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Thoughts

"Speech"

Chapter 6

"Atem…ATEM!" A voice called through the darkness, full of worry. Mh? What happened? Atem slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I," he asked, not really expecting an answer. Arms wrapped around his neck and he felt his shoulder become wet. Tears? Someone was crying? Atem looked down and saw hair like his. "Yugi? What happened," the prince asked.

Yugi sat up and wiped his eyes. "You collapsed suddenly while we were walking. Isis said you'd be fine, but you were asleep for five days! I was worried, afraid, you might not wake up." Yugi's amethyst orbs filled up with tears again but he held them in, not wanting to make more problems for his "twin". Atem looked around the room while holding his best friend. I am in my room. But wait…Did he say five days? What happened to me? A flash of blonde hair passed through his memories. Ah yes…Dalila. If I recall, I felt jealous Yugi was paying attention to her instead of me. She's a servant after all. He's never looked at anyone like that. And he still looked like that even after she left! And I care so much why? And what happened? Atem didn't know, but right now he wasn't going to dwell on it.

Knock. Knock. Atem and Yugi looked at the door. "Yes," Atem called.

A blonde head peeked around the door. Dalila. "My lords," she bowed. "I brought some water and food for you. Both of you must be hungry." She smiled and set the food down Yugi. The pale boy nodded his thanks and Atem watched her go.

"Have you been with me the whole time," Atem asked his friend. Yugi nodded. "Why?"

Yugi looked at him with sparkly amethyst. "I didn't want you to be alone when you woke up," Yugi whispered. He cast his eyes to the floor. "I also didn't want to leave you alone in case something happened." Atem's face grew to one of shock. Then he smiled.

"What makes you think something bad would have happened?"

Those tearful amethyst eyes gazed at him. "Because you had been fine one minute and unconscious the second." Yugi wrapped his arms around Atem. "You're my best friend. What would I do without you?"

Atem placed his arms around Yugi. Stroking his back as the latter gave in to his tears. "What would you do without me? I could ask you the same question. Actually, many people could." Yugi let out a choked laugh. Atem smiled. "So, Yugi. What exactly happened? Did Isis say?"

Yugi nodded. "She said that you caught the illness that Master Shimon has, but it took longer to affect you but when it did it was worse."

"Is Master Shimon alright," Atem asked, worried for his mentor. Yugi nodded again and laid his head back on Atem's shoulder. Within a few minutes, Yugi was fast asleep, and Atem sat there, slowly stroking his head. "You worry too much Yugi," he whispered. "If you're not careful, you'll end up in bed sick too." Atem paused, and then he looked down at his friend. "Hmm…That is not a bad idea actually."

Atem glanced at the refreshments Dalila brought in and sighed. He carefully placed Yugi on the bed beside him and crept over to the food. "Atem? Yugi," a quiet feminine voice whispered.

Atem smiled. "It's alright Mana. You can come in. But be quiet, please. Yugi's asleep." The blonde Egyptian stopped before glomping her friend. She looked at the bed to where their Oriental friend lay.

"Okay," she whispered happily, a big smile on her face. Mana looked at her friend seriously, which was kind of cute and funny at the same time, for she still had a childish face. All three of them did. Except Atem's eyes became sharper around the edges as he grew. "Are you better? Tell me you're okay!" Atem placed his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine," he said. "But you should ask Yugi, not me. He's knows more than I do." Atem glanced worriedly at his sleeping friend. "I hope he's alright too," he whispered, almost too low for Mana to hear. She looked at her friend's face, then at his paler "twin".

"He'll be alright," she said. "Yugi's resilient. Just you wait. He'll be fine."

Yugi woke up around dusk. "Well, hello," a cheery female voice said. Yugi looked up to see Isis standing by the bed, checking over Atem. "How do you feel," she asked.

Yugi sat up and yawned. "A little less tired, but alright," he replied. "Is he fine," he asked, nodding at Atem. Isis nodded.

"He'll be up and running with in two days," she stated, laughing a little at the horror expression on the prince's face.

"TWO DAYS? NO WAY! Tell me it's not true," he groaned. Yugi and Isis looked at each other and started laughing. Atem glared at them and growled. "It's not funny," he mumbled.

Yugi stifled his laughs a little and smiled brightly at his best friend. "I'm sorry, but it is. A little," Yugi said, showing with his index finger and thumb just how much "a little" was. Atem just growled and turned away. Hands slid up Atem's back, over his shoulders, and resting to a stop on his chest, making the prince freeze. "Aww. Don't be mad," Yugi whispered in his ear. Mad? How can he be mad when his mind was racing with thoughts that started from when his best friend snaked his hands to his chest? "Tell you what," Atem heard Yugi say. "I'll stay here with you until Isis deems it safe for you to be you, okay?" Atem nodded, vaguely noticing he did so. His heart was beating fast and he was sure Yugi could feel it. Yugi took his hands away and laid them on his lap, and Atem noticed the room was little colder. He tried to ignore it and looked up at Isis.

"How's Master Shimon," he asked.

"He's better and can't wait until his students return," a voice spoke from the shadows. Mahad stepped out and took Isis's hand. "So how are his students? And where's mine," he asked all three. Yugi shrugged and looked at Atem, who, at the moment, looked very thoughtful.

"Well…She did say she was going to visit Grandma's grave, along with Seto. Other then that, I don't know where she would be." Mahad growled.

"I've barely seen her all week," he said. "If she's serious about becoming a magician, then she better settle down for her training. Or else I'll- Mana! Where have you been," Mahad asked his apprentice as she bounded into the room, dragging Seto and Kisara along. She froze, and you could see fear in her eyes. Kisara wrapped her arms around the child.

"Why so angry, Mahad," Seto asked, watching his girlfriend soothe the little girl.

Mahad scowled. "She's been neglecting her studies. If you don't have any interest in becoming a magician, I'll find a new apprentice," Mahad said, addressing Mana. Her eyes grew big and she shook her head.

"NOOO," she wailed and threw herself into Mahad's arms. "Don't do that! I promise I'll be good. I'll pay attention and-"

"And you'll actually come to the lessons," Mahad inquired. Mana looked up at him sheepishly before nodding. Everyone laughed, but stopped once they noticed two laughs in particular were missing. All eyes turned to the couple on the bed, and saw Atem asleep with his arms wrapped around Yugi and Yugi's head resting on Atem's chest.

"Aww," Kisara whispered. "That's so cute…We should be leaving, shouldn't we?" Many heads nodded and they all left, Mahad practically dragging Mana out of the room. Amidst it all, the look-alikes slept till the coming dawn.