You can't deny this is the one thing that triggers emotions…

The nighttime darkness was lit with small fires suspended on thin poles around the plaza that served as ancient Egyptian lanterns. The evening hours still consisted of people walking happily with their loved ones, a small band of folks that played on woodwinds, bongos, and a stringed instrument Yugi had never seen before provided echoing music to which many danced. A large pool of water restricted by a circular, built-in stone structure sat right in the middle of the activity. Children waded in this water and splashed their friends. Laughter and chatter could be heard all around – all this proving that every night was this wonderful. Yugi couldn't help smiling; some things never change in completely different centuries—he realized this as he reminisced the nightlife in Domino City. There was hardly any difference. People loved their evening entertainment.

Yugi sat himself on the surface of the brick structure by the water, watching the children over his shoulder so he wouldn't be so surprised by a potential spray that would drench his skin and clothes. But it seemed the children were conscious of his being there and steered clear, playing on the opposite side of the fountain instead. Yugi sighed inwardly, slumping over with his eyes forward, watching Atemu and waiting for him to complete his nightly task of handing the hungry some food. At the moment he was heavily engaged in a conversation with a frail, bent old woman. Nonetheless, her smile was radiant, especially as Atemu reached in his cloak and handed her a neatly wrapped package. Yugi had watched Atemu himself wrap it before they had left the palace—it was two peaches and a slice of bread concealed inside the packaging. Surely enough to keep the woman happy in terms of hunger for a few days if she let the food last.

Yugi sighed aloud this time, his eyes drifting shut while he sulked momentarily, remembering last night's events, remembering how much he had angered Priest Seto. But he also recalled Atemu's words:

The people understand my yearning to smile and laugh again…

I just want to have fun.

Wait. The people understood? Atemu had only excluded the royal court as not understanding Atemu's wanting to set aside duty for a moment's rest. But the people…

Maybe… just maybe, things would be all right if Yugi and Atemu kept the secrets of their fun and messing around outside of the palace?

Yes. Yugi felt confident the people would encourage that. There might be a few displeased individuals amongst the crowd, but the majority of the people understood and valued Atemu's wishes.

Yugi furrowed his brows and stood in a confident manner. Atemu was putting his heart and soul into being the ideal leader of an entire culture. There was a reason Yugi had been suddenly transported to this time. I think I now understand that reason, he thought.

Yugi waited for Atemu to finish his conversation with the elder woman, and still waited as the Pharaoh approached him before suggesting an idea, his gaze turning on the band that played a relaxing beat several yards away, eyeing how the people danced.

"Aibou?" He heard Atemu's deep baritone voice murmur as he drew near. Yugi turned to face him, and their eyes locked for only a quiet moment until the smaller outstretched a hand toward him.

"Dance with me?" He smiled, and Atemu could only blink in bewilderment at the younger teen's request.

"I… that…" Atemu directed his focus on Yugi's hand still waiting in midair, then his eyes rolled back up to Yugi's face, absolute determination shown behind the gesture. Atemu anticipated for the teen to retrieve back his hand and laugh, saying he was joking. But nothing of the sort transpired, and he found himself grow nervous.

"That… would be…" The Egyptian struggled for a reasonable response. He wasn't sure himself whether that response would result in an accept or decline on the offer. He didn't know which he wanted. Yugi only stared at his face without emotion, though, and he felt the pressure hug his shoulders.

"I'm… a…" He swallowed, and Yugi cocked his head, still waiting so patiently for Atemu to form the words. "I'm a… terrible dancer."

What the hell was that?

Atemu knew it to be completely preposterous. He had danced with a number of young ladies before in the palace for certain festivals, and not to gloat, but he had literally caused those women to swoon. He held much talent for dancing. Not so much in the field of dancing Anzu was so engrossed with, as he remembered in his time as Yami. Although, had he attempted DDR in the twenty-first century, he might have become skilled with that as well over time.

"Pharaoh Atemu," Yugi said low with a hint of a smirk. "I don't believe you. Besides, what was all that about 'I just want to have fun,' and you won't even accept a dance proposal?"

"I…" Atemu trailed off, staring mute at his admirable little Aibou, but then smiling with a short close of his eyes. "Alright. You got me." He lifted his own sun-kissed hand to join with Yugi's pale one in full acceptance after so long a minute of reluctance. Yugi beamed, gripping his hand tight and practically dragging the Pharaoh to the large space occupied with dancers. Naturally at the sight of their Pharaoh and the teen boy making way, the people stopped and backed away to allow them space and watched in awe.

Yug and Atemu then began their dance, circling around the other with their wrists just barely touching. Their eyes never wavered, intent on searching the other partner's eyes and finding only emotions to the effect of mischief and playfulness.

However, as the dance then progressed with their arms beginning to wrap and weave and their bodies twisted and spun to the lively music, the initial reason Yugi was after in doing such a thing began to make itself clear to Atemu.

They were having fun.

Gradually other members of the party began to merge themselves into the invisible circle and follow the same path, and Atemu found after several minutes that him and Yugi were completely enveloped by happy, dancing couples such as themselves. He felt his legs burn from all the movement and excitement, also feeling a grin plant itself on his lips for the entire duration of the dance. His eyes never left Yugi, feeling a warmth grow inside at the sight of the boy flustered from the exercise, losing himself in a world in which his legs and his arms were free to demonstrate a more graceful side of him even Atemu wasn't previously aware of. As Yami, Yugi had never danced in front of him, as far as he could remember. If he did, it was small, stiff movements. And now, the Pharaoh was breathless.

The song eventually came to its end, and Atemu and Yugi ceased their movements, resting their hands on their knees, breathing heavily but smiling at each other nevertheless. The crowd applauded themselves and to the band. For if it weren't for them, to think – none of this would have occurred.

"Oh, Your Majesty! How perfect you are! And how wonderful your dancing is!" A gang of squealing girls emerged from the crowd seemingly out of nowhere, huddling in front of Atemu. Yugi continued to pant, but his smile dropped slightly as he raised himself and pulled back his shoulders to a stand, watching the group of girls swarm around Atemu and shower him with nonstop compliments and flirtatious remarks. When one teen girl roughly the same age as Yugi asked if Atemu could demonstrate to them a dance move, and the Egyptian had complied, it was at that point Yugi felt a rush of emotion he couldn't fully comprehend, and he moved away. He felt his hands, hot with sweat, ball into tight fists as he slowly approached the fountain and sat, gathering his strange emotion and proceeding to sulk again.

After a moment's thought, Yugi came to realize it wasn't hard to pinpoint what this emotion was. As he watched Atemu hesitantly put out one leg and stretch his arms to strike a dancing pose and the girls giggled and copied his each move while keeping themselves as close as physically possible to the Pharaoh, Yugi identified this emotion as jealousy. And he felt it get the better of him when Atemu made no move to push them away, seeing as how they were practically lying on top of him. Yugi sighed and turned away, unable to take the torturous sight anymore. He slipped off his sandals and dipped his feet in the comfort of the fountain, which was now vacant of the children he had encountered a while ago. Their parents must have taken them home.

Atemu was indeed hesitant about agreeing to show the girls his suave dance moves. He felt something gnaw at him from the inside, instantly regretting his decision. And furthermost, he had felt Yugi's anger and disappointment as he turned and walked away. It was so prominent and lingering that Atemu thought he could just reach back and grasp it. After showing the girls one dance position, he bit his lip, looking over his shoulder to find Yugi slumped over at the fountain. Guilt continued to eat away at him, and finally he couldn't bear being around these girls and away from his clearly saddened Aibou, who silently pleaded for comfort.

"I must return to my partner now, please excuse me." He said nonchalantly without even looking at any in the eye. The girls "aww'd" in protest, but Atemu would have none of that. He felt the girls disperse as he walked away, and he was overcome with silent satisfaction and gratitude that it was over.

The pads of Yugi's feet swiped gently over the surface of the water. He watched as ripples came as a result of it, and sighed lightly. It was a no-brainer that his affection for the Pharaoh, once identified as the mere affection brothers would have, had taken a sudden overhaul into something even more special. But even as he scanned through his past memories of his time with Yami and how much contact was made between them, all those endearing gestures and conversations they had, he wondered if at the time it even counted as brotherhood. He felt from his gut there was something else beneath all those moments of fondness. It was subtle, but it was there. All along.

So naturally, he didn't want anything or anyone to come between him and his Mou Hitori no Boku ever again. If he had to consistently time travel to be a part of Yami—or Atemu's—life again, and vice-versa, then so be it. He would gladly shove himself into a graffiti-coated wall again, just to do this again. Whether all these feelings Yugi held so dearly for his partner was mutual, well, who could say.

Yugi felt a pair of arms twine around him from behind in that moment. He stiffened, but soon relaxed in the comfort of Atemu's embrace.

"Forgive me, Aibou. I didn't want you to think I'd abandoned you." He felt Atemu's breath warm and tickle his ear as he spoke.

Yugi sighed once more, leaning into Atemu's broad chest. "I know. You wouldn't. I just… was a little upset, but… that's just me. You should be able to do whatever you want without having to worry about me. I feel like… a burden."

"Never," Atemu whispered. "Yet again, you've brought me joy, through dancing. I'm eternally grateful for you."

Yugi's breath became slow and content at Atemu's warm words, daring to bring them a step closer. He placed his hand over Atemu's larger one, which gripped the cloth that covered his stomach, and lifted his other hand to the Pharaoh's face, pressing them together. His eyes drifted closed and his lips parted, letting his breath warm Atemu's cheek. Atemu wholeheartedly accepted the intimate gesture, nuzzling into it. His heart swelled with emotion, tightening his hold on Yugi's thin form. They remained as it was a minute longer, hardly noticing that the music had stopped for the remainder of the evening and the people were retiring to their homes. In less than an hour, the fires would be put out and the city would sleep.

"Let's return too, Aibou." Atemu murmured after a long while, his eyes softening aimlessly into the water, but their embrace was still. They sensed the other didn't want to let go, but it was wishful thinking that the members of the palace would let them stay out here all night long.

Yugi made a small noise of agreement, and Atemu tilted his head to find his eyes peacefully closed. The boy was overcome with fatigue from the evening's events. Atemu sighed, loosening his hold on the smaller, only to slip his arms under his small body to carry him. Atemu grunted as he adjusted him, smiling briefly as Yugi buried his face in his chest in his half-awake, half-asleep state.

As the Pharaoh began the journey back to the palace, Yugi began mumbling incoherent words and sentences, until finally he regained just enough consciousness that he could hear himself.

"Atemu…" He mumbled.

"Yes, Aibou."

"That… was fun…"

Atemu smiled. "Yes. It was a lot of fun, Aibou."

"So tired… too much fun…"

The taller chuckled, adjusting Yugi again so he wouldn't slip out of his hold. "Yes. But you can sleep now, Aibou."

"You're… carrying me…"

"I am."

"W… why…"

"Well, you're too tired to even stand."

Silence fell; Atemu received no more questions. He presumed Yugi was no longer conscious of what he spoke, but there was one thing that he did make out in the stream of loose mumbling a moment later. He almost lost his footing and had to remind himself to breathe at the two words that blessed his ears:

"Love… you…"

Waaahaha! Yugi confesses! In a not super direct way… I wonder if he will remember any of this in the morning? ;) Atemu certainly will!

Review and stay tuned for the next chapter!