Yugi awoke in his soul room to find Atemu wrapped around him. He delighted in the contact and turned himself to face his dark, burrowing into his arms. God, his other was so warm. It felt so good to be close to him like this.

Atemu stirred slightly. He made soft noises of contentment and pulled Yugi flush against him. Yugi felt his cheeks burn at the full body contact, enjoying it immensely.

/I'm so glad to have you back./ He thought to Atemu, relaxing fully against his dark as he let go of the depression that had plagued him for the last few weeks.

//Aibou…// Atemu's fingers caught his chin and lifted Yugi's face so he could see his light's eyes. He loved those eyes. Loved the glittering violet that lightened or darkened depending on the boy's emotions. Right now they were soft and gentle and clouded with something he couldn't identify. //Yugi, forgive me, I'm so sorry I left…//

/No Atemu/ Yugi firmly interrupted the thought. /You did what you were supposed to at the time. And it doesn't matter anymore, not now that I have you back./

So warm, so close. Atemu wondered if Yugi would mind…

The question died as Yugi moved first, reaching up to bring their lips together in a tender kiss.

Atemu flushed and leaned into the embrace, his hand moving upward to tangle in his light's hair.

"Aibou" he purred against Yugi's lips.

/Mou hitoru no bokou/ The familiar nickname turned endearment whispered sensually across the mind link and left them both scrambling for more contact.

They were interrupted by familiar screams. Familiar to Yugi at least.

"Shit," he muttered and let his soul fade from the room an into his body, leaving a slightly panicked Atemu clutching thin air.

//Yugi?!//

/It's alright, Yami. It's only Ryou./ He sighed, trying to get his thoughts in order. There was a lot that Atemu had missed while he was away.

//Ryou?// The question this time was less panicked and more confused.

/Sorry Yami, I just need to go see what's wrong and show him that I haven't gone anywhere. He . . . well, after the memory world game, we found him curled up, mumbling about how he was alone and the darkness was going to eat him. He kind of latched onto me and wouldn't leave my side the whole way back. I thought it would be better to bring him here and let him stay at the shop until his father gets back to Japan./

Another ear shattering scream filled the air just as they reached the guest room.

"Yugi! Help me! It's dark, it's dark, the darkness is going to get me, Yugi, help! The dark! It's so dark!"

"It's ok Ryou!" Yugi called as he opened the door.

Aside from the light spilling in from the hall, the room was completely dark. The lights were off and heavy black curtains blocked all sunlight. A choked sob and a flurry of white hair launched itself at Yugi as he stepped into the room. Ryou fell to his knees, threw his arms around Yugi's waist and sobbed into his stomach.

"Alone! Alone!" He wailed through his sobs. "I was alone alone all alone why did you leave me why did he leave me why do they all leave me all alone I don't want to be all alone don't want to be alone!" Yugi stroked the boy's hair until he calmed some. The babble never ceased, however, it just got quieter. "And dark. So dark. Don't let the dark get me, THE DARK don't let it eat me, it wants to eat me, the dark wants to eat me wants to eat me, devour my soul and make me dark. Don't let it make me dark. Don't let it make me, don't let it make me dark, don't let it eat me, Yugi, don't let it get me…"

"It's ok, it's ok, I won't let it get you." Yugi untangled himself and moved towards the window. "It wouldn't get so dark in here if you left the curtains open." He reached out to pull them back.

"NO!" Ryou screamed, making Yugi jump. He backed into the corner, eyes wide with fear. "It's watching me! Watching me watching me waiting for me. I can feel its eyes! Don't let it get me, don't let it find me, don't let it watch me. It's watching me! Its eyes! They hurt, they hurt me, they hurt. Don't let it look at me!"

Startled by the intense reaction, Yugi backed quickly away from the window. Ryou calmed slightly, still muttering about the watcher under his breath as he rocked back and forth, arms wrapped tightly around his knees, eyes wide and trained on the window.

//Aibou?// Atemu prodded gently as he felt a wave of deep concern pulse over the link.

Yugi shook his head worriedly. /That was a new one, Yami. I hope he's not getting worse./ He tried to turn on the lamp and wasn't surprised to find the bulb burnt out. He signed and opened the drawer to pick a fresh one from the small supply he kept there. The first time the bulb had gone out was during the night. Ryou had a full out panic attack and Yugi thanked his lucky stars that his grandfather had been there to help, else the boy may have hurt himself. Well, hurt himself worse.

He finished replacing the bulb and turned on the lamp as bright as it would go. Ryou's breathing slowed to normal and he stopped rocking as the hysterics ebbed.

"Yes light, good good good light. So good, no place for the dark to hide, no place, can't get me, no dark, no dark, no dark to eat me . . ." His voice trailed off and his head began to nod, thoroughly exhausted by the outburst. Yugi coxed the drowsy boy into bed and pulled the blankets tightly around him. He waited until Ryou was soundly asleep before leaving the room. He left the door slightly ajar and leaned back against the wall.

Atemu appeared next to him and put a ghostly hand on his shoulder. Yugi smiled tiredly at his other but before either of them could speak, Solomon's voice called up the stairs. "Yugi? Is everything alright up there?"

Yugi padded softly halfway down the stairs where he could speak to his grandfather without the risk of waking Ryou. Atemu followed close behind.

"Everything's ok grandpa. One of the bulbs burnt out in Ryou's room again but I took care of it and he's sleeping now."

Solomon's face was full of concern as he eyed his grandson, trying to make sure nothing else was wrong. What he saw in the boy's face surprised him. Yugi's eyes were still dark from lack of sleep but the weariness that he'd become used to seeing there was gone. The smile his grandson wore was tired but genuine and pain free for the first time since they returned from Egypt. He looked much more like the happy, bright child that Solomon had raised and less like the depressed teen that he had become in recent weeks.

The door chime sounded, signaling the entry of a customer into the shop and Solomon put the thought aside, resolving to ask Yugi about it later.

"Alright, but if you need any help with him, you call me."

"Of course, grandpa." Yugi replied warmly as the old man disappeared back into the game shop.

//Yugi . . . Why is Ryou here? Shouldn't he be in a hospital?//

Yugi sighed. Grandpa had also wondered if they should turn the boy over to a hospital. At least he could tell Atemu the real reason he wanted to take care of Ryou himself.

/Bakura's soul was destroyed so violently while he was merged with Zorc . . . Yami, had you lost the memory game and been destroyed in the same way, or lost any of the countless shadow games we played for that matter, I can't help but wonder if the same thing would have happened to me. And I can't turn him over to a hospital, they wouldn't understand! They'd give him meds and leave him alone, locked in a sterile room. That's not what he needs!/

//And you know any better what he needs?//

Yugi stared at the floor thinking quietly for a moment.

/No./ he admitted reluctantly. /I wish I did though. I wish I knew how to fix him . . . But I know he's better off here./

He sat on the steps and leaned against the wall.

/I'm not even sure I can bring myself to turn him over to his father when he returns. The man doesn't even care, Yami./ Two tears slid down Yugi's face. /When I spoke to him on the phone he sounded annoyed that Ryou was 'ill' and kept muttering about being unable to leave his work. He sounded so relieved when I said Ryou could stay here . . ./ He reached up to wipe at the tears. They were only replaced by more. /How can anyone be so cruel? Ryou's his son!/

As much as Atemu really was angered at how Ryou's father had acted, he was more concerned about how closely involved Yugi was in the matter. And how much pain it was causing him.

//Yugi, are you sure you are not taking too much upon yourself? Ryou's not your responsibility.//

Yugi smiled wearily. /He's my friend, Yami . . . and it could have been me . . ./

Atemu brushed invisible fingertips along Yugi's face, trying to think of something to say. He wanted to find the one phrase that would make everything better, the one thing that would take away all the torment Yugi must have gone through after he left. Before he could find it, however, a loud, insistent knocking sounded on the door to the living quarters.

Atemu growled. Damn! If he didn't get some uninterrupted time with Yugi soon, someone was getting a mind crush!

Yugi giggled, hearing his dark's thoughts. /It's ok Yami! Just your being here again makes everything all better. I'll go get rid of whoever's at the door and we can finish what we started earlier./

Atemu growled again.

A/N: oh look, i figured out how to do the line thing! i'm such a n00b. hehe

Man, this thing is gonna be a novel by the time I'm done with it :p won't say anything else lest i give away plot goodies but there is much awsomeness still to come! We's barely getting warmed up here peoples XD