You have no idea of how excited I have been to write this chapter. It'll be so good to write this. Having a hard time and writing is my only comfort.

Yami rode up to Turtle Castle. It had been a long ride since the tournament, two months to be exact. Everyone else had indulged in wine and women after the victory, Yami had neither. All he wanted to do was get home and see it for what might be his last time.

Slowly he dismounted his black horse Magician and soothingly stroked her coat with a gloved hand. He took his time cleaning her and feeding her, wanting to delay the inevitable news as long as possible. All the other knights had gone into the castle, obviously to check in and brag about Yami winning the tournament.

Staying out in the stables Yami looked around at his familiar surroundings. it had been ten years ago that his mother and father had passed and Lord Solomon and Sir Yugi took him in. Of course at the time Yugi wasn't a Sir yet, just a little squire boy. The two cousins looked so similar it was uncanny. It wasn't long before Yugi grew out his hair and started copying Yami's hairstyle.

Laughing at the memory Yami gave Magician one last brush down. He couldn't avoid it forever. He was headed for the castle when a familiar spikey head came bobbing his way. "YAMI!" Yugi yelled jumping into his cousin's arms. The warmth and the smell of Yugi were as familiar as his own, Yami embraced his cousin and twirled him around. "Did you win?" Yugi asked excitedly.

"Didn't the other knights tell you?" Yami asked setting his cousin down.

Yugi shook his head. "I wouldn't let them. I wanted to hear it from you."

Yami smiled. In his eyes Yugi was perfect. He was smart and clever, he was brave and kind, he was loyal and loving. Yami loved Yugi. He had one day hoped to ask Solomon for Yugi's hand in marriage, then they could rule over Turtle Castle together and never have to be apart. But this new assignment from the Prince made that dream impossible.

Trying to hide his feelings the best he could he smiled down at Yugi. "Yes I won the tournament. Did you ever have a doubt? I even beat the Prince." Yugi looked in awe. "Now there's something I need to tell you and Lord Solomon. Let's go see him.:

They held hands on the way to the receiving hall. For Yugi it was probably no more than when they had held hands as kids, for Yami it was so much more. They made it to the hall where it seemed all the knights had gathered to tell the brave story. As soon as they stepped into the hall a loud voice rose up over the others. "Well if it isn't the conquering hero!" Lord Solomon was in the throne at the end on the hall. Yami let go of Yugi's hand and went to the throne and bowed.

"I have returned." Yami said not looking up.

"Well damn it all boy I can see that." Lord Solomon said. "I'm not so blind that I can't recognize my own grand-nephew when I see him." Yami didn't move from the bowing position. "Is something the matter boy? You've brought great honor to this castle. You shouldn't be feeling sad." Someone Solomon always knew how Yami was feeling.

Yami straightened up and in a loud voice announced. "I have brought even more honor to the castle than you realize." He hadn't even told the knights about this. "Prince Seto Kaiba has asked me to be his personal knight." There was a low hush in the room at this news.

"Well that is terrific news. Terrific news indeed." Lord Solomon said as he stood from his chair, which didn't make much of a height difference. "Did you accept?"

"One does not refuse a request from the prince." Was Yami's only answer. "I leave tomorrow. I must go get ready now." He left the room, passing by Yugi without giving him a glance.

Later that night when the partying had quieted down Yami was still at work packing his things. He didn't have much, but he was going slow making sure he got everything. As he worked there was a knock on his door. "Enter." Yami called politely although he didn't feel like company.

The door opened and Sir Joey entered, leaning against the door frame. He had been one of the knights that had gone to the tournament. "So why didn't you tell us sooner?" He asked cutting to the heart of the matter.

"I wanted to tell everyone at once." Yami still hadn't turned to the blond haired boy. "That way I didn't have to repeat the story over and over again. I'm not the town cryer."

There was silence for a while as Yami packed, until Sir Joey broke it. "Are you happy with this decision? You might never come back here. And Yugi…"

Yami cut his off rather harshly. "I WILL never be able to come back here. Service to the Prince is a lifelong duty. As soon as I'm sworn in I am his to command. I can't ask for days off and I won't be able to come see Yugi." A knot caught in his throat. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. "I have no other options."

"True." Sir Joey said moving into the room. "But you do have a choice in how you act about it. You can either do it out of duty and hate it OR you can do it because you want to and have fun."

"I don't see how shinning the princes' boots is going to be fun?" Yami said with a smirk.

Sir Joey looked confused. "You never minded cleaning Sir Yugi's boots."

Without looking at him he muttered, "Yugi's feet are smaller." This got a laugh out of Sir Joey.

Sir Joey wiped a tear from his eye. "They named me Head Knight in your stead." He said apologetically.

"I can't think of a better knight for the job. Now if you'll excuse me I have packing to do." Sir Joey slapped him on the shoulder and left the room.

Getting back to work it wasn't long before there was another knock at the door. "Joey I said I have to pack."

"It's me." Came a timid voice that Yami recognized. He rushed to the door and pulled it open showing Yugi standing there. It was obvious that he had been crying.

Yami moved out of the way. "Come in."

As soon as Yugi was in the door he wrapped his arms around Yami's middle. "Do you really have to go?" Yugi asked a tear running down his cheek. "You could stay here."

Yami smiled sadly and leaned down so that he was eye level with Yugi. "I have to go. The Prince commanded it. It's a huge honor to be chosen as the princes' knight."

"B-but I'll miss you." Yugi sobbed. "I might never see you again."

Brushing his bangs back Yami smiled down at Yugi. "I'll write as much as I can. It'll be like I never left. Now stop your crying. Future Lords don't cry."

"I c-can't." Yugi protested pushing the tears away.

What happened next Yami later referred to as a fever dream. He leaned down and kissed Yugi on the lips. He tasted so sweet Yami put his arms around his waist and behind his head. They stayed like that for a moment before Yami came to his senses and pulled away. "There," he said embarrassedly. "Now you've stopped crying."

Yami ushered Yugi out of the room and as soon as the door closed he leaned against it putting his hands over his eyes. "What have I done?"

Hope you liked the chapter. Originally I wasn't going to have Yami kiss Yugi, but it makes future events even more fun. Make sure to check out my other work and add me on facebook. It's just Emi Nishimura.