Yugi dreamed.
Tears stained his face and pillow again tonight.
He had promised Yami he'd be strong,
Said he's be ok,
But he missed him.
Missed him so much.
He had been brave then,
Giving up his other half because he had to
But now he was empty
Now there was a void
And nothing he tried could fill it.
It felt like half his soul was missing.
He didn't eat much these days.
Didn't sleep much either.
Except for times like this,
When the tears just ran dry
And finally, utterly exhausted,
He fell into a light slumber.
Tonight was different though.
Tonight he dreamed.
xxx
Finally Yami was able to turn around and look behind him. He stared at the solid barrier in defeat. The way back to the world of the living was sealed shut, leaving him with only two options. Allow himself to enter the afterlife, or stay here in darkness and hope for a miracle.
Something shimmered in the shadows to his right. It was a familiar light, a familiar warmth, the familiar presence he craved.
"Yugi?" He whispered into the dark.
The light took form and solidified, leaving the petite boy standing with his eyes closed, and the blissful remnants of sleep still displayed on his features.
The lids opened and violet eyes gazed around, slightly unfocused until they landed on Atemu. The widened, fully awake now and Yugi's jaw dropped at seeing his dark.
"Yami!" He cried and threw himself into the other's arms, sobbing against his shoulder and locking him in a death grip.
Atemu matched the strength of Yugi's embrace fighting back tears of his own. He held his little one until the sobs quieted.
"Yami, why are you still here?" Yugi asked quietly.
"I . . ." His dark stopped, not quite sure himself of what had held him back. Yugi raised his eyes and Atemu's breath caught as he gazed once more into their warm depths. In them he saw exactly what had him so reluctant to leave the earthly realm. He brought their foreheads together enjoying the flush that colored his light's cheeks at the intimate gesture.
"I didn't want to leave you, hikari. I just couldn't bring myself to go. I'm sorry."
Yugi pulled away slightly to look at his yami in confusion.
"Why are you sorry?"
"It's not the way things were supposed to go. I was meant to leave and accept my rewards in the afterlife. . . But I don't want to. It is . . . selfish."
Atemu looked away from his light, slightly ashamed and waited to hear Yugi's admonish him for such un-pharaoh like thoughts. He was surprised to hear soft laughter.
"I think if anyone has ever earned a bit of selfishness it's you! Now shall I grant your terrible, selfish wish and take you home?" He asked teasingly, unwrapping Atemu's arms from his shoulders but keeping hold of his yami's hands.
Atemu's eyes went slightly wide at the implications of Yugi's offer.
"But the door back is gone." His eyes flicked back to the solid wall. "I'm not supposed to go back that way."
"Then I shall have to take you back a different way."
Light emanated from Yugi, expanding to surround them both.
"Yugi . . ." Atemu whispered, awestruck. He never realized how much power his little one commanded.
"Just say the word, Yam. . . Just say the word, Atemu," The light surged as he used his dark's proper name. "and I'll take us home."
"Yes hikari, please, I want to go back."
The light brightened, then was gone, leaving the room empty but for shadows and an un-used door. The shadows pulsed in anger.
xxx
Yugi woke,
just for a moment,
as the light faded,
leaving him lying in bed.
He would have thought he whole incident a dream
but he felt the familiar presence in his mind again.
He smiled and exhaustion dragged him back into a restful sleep.
The kind that had eluded him for months.
xxx
Atemu found himself lying in his soul room.
He looked around briefly noting all the changes.
His mind was no longer a maze of tricks and traps and hidden secrets.
It looked almost normal now
with an odd mix of modern and Egyptian design.
He saved such ruminations for later
and hurried out of his room and across the hall to Yugi's door.
He pushed on it gently
and was gladdened when it opened,
revealing a soundly sleeping Yugi.
Atemu smiled
and crossed the room to crawl into his light's bed.
He pulled his hikari close,
cradling him in his arms
and joined him in sleep.