So there IS vegetation in Egypt. Don't worry, I did my research.

Love… you…

Atemu's heart was pounding hard in his ears. Yugi had said something that Atemu could not let slide, despite the smaller's near-dreaming state. Yugi meant it. If he hadn't been sincere, he wouldn't have said the words in the first place. A confession so precious was not to be mistaken as nonsensical blabber, this much Atemu knew.

The Pharaoh watched Yugi's shadowed silhouette beside him on the bed. The boy's back was turned to him, but Atemu could just imagine the peaceful expression that adorned his face. As Atemu silently studied the rise and fall of Yugi's side with each inhale and exhale, he realized just how much time they had left together. Priests Baniti and Mahad were at hard work and gifted strategists, trying to find a solution to this time travel. No doubt, they would find the answer.

"At that time, you will have to leave…" Atemu whispered as quiet as he could muster. His brows came together in a troubled expression. He would lose his Aibou yet again, and vice-versa. Atemu wondered if they could handle a third separation.

But he knew he couldn't waste another moment without Yugi now.

Atemu propped himself up for a moment to reach over an arm and coil it around Yugi's stomach, bringing the smaller teen closer. Yugi gave a small noise in response, awake just enough to turn his whole body over to face Atemu and hug his chest, cooing slightly in his sleepy state at the warm contact.

"Yugi…" Atemu whispered slowly and fondly, only to find that said teen had drifted back to sleep almost instantaneously following the change in position. He hugged Yugi against him, brushing back stray blonde strings of hair from his face, gaze soft. Finally he shut his eyes, trying to find comfort in Yugi's presence so near him and follow the road to sleep. He decided to use the old method of counting sheep in his mind. Usually it helped, but after a few minutes he understood that it was not the sheep he was counting. He was counting the seconds away in which Yugi was still here in his arms.

"Let's take a walk," Atemu said to Yugi in the process of clipping on his gold earrings when the warm morning sun arose. The shine of the day lit the room. They had awoken to the sounds of the servants' feet padding through the hall, as always. Atemu wondered if Yugi would think anything of their close position, but he seemed to not regard it. Yugi was now sitting upright on his end of the bed, nodding happily at Atemu's proposition.

"You're not called to do anything today?" He asked while draping his legs over the edge of the bed and slipping on his sandals.

"I'm sure I'll be called to solve an issue at some point in the day… there's always something," Atemu muttered with a sigh. He turned to Yugi, smiling as the smaller lifted himself off the bed and was in the middle of a long stretch. "But for now… we'll enjoy what time we have."

"Of course." Yugi returned the smile, retrieving his gold wrapping to tie around his waist, keeping the tunic a little more secure. For a moment he fingered the loose ends, tilting his head a little. "I love these clothes, actually. They're so comfortable. And beautiful."

Atemu chuckled, beginning to slip on the second earring. "Yes, they are. I miss my leather pants a little bit, though."

Yugi laughed. "True, you looked like a twenty-first century God with all that leather."

Atemu smiled over his shoulder at his little one for the compliment, watching from his peripheral as Yugi adjusted the tie again and looked over himself to make sure he was presentable for the day. He then turned back to his mirror, sighing inwardly. Yugi truly didn't remember last night. As Atemu slipped on his own sandals and walked over to the frame of the open window, leaning over it, the warm and humid breeze brushed past and told him this was going to be the day he would remind him.

Yugi was brushing invisible dust from his tunic and ruffling his hair to its proper place until he felt long arms wrap from behind. He felt his cheeks warm, but leaned into the small embrace—a clear repeat of last night in the town. He sighed lightly, resting his hands over Atemu's arms. How he enjoyed being able to have an exchange of physical contact with his other half. He didn't question why Atemu was holding him; they seemed content enough to just go with it, for reasons unexplainable. Yugi had a strange feeling like they were slipping, so he turned around in the embrace and wrapped his arms around the Pharaoh's waist from the front and buried his face in the broad chest. Atemu was also receiving a strange feeling; that he should hold on to Yugi a little tighter and a little longer. He did.

Atemu had surprised Yugi with showing him a large garden-like area beside the palace. Strong, healthy fruit trees stood off to the side, and the grass was strikingly green.

"How many garden areas do you have here at the palace?" Yugi questioned. "I've counted two now."

"There are three—on the other side of the palace is basically a duplicate of what you see here. Plus the more secluded area you found me in when we reunited. That area is more for pottery, though. There isn't much to it unless you want to sit in the shade for a while. Which, as you may remember, it was a very hot day when you found me. There are also little patches of greenery if you explore different areas of the town." Atemu explained as they walked through the lush grass and toward one of the trees, which Yugi noted held on its branches, a purple fruit.

"Plums." Atemu smiled, noticing Yugi's longing and hungry gaze at the suspended fruit. "You want one? I'll get it—"

"I… I can get it!" Yugi interrupted, pursing his lips with determination. His petit size didn't do him any good, though, as he reached up with a shaky hand from the long stretch in an attempt to grab one. He bit his lip, a heavy blush coating his cheeks when he realized he was just making a fool out of himself in front of Atemu. He sighed, retracting his hand and rubbing his cheeks to have the blush rid of. But Atemu had seen it, smirking at the sight, which didn't contribute to helping Yugi's pink color fade away.

Yugi then slumped to the grass, crossing his arms with a small huff. "I'm still too small." He grumbled, and Atemu laughed.

"You will grow very tall soon, I'm quite sure. That's just the way it is. Normally short people grow like vines as they get older."

"You think so?" Yugi sighed.

"I know so. Now here," Atemu smiled as he reached up and plucked the juicy fruit from its stem in one graceful, swift movement, handing it to the sitting Yugi. "Plum, for my little Aibou." He murmured, kneeling down and clasping Yugi's hand over the plum with his own. Yugi stared in a daze at the Pharaoh for a few moments, then shook his head when he realized the stubborn blush had made a return. Atemu said nothing of it, though, much to his relief. The Egyptian sat back against the tree and closed his eyes, bending one leg and being overcome with comfort at the feeling of the tree's old bark and the bright green grass contrasting against his tan skin; so different from the usual sand he felt in Egypt's hot deserts.

Yugi watched the Pharaoh's content expression, his own gaze softening, but he felt a small wave of sadness come over. He set aside his fruit for the time being. "You really love it here, don't you Atemu?"

Atemu hummed, nodding and smiling in reply. "Why?"

Yugi was quiet for a moment, but turned his focus downcast to pluck at the grass. "It's nothing."

"Aibou, something's wrong… I can sense it." Atemu said; his eyes open now as he sat up to look full on at Yugi. "What is it? You can tell me, Hikari." He prodded gently.

Yugi was still smiling in that sad kind of way, and it was making Atemu very nervous. But finally he replied with, "You love it here so much, Atemu. I can just tell. And I can understand fully why you wanted to depart from us and come back here…"

Atemu furrowed his brows, feeling a sting of hurt in his chest from Yugi's words. But nonetheless, he nodded for Yugi to continue.

"I was hoping… when Baniti figures out how to send me back… that you would be inclined to come with me, is all…" Yugi trailed off, but quickly looked up and covered his sadness with a spewing of words: "But it's okay, really! I understand. You want to be here. Heck, I want to be here for the rest of my life with you, but it's also so hard for me, because then I'll be leaving Jii-chan and Jonouchi, Honda, Anzu, everyone—but I just feel so, so torn! You mean the world to me Atemu, possibly more than all my friends combined, you're Mou Hitori no Boku, and I can't just leave without knowing we just might have a chance of seeing each other again! Either path I take will bring me so much guilt—mmph!"

Yugi's rambling was brought to a full stop—he hadn't noticed that Atemu was watching him intently the whole time, and he definitely was in for a surprise when the Pharaoh had lurched forward and kissed him, taking Yugi in his arms at the same time into a crushing hold to keep their lips in contact, almost desperately. Despite his initial surprise, Yugi had responded quickly and tangled his arms around Atemu's back, sighing at the soft touch the kiss brought. Neither allowed their mouths to open, enjoying for the moment just the simplicity of the experience.

Atemu was first to break the contact, fearing that his Yugi was losing oxygen with how fast his chest rose and fell. But Yugi wasn't done, despite this. The boy quickly latched onto Atemu and leaned forward again, bringing their lips together for yet another kiss, having secret fears of his own that this time was going to be their last. Finally after a few moments, Yugi shyly parted his lips and was pleased when Atemu did the same to deepen it. He felt the Pharaoh's long fingers run through his spiked hair in a swift motion, and returned the affectionate gesture by placing a gentle hand on his cheek.

Minutes later, the pair felt satisfaction and pulled away. Yugi cried softly as he hid his face in Atemu's clothing and felt so enveloped with love as Atemu held him tight. Nevertheless, he felt utterly torn and sad. "What will I do, Atemu? I just can't leave you…"

Atemu sighed raggedly, trying to calm his heart and recover still from the long kiss. "I… I don't know." He bit his lip, guilt eating at him when he found he could not provide an answer for his Hikari, as he always had in the past. It made him feel weak, helpless. "I don't know…"

Hm, what could possibly be the solution to Yugi and Atemu's plight? (Ehehe, I already got it figured out… I really can't tell if it's bad or good, though, that's all I'm saying. XD)

But they finally kiss! Hoorah! Must be near the end. (And for those wondering if Atemu will bring up Yugi's love confession, don't worry, he will. I just found it wasn't necessary quite yet for this chapter, since Yugi is all depressed.)

Review and keep your eyes open for the next chapter!