Chapter 4

I Would Know You

"K-Know me?" Yugi murmured, a little shocked. "But how could you?"

The handsome merman shrugged. "I just know you. I can… feel it." He extended his arm, brushing his fingers across Yugi's cheek. "Yugi…"

Yugi unconsciously leaned into the touch, his violet eyes watching this amazing person in front of him. "How did you know my name?"

At that the merman smiled. "Do you believe in soulmates, my little hikari?"

Yugi nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Your name is etched on my heart, it echoes in my mind. I would know you, Yugi, no matter what." The smile grew. "Search yourself. Do you know me?"

Yugi leaned his head against the caress of those warm fingers, closing his eyes. "Atem. My Atem."

"We are finally together…" Atem murmured, his thumb wiping away a tear that slipped from Yugi's eye. "How I've dreamt of you…"

Yugi blinked. "You've dreamed of me?"

The merman nodded. "Since I was young. I have never told anyone."

"I started dreaming of you only two days ago…" Yugi murmured, embarrassed.

"You were not close to the sea, were you? The ocean's magics must first connect to you before it can send you dreams." Atem said gently. "Do not be ashamed, little one."

Yugi blushed slightly. Atem smiled, and then leaned forward, pulling Yugi to him as well. Their lips moved closer and closer, millimeters apart when…

"Hey Yug'!" Joey called, running up behind his smaller friend. "What's going on over here?.!" He slid to a stop as he spotted Atem. "What the…"

Yugi smiled at his blond friend, stepping aside so Atem was fully visible. "This is Atem, Joey."

Atem smiled and nodded, his tail swishing in the water he was in. "Nice to meet you, Joey."

Joey's mouth was hanging open in shock, his honey-colored eyes wide. "Holy! It's a mermaid!"

Atem glared. "Excuse me?"

The blinked. "Oh, sorry. Merman."

Yugi giggled happily, his fingers absently lacing with Atem's. The merman smiled, contentedly rubbing his thumb over Yugi's skin. "Isn't he wonderful Joey?.!"

The teen blinked again, his gaze traveling to his smaller friend. "Um, Yug', have you ever met this guy before?"

Yugi nodded, his eyes going to meet Atem's. "Yes. If not face to face, in my dreams." The boy grinned. "He didn't even have to tell me his name, Joey. I just knew."

"Just like I knew his." Atem said warmly, his tail moving through the water once more. "We were meant to meet."

Yugi moved to the other end of the tank, releasing Atem's hand to reach for his tail. The merman obligingly laid his fins over the edge, letting Yugi freely se and touch the scales and nearly transparent fins. Yugi wonderingly ran his fingers over the black and silver tail, tracing the black scales. Atem's tail was warm to the touch, the scales shifting beneath Yugi's fingers. The silvery fins were almost like skin, flowing under Yugi's hands like silk.

"Your tail is very beautiful, Atem." Yugi murmured, blushing faintly.

The merman blushed as well. "Thank you, aibou."

"You know, you actually fit the name I gave you…" Yugi muttered absently as he stroked the dark tail.

Atem tilted his head, blinking in question. "You gave me a name?"

Yugi's blush darkened. "I didn't know what to call you. I named you Yami."

"Yami…" Atem repeated softly.

He didn't have any time to dwell on the subject, the boat began to rock as the ocean started to swell and the sky grew dark.

"Oh no…" Atem murmured, looking into the water. "Father is not happy…"

"Your father?" Yugi asked, a little fearful of the now treacherous sea.

"I have to go, aibou." Atem said, his crimson eyes worried. "Come to me again in a week. Maybe I'll be able to calm things down by then."

Yugi nodded, tears glistening in his eyes. "Alright."

Atem grasped Yugi's chin, tugging him down and catching him in a soft kiss. The merman released him a moment later. "Until then, my sweet aibou."

With that Atem heaved himself over the edge of the tank, diving gracefully into the water. With a last flick of silver fins, he was gone.

"Um, Yug'?" Joey asked softly.

Yugi smiled. "I love him, Joey. I know it."

Seth was by now panicked. Well, maybe panicked was a bit of an understatement. The brunette was frantically trying to figure out a way to retrieve Atem, calm down the king, and keep himself from having a mental breakdown.

It wasn't working too well.

He was about to scream when one of the bodyguards of Atem cried out. "Look, the Prince!"

Seth spun to see the young Prince swimming down from the surface, a small smile on his features. Blue tail pounding the water, Seth shot to his side, anger, relief, and worry mixed in his features. "What possessed you to do such a stupid thing?.!"

Atem chuckled softly at his head guard's words. "Calm down, Seth. I'm not hurt."

Seth's frown deepened. "Ryou!" he snapped.

The white-haired healer swam forward, worrying in his large eyes, though he wasn't in any great hurry. Bakura followed just behind his mate, his ever-present smirk firmly in place.

Ryou's hands were glowing softly, his lavender magics probing at Atem's body. The Prince remained calm and still for Ryou, knowing that it would make the task easier for his friend. Ryou backed away a moment later. "He is unharmed."

Seth visibly sighed in relief. "Now then, I don't know what happened up there, nor do I know how you managed to stay that long with no harm, but we must get you to the palace. King Aknamkanon is very angry."

Atem sighed, perfectly aware of this fact. He flicked his tail, following his guard silently. He looked towards Ryou and his mate, and found his gaze locked in Bakura's empty lavender eyes.

Come to me little Prince, if you truly want that little human of yours. Come to me tonight.

Atem frowned, thinking. There's no way I'll be able to get out of the palace tonight! Father will have guards everywhere!

Bakura's smirk widened. You will find a way.

With that the connection was gone, and the Seer turned, his lavender-tailed mate swimming after him.

Atem frowned, swimming closer to Seth. 'He said I would find a way… I have to, so I can see my aibou again!'

Atem bit his lip, looking around again. His father had indeed put guards everywhere, but he had neglected to guard the balcony. The doors were locked though, and from the outside.

The doors were refusing to open, no matter how Atem tried to get them open. He eventually gave up with a curse, folding his arms.

'There has to be a way!' he thought fiercely. His tongue between his teeth, the young merman tried one more, sending a bolt of his own magic through the lock. With a soft groan the lock gate slipped open.

Atem grinned, pushing open the doors and cautiously swimming out into the dark water. He could see a few guards in the distance, but they were easily avoidable. He went to the ocean floor, skimming across the sand and going under the watch range.

As he got out of sight he moved up from the sea floor, moving quickly through the night towards where Ryou and Bakura lived. The two were very solitary; they liked their privacy, and so lived far away from the palace.

The Prince smiled to himself, giving his fins a slight celebratory flick, propelling himself in a loop before continuing on. He felt like shouting for joy, but was too worried about revealing himself.

Ryou and Bakura's home came into sight, and Atem moved to the door. He didn't even have to knock, the door opened as soon as he got to it.

Ryou smiled, moving to the side as he welcomed Atem inside. His doe-brown eyes sparkled faintly as Atem swam in cautiously. "We've been expecting you, young Prince, no need to be afraid."

Atem nodded absently, following the healer as he led the way through the small home. He had only been to Ryou's home once, and never this far into it.

Bakura's blank eyes look up as they came in. "Well, well, the Prince finally arrives." He grinned. "We have much to discuss, as well as a few plans to cook up. Come."

Atem swallowed a little nervously, and then moved forward. 'For Yugi… I have to see him again…'