Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or the song Evil Angel; they both belong to their respective owners.

Chapter Fourteen

Dartz found that he couldn't leave the shadows, shocked by what was going on.

He had reappeared into this world not by his charge, but by Atemu, watching as the angel fought with the demon. No, fought with Yugi. Because of Atemu, Yugi had been left as a target for the demon. Not wanting to get caught up in this altercation, Dartz had stayed back. His desire to stay out of trouble was crumbled when Atemu ruthlessly stabbed Yugi. Of course that was one way of ending this, but it wasn't the right choice. There was always something else. But, apparently, Atemu didn't care.

Dartz growled to himself, storming out into the open to confront his fellow guardian angel. His angry walk slowed as he realized that something was happening to Yugi, reaching Atemu as the teenager disappeared in his guardian angel's arms. He expected any reaction from Atemu, any one but the one that he got.

Atemu slumped forward, one hand making its way shakily through his hair before dropping limply to his lap. There was absolute stillness after that one motion, Dartz shifting nervously as he stared at Atemu.

He would have expected anger that the chance to remain on earth had be thwarted or frustration that this whole affair happened. But not this. Not sorrow on this level. Not a complete breakdown.

Dartz had seen it in some of his friends when someone close died. They wouldn't cry, just shut down completely, living on automatic. It had scared him when they were like that, not sure whether to leave them alone or try to comfort them; the few times he had done the latter just ending up with them allowing Dartz to do as he wished. This was not the reaction of someone who was simply using a person to avoid their fate. It seemed genuine.

He had been wrong about Atemu then, completely wrong. Dartz shivered, wrapping his wings around him for the scarce comfort he could offer himself. Atemu had never used Yugi; it had been his jealousy that the teen got to live and the confusing events that he had started that had skewed his view.

Dartz shook his head, mentally chastising himself for such behavior, before reaching down and resting a hand on Atemu's shoulder. He felt the teenager tense for a moment, hoping that Atemu would turn around and look at him. Instead, Atemu shifted slightly out of Dartz's reach, standing up slowly. "I hope you're happy."

He blinked rapidly. "What?"

"I hope you're happy now." Atemu refused to look at him, still staring at the ground. "You got what you wanted. Yugi is gone, which means that I am no longer his guardian angel. I can't hurt him anymore. I can't…"

Atemu shuddered, Dartz having to keep himself from reaching out to comfort the teen. It was obvious that Atemu didn't want it. The teenager would just keep the emotions bottled up inside until something had to give, something that Dartz had wanted to avoid.

"I'm sorry." The inadequate apology was met with a shrug by Atemu, Dartz rubbing the back of his head. There was really no way to say that he regretted all the things that he had done to cause this, all the conclusions that he had jumped to. And Atemu wouldn't listen to anything.

"Why did you do it?" The teenager twisted slightly so he could see Dartz out of the corner of his eye, Dartz freezing at the motion.

"I was scared. I saw what had happened to Tomoya and heard what had happened to you. And, after how I was killed, I was afraid that something like that would happen to my own family." There was no reaction from Atemu, just continued silence. "I had to do something. Don't you understand? I had to protect them, to keep them away from all the people that would harm them."

"That's impossible." Atemu shook his head, taking a step away and then pausing, looking like he was reluctant to leave that spot. Dartz remained still, keeping a distance between the two of them.

He didn't understand Atemu's logic there. He was a guardian angel and a father, it was his duty to protect the ones he loved above all else. It was not impossible to do so. He had done it and was still doing it. What was so impossible about his goal?

Atemu gave a short bark of laughter, the sound making Dartz shiver. That sound alone forced him to remember that this teenager had been through more than he had. Atemu's life had been anything but easy, and Dartz didn't even know the first thing about the true life of the other. "It's impossible to protect them from everyone, Dartz."

"I can still try."

"You can't. There will always be another. And, one day, you will find someone that you can't protect them from. All you will be able to do it watch." Atemu twitched before walking off, Dartz staring after him.

Of course he had always know that it was true, but he had consciously decided not to think about it. It was one of those things that he thought would never happen, that he would never get to see. But Atemu had reached that point today and it had broken him completely.

Dartz broke into a run, catching up to Atemu and spinning him around, shocked by the blank look in the teenager's crimson eyes. Atemu moved his shoulder out of Dartz's grip. "Leave me alone."

Dartz was almost tempted to do that, but he had to watch over Atemu, make sure that the teenager didn't do anything stupid while he was like this. Atemu stepped away, his wings brushing over Dartz's hand.

He stared at Atemu, realizing for the first time that he was still an angel. But Atemu was alive, which meant that he was still just a soul here. Dartz blinked, not sure if he should share this information with Atemu, possibly knowing that would make it worse. Atemu still had a way back while Yugi did not.

Dartz sighed and stepped away, finally listening to the teenager's request. He had promised Tomoya that he would be back and it wouldn't do to break that promise. Atemu would have to handle this on his own; Dartz was not here to babysit him. He spread his wings, flapping them to begin to fly away.

Soon Atemu was behind him as Dartz headed for the game shop, the man trying to forget about the teenager. Atemu had to hold himself together; Dartz was not entirely ready to part with his anger, even if it wasn't based on anything substantial.

Dartz pushed through the wall into the house, surprised to find that everyone had gathered back in the living room. He spotted Tomoya leaning against the back of the couch, listening to what Solomon was saying. Dartz sidled around everyone, reaching out to rest a hand on Tomoya's shoulder.

The blonde boy started but calmed himself, discretely looked over his shoulder before dropping his voice into a whisper. "Nothing from Yugi."

Dartz decided not to tell him about what had happened on the street just yet, wanting to give Tomoya time. He cleared his throat, already not looking forward to the soreness that would plague his throat for a few hours after they finished speaking. "Things have settled down. The cause of this has been taken care of."

"Not going to happen again?"

"No." Dartz gave a sure nod, not caring that Tomoya couldn't see him. He would never repeat this mistake, nor would he tell anyone else of it. He shifted and settled down to wait for something to happen; sure that Atemu would return soon.

Ryou rushed into the open space, coming to an abrupt halt that had Bakura running into him. He stumbled for a few steps before staring at the open space, the space completely clear of anything. The British teen blinked in confusion, beginning to turn a slow circle.

They had heard screaming and the sound of something large knocking against buildings, and there was the rubble to support that latter part. But the demon wasn't here anymore, which meant that Yami had sent it away. Then, where was Yami? Unless he had already returned to…

He almost missed him, his eyes sliding over the lone figure easily, like they didn't want to see him. Ryou shook his head before rushing over to Yami, Bakura nearly falling to the ground as he had been leaning on the British teen. But Ryou didn't hear Bakura's muttered curse or the grumbling of the thief, he was totally focused on the figure that stood partially in the shadows.

Yami was leaning against a building, his wings pulled close to his back with his forehead and one arm resting against the bricks of the building. Ryou took a hesitant step forward, stopping when he noticed the shudder that went through Yami's body, his eyes widening as he looked around for the one other person missing.

Yugi wasn't here either. Yugi hadn't returned to his body and Yugi wasn't here.

He didn't want to contemplate beyond that, instead moving forward to rest a hand against Yami's shoulder, some part of him not surprised that he passed right through. Still, his blunder made Yami look up at him.

Ryou flinched at the look on Yami's face, wanting to comfort his big brother in someway, but he knew that expression too well. Yami was already internalizing this, stowing it away. The British teen sighed and let his hand drop to his side just sharing the silence.

He saw Bakura move up behind them out of the corner of his eye, the thief taking one look at Yami before pulling Ryou close to him, the three remaining silent.

Some traitorous part of Ryou was happy that this had happened. It meant that Yami could come back with them and return to being the Pharaoh instead of Atemu Seti. But that part of him was beaten back down quickly. That would never happen. Yami hadn't abandoned them, he had just moved on to his next project, or that was how Ryou thought of it.

Besides, it was impossible for Yami to come back. He was dead to the people of that part of Domino. And, because of him, there would be peace for a long time on their side of the world. Ryou couldn't wish for anything better.

Except that Yami would get a happy ending for once. But even that seemed out of Yami's reach at the moment.

Ryou sighed, pulling away from Bakura to stand by his big brother, waiting for Yami to realize that they were still there. Dull crimson eyes turned to look at him, blinking slowly before Yami stood up straight. He cleared his throat, obviously trying to hide the fact that he had been crying. "Ryou?"

"What now, Yami?" The teenager shrugged, suddenly looking more fragile. Ryou cursed his bad phrasing, shaking his head before trying again. "How do we get you back?"

Ryou made sure that his tone of voice held no question that Yami was going back. To his surprise, Yami didn't protest, pulling away from the wall to shrug. "I don't know. Things should be going back to normal now that I defeated that creature. The sword isn't here anymore."

The British teen looked around, finding that Yami was right. He had never considered that before, just forgetting about the weapon for the moment. That meant that it was back in the demon where it belonged and everything was finished.

Ryou took a step back, staring at the blank space that had hosted the demon's death throws. This ending was unexpected, the same sense of fulfillment lacking from this one. They had defeated the demon…no, Yami had defeated the demon without any of them there. He had been completely alone.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, turning to look back at Yami in the dim hope that something had changed. Nothing had. Ryou dropped his hand back to his side, Bakura discretely catching it and giving it a squeeze before releasing it.

"Yami…"

"Ryou." He glanced up at Yami, shocked to see his big brother beginning to fade away. Yami held a hand in front of his face, turning the limb as it dissolved into the air. The hand dropped, Yami look scared.

"You're going back, Yami. It'll be alright." Ryou tried to smile at the fear in Yami's eyes, hoping it was from the sight of his own body dissolving instead of not wanting to go back. There was no way Ryou was going to let Yami skip out on that. "We'll meet you there."

He flashed Yami a smile before the teenager disappeared completely. Without wasting a moment, Ryou grabbed Bakura's hand and started running back towards the game shop. He wanted to be there when Yami woke up, not really knowing for sure what his big brother would do. And he was sure that Tomoya would be no help. As much as he enjoyed the company of the blonde teenager, he knew that Tomoya only barely trusted Yami, and this was enough to snap his trust. What Tomoya held against his big brother Ryou would never know, but it was enough to scare him this much.

Thankfully, Bakura didn't ask for an explanation as they hurtled through the streets, sometimes having to dodge around the cars that were beginning to appear on the roads again. He didn't pay much attention to them, despite Bakura's cursing when the two had to separate to avoid getting run over.

There were more important things for him to worry about at the moment.

Yugi opened his eyes slowly, groaning as he sat up. He rubbed his eyes to clear them, one hand absently making its way down to his stomach to where he should have been run through. A smile crossed his face as he realized that he was fine. Everything was back to normal.

Yugi pushed the covers off of him, swinging his legs over to the side of his bed. He was back and Yami had defeated the demon, everything was alright. He gave a little giggle, partially embarrassed by the sound, but let himself off this once. They had just saved the world without any complications.

He looked down at his floor, his good mood dissolving quickly as he saw the body that was sprawled out there. Yugi gasped and hopped down from his bed, kneeling beside Yami and reaching out to shake him lightly. When there was no response, Yugi gave a little harder shake, staring at his lover.

There was no reason for Yami to be out like this still. Unless…unless something had gone horribly wrong.

"Yami? Yami, please get up." He sat back, waiting for Yami to respond, but there was still nothing. Yugi bit his lip and looked out through his skylight, wracking his brain for answers. Surely Yami had to have come back by now. He reached down again, keeping his hand on Yami's shoulder. "Yami this isn't funny. Please wake up!"

He tensed at the sound off feet running up the stairs. Of course his friends would be over to check on him, but he didn't want them here now. He had to figure what was wrong with Yami first, then he could deal with the rest of the world. Right now, he was too worried about his lover, his mind supplying another time that Yami hadn't gotten up, Yugi shivering at the memory.

The door burst open while he was gathering himself, Yugi getting a glimpse of all his friend's happy faces before Joey pulled him away into a one armed hug, Yugi pulling at the arm that was around his waist. He wanted to be by Yami right now in case the teen got up.

"Yug', we were worried sick!" He tried to smile for Joey, all the while still trying to escape. He thought he was free when Joey finally let go, only to be swept up into a hug by Tèa, his one female friend close to tears.

"We thought that we would never see you again."

"I'm fine." Yugi wiggled out of her hold, smiling at Tristan before walking back over to Yami, kneeling on the floor. "Has anyone else…"

"Ryou." Yugi blinked at the name, turning his head to see Tomoya leaning against his desk. His oldest friend gave him a wave before continuing to talk. "He went after you somehow and he was the first awake. Left a little while ago in a rush."

Yugi's heart began to pound. If Ryou was alright and he was, then why wasn't Yami up yet? He gave is lover another shake before pulling Yami onto his lap, worriedly running his fingers over his lover's face. He felt the stares of the others on him, forcing himself to ignore them for a moment.

He reassured himself that Yami was still alive before looking up, unable to keep from biting his lower lip in worry. Tèa was the first to sit down on the floor, Joey and Tristan both looking at a loss. She scooted closer to Yugi, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Yugi nodded, his gaze dropping back down to Yami. "I'm just worried about him."

"Why?" He tensed as Tomoya spoke, forcing himself to calm down a moment later. He was just scared, which was why he was jumpy. There was no reason for him to lash out at his friends. "He's the one who got your soul taken away in the first place."

Yugi's eyes widened, his hands tightening briefly where they rested on Yami before he forced himself to relax, slowly looking up at Tomoya. "What?"

"He hasn't changed, Yugi. He's just using you still. All that love, everything about him is a lie."

"No."

"Yugi." Tomoya crouched on the ground in front of him, Yugi's natural inclination toward nonviolence crumbling quickly. But it was the honest look in Tomoya's eyes that made him stop. Tomoya believed this was true and he was only saying it because he thought that he could protect Yugi from an imagined harm. "Yugi, he's just using you."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Yugi smiled, a true smile. He shook his head slowly, a short laugh escaping him. Yugi raised his eyes to met Tomoya's trying to put all his conviction in his gaze. "There was one a time that I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Not after everything that's happened."

He stopped there, letting Tomoya take that however he wanted. He wouldn't tell anyone the whole story of what happened to Yami, everything that the teenager had given up for him. Yugi just couldn't doubt Yami, not after he had done things like that.

Yugi gave a faint smile, cuddling Yami close before standing up. And if was exactly for that reason that he believed that Yami would always come back to him. He placed his lover carefully on the bed, making sure to tuck him in before kissing his forehead. Yugi remained there for a moment before sitting down on the edge of the bed. He could wait.

All his friends were staring at him, Yugi blinking in surprise at his sudden shift to the center of attention.

"Yug' have ya…I mean…" Joey made an awkward motion with his hands, Yugi staring at him in confusion before it made sense. He burst out into laughter, more from Joey's abortive hand motion than anything else. The others were looking at him strangely, Yugi waving off their concern before nodding.

"Yeah." He blushed at the stares that he got, especially the sputtering from Tomoya. He looked at his oldest friend for a long time before leaning back on his hands, carefully avoiding Yami, shrugging at the same time.

The awkward silence carried on for a while until Tèa cleared her throat, Yugi grateful that she had taken charge of the situation. "Well…dinner should be ready soon. You're coming down to eat with us, Yugi. Let's go."

He nodded reluctantly before sliding off the bed, glancing back at Yami once before trailing at the end of the group. Yugi shuffled to the doorway, not wanting to leave Yami behind. He wanted to be there when Yami woke up, not have Yami wake up and think that he wasn't around.

Yugi was at the door when a soft groan made him stop, turning while leaning on the door. There was silence for a while, Yugi almost ready to leave again when he heard the familiar voice. "Aibou?"

"Yami!" Yugi ran across the room, jumping onto the bed and wrapping his boyfriend in a hug. "You scared me!"

"Sorry." The reply was muffled, Yugi too distracted by the feeling of Yami wrapping his arms around him. Content, Yugi nuzzled Yami's neck, both of them falling back onto the bed. They arranged themselves automatically, Yugi resting his head on Yami's chest over his heart with Yami kept his arms wrapped around the shorter teen.

The two had a moment of quiet before Tèa peeked back in, her eyes widening before she gave a nod and slipped away. Yugi smiled at the doorway, even though Tèa wasn't there anymore before cuddling closer to Yami.

"I thought…I…"

"Yami?"

"I thought that I had killed you."

Yugi couldn't help it, he giggled, turning his head so that he could look at Yami. At the confused look on his boyfriend, he leaned up to kiss the underside of Yami's jaw. "I knew it would be alright. Trust me?"

There was a long pause before Yami gave a nod. "Yes."

"Good." Yugi snuggled closer again, feeling his eyes begin to fall shut. After everything that had happened today, he was exhausted. One hand groped for the covers, pulling them over both of them before sighing.

He didn't know how long they lay there in silence. Yugi opened one eye at the sound of someone moving across the room, wanting to roll to see who it was, but he was far too comfortable. He heard the person pad across the room, seeing and arm reach across them to tap on Yami's shoulder, making Yami groan a bit.

"Big brother?"

"'M trying to sleep, Ryou."

"Alright. I just had to check."

"Right." Yugi smiled as Yami rolled back to him, sighing. He could hear Ryou making his way back across the room, falling asleep before the British teen even reached the door.

Alright, the next chapter is the last one.

Alright, quick announcement. Because Evil Angel is close to being done, I'm going to move Across the Cosmos: The Nameless Pharaoh to it's slot as soon as it is done. This means that it will not be updated on Saturdays and Sundays anymore, but on Wednesdays and Fridays, staring as soon as Evil Angel is done (and that only has one chapter left anyway). Because of this, The Nameless Pharaoh won't be updated June 5th and 6th but it will be updated on the 9th and start its new schedule there. Sorry for any confusion.

Please read and review. Criticism is always welcome.