Atem made his apologies to those long suffering souls waiting for him in his own afterlife, choosing instead to linger, momentarily, unable to let go completely until he could see with his own eyes that Yugi would be okay. It wasn't that he lacked the confidence in his partner, no, it was something more like a desire to comfort himself. He justified it by telling himself, over and over again, that what he was doing was surely fine - and if it wasn't well, wouldn't some god or other have stopped him already?

He didn't anticipate the anger that would come after Yugi's tears and was powerless to help. Before he shared a body with Yugi and could talk and interact directly with people and things, but now, in this ghostly form he could do neither, just watch in helplessness as Yugi did his best to tear his life to shreds. Atem decided he could no longer take a passive stance.

It was about four months later when Yugi stood in the middle of his bedroom, quiet but shaking in anger and guilt over snapping at his grandfather yet again, that Atem gathered all his will and lay a comforting hand on Yugi's shoulder. Atem jerked back in surprise when Yugi gasped and whirled around. His large eyes were watery and unsure as he looked around, searching for the source of the gentle touch. Eventually the tears that were gathered in Yugi's eyes fell and he covered his face with his hands. Atem was standing less than six inches from him, but Yugi had looked right through him, unseeing.

Still, Yugi had felt his touch and, what was perhaps more important, Atem had felt him.

Two months later the anger had faded into sadness, and Atem thought, maybe some bitterness. After the incident in the bedroom Yugi had calmed some, reestablishing the connections with his friends who for the most part was just glad to see him feeling better. He had thrown himself at his school work and was graduating this month near the top of his class.

Atem was proud. So proud that he felt his own tears fall freely that day as he followed Yugi through the ceremony then out with his friends. After he returned home that night, he sat at his desk looking through college and job applications. Atem studied them over his shoulder, seeing without surprise the Kaiba Corp logo on one of the papers. When Yugi looked away for a moment, replying to something his grandfather had yelled upstairs, Atem gathered his energy the way he had been practising and pulled the paper out of the messy pile. Yugi turned back just in time to see it fall on the floor and he picked it up looking at it carefully. A smile curled his lips upwards.

Three months later Atem followed behind an extremely nervous Yugi, as evidenced by his too neat appearance and strained smile as he pitched a new game idea to Kaiba. Atem nodded in satisfaction when Kaiba agreed to finance Yugi's idea.

That night, at a restaurant with the rest of his friends to celebrate, Atem couldn't help but notice Yugi staring at a server across the room. As they were leaving, Yugi excused himself to the restroom. He walked towards the back, towards the server who was chatting with one of her coworkers, her back to Yugi. Atem followed, a sad smile on his face. He frowned when Yugi lost his nerve at the last moment and ducked behind a wall that divided the restraunt. He leaned against it and closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose. After a slow count of five, Yugi leaned forward and peeked around the corner.

Without thinking too hard about what he was doing, Atem concentrated, put both palms on Yugi's back, one on each shoulder, and pushed as hard as he could. Yugi flew forward with a startled cry, and fell practically into the arms of the pretty server he had been too nervous to talk to earlier.

Atem grinned while Yugi and the young woman sputtered apologies, Yugi eventually getting a phone number. Atem's smile continued the rest of the way home. He settled on the edge of the bed while Yugi plopped down in his desk chair. Yugi was smiling and even hummed a little as he drew the slip of paper out of his pocket. As he was looking at it through, his smile slowly slid off his face to be replaced with a look of worry.

Atem stood when he noticed and placed a hand on his shoulder. Yugi jumped a little when he felt the brush of Atem's touch. Atem tried to pour his acceptance and encouragement through the touch. Yugi closed his eyes and smiled. He raised his hand and placed it on his own shoulder, if Atem had been more substantial he may have felt Yugi's hand cover his own. He voice was steady.

"Thank you, Atem. Go rest now okay? I can take it from here."

XxX

Atem had returned to the afterlife that night, comforted in the fact Yugi was going to be okay. He spent as much time as he could with his family and close friends. But he needed some time to process his loss. He already missed his partner. Even surrounded by people he was already lonely.

He closed the door to his bedroom and sighed.

"There you are."

Atem spun around, his heart in his throat. Someone stood in the entrance to the balcony. It was a young man, tanned arms crossed over his bare chest. He stepped further into the light and pushed his blonde bangs out of huge purple eyes. Atem was struck by how similar he looked to….

"You know, I should be offended. Chasing after some boy for the last nine months, and when you do finally come home you don't tell me, or send for me." He pouted and reached out, brushing his fingertips down Atem's arm. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you forgot about me."

Atem was shocked into silence when his mind supplied the answer. Like a rusty grear finally clicking into place, a name fell awkwardly from his lips.

"H-Heba?"

Heba smiled brightly as Atem pressed their foreheads together and cupped his face in both hands.

"Welcome home Atem."

XxX

The following morning, Atem settled in his throne, sitting up straight. He had been called here urgently. Apparently a stranger in odd clothing had been sighted headed towards the palace. Atem immediately started to worry when the description sounded familiar. Had something happened to Yugi? He had detangled himself from Heba and came straight here, worry blooming into pure apprehension in his gut.

He smiled and nodded when familiar tall figure burst in and demanded a duel.


Ok. I'm happy. Yugi is happy. Atem is happy. Kaiba is happy. I can finally relax!