vincent would eventually retire in his late 140's and move in with them to help Atemu care for Yugi in his last days. Dr. Pegasus's company kept going after his death, run by one of his most trusted colleagues. Rebecca married and had children to help her care for the old graveyard for years to come.

The year 3205 (200 years later)

A little girl with blonde pigtails watched the sunset in an old graveyard as her mother showed her a double, worn gravestone. "So, who were they again, mama?"

"Two lovers that withstood time. One was a cyborg, the other a decendent of the famous Yugi Mutou. Both were major impacts on our family, Rebecca."

"Oh yeah, I remember now," said the litttle girl. She stared at the two-heart shaped stone and it's text. The mother smiled as she remembered the stories and videos. A single tear fell down her face as she watched her daughter read the inscription.

Here lies the proof that love is eternal. Buried beneath the earth is a famous decendent and his beloved cyborg. These two exhibited a pure love that crossed many generations. Here, they will lie together, forever beside each other... Forever joined in love. A love that knows no bounds or time... True, timeless love...

Yugi Vontane & Atemu Mutou Vontane

The mother smiled and left two roses. "C'mon. Let's go." The little girl nodded and they walked off. The last rays of the sun made the gravestone glow gold for a brief moment as two voices rang out in loving laughter through the breeze.

The End