The building was old and run down. Windows all up the five stories were cracked and broken, the front door with its dark paint peeling off the wood hung off rusty hinges. The grass was over grown, brown, and dying. Even the air around the old places felt tight and heavy with dark, sinister intentions. Simply put, it was abandoned, and it had been for what looked like many, many years. Definitely the kind of place Yugi Mutou would not have normally come to any other day.

It gave him the creeps. A chill raced down his spine, making goose bumps erupt and his hair stand on end. And the knowledge that he was going right into this place didn't make it any easier. He knew it was probably a trap. He knew he should turn back, fly away – get back to Atem as quickly as he could. But he didn't. For two reasons.

One, what if, and he admitted it was a long shot, but what if Saguaro really did have his mother? He couldn't just leave her here with him. And second, it didn't matter if Saguaro had his mother or not. This whole thing had to end. Saguaro would find him eventually, of that Yugi had no doubt. Yugi couldn't hide, and he was tired of running away. He wouldn't let anyone else get hurt because of him, no matter how stupid or noble that sounded. It's not that Yugi didn't trust that Atem and the rest could handle themselves, because he's seen Atem in action, and he knows he can. Yugi just didn't want to watch as they did. So he decided that this was it. He would end it himself.

He pushed the broken door aside a bit and peered into the darkness. Whether it was a trap or not, he would soon find out.

"H-hello?" Yugi heard the tremor in his voice, and he cleared his throat before trying again. "Hello?" Though his voice was small, it hit the walls and bounded back, echoing over and over loudly. He shivered and he looked around. The only light came from a dim, flickering light bulb in the middle of the room.

"Hello, Yugi." Saguaro said, seeming to be born from the shadows as he stepped forward. Yugi had an urge to ditch the plan. But he held firm and stood straight, nailing his father with a look. "Where's your friend?" Saguaro asked pleasantly, as if they were just discussing the weather over tea.

"Not here." Yugi said, proud when his voice didn't waver. "And where is my mother? Not that you ever had her." He then added snidely. Saguaro narrowed his eyes till they were slits and Yugi just gave a slight, smug smirk. He could do this. He could win against Saguaro.

"Too bad your mother couldn't make it." Saguaro said. "She has this ludicrous thought that I'm the bad guy." Saguaro laughed, and Yugi noticed that he sounded much madder than he had before – on the night Saguaro stabbed him. He had crossed the line of insanity that night, and it seemed he was now too far gone – if he even ever was sane to begin with.

"You are the bad guy." Yugi said bravely. So suddenly Yugi didn't even see, Saguaro was in front of him, and something hit his face, ripped his cheek open. He was knocked backwards, and as he tried to right himself, Yugi tripped on his own feet and landed on his backside on the hard floor. He placed a hand to the cut on his cheek, trying to think through the pain.

"Don't talk back to your elders!" Saguaro snapped. He showcased the dagger in his hand, and it caught the light menacingly. "If anyone is in the wrong here, it is you. You're the reason Michelle spilt."

"No. It's not my fault." Yugi said defiantly, scooting back from him. Saguaro just ignored him. Like he was just a fly. Like he wasn't even there.

"It really is a shame that Atem isn't here." He muttered. "I'll have to go after him separately."

"You wouldn't." Yugi said, blood draining from his face.

"What do you mean?" Saguaro stepped closer to Yugi, until he was right besides the boy. "Of course I would."

"...You can't win against Atem."

Saguaro tipped his head back and laughed.
"He's just a teenager. There is nothing he could do to stop me."

"You're wrong!" Yugi yelled, cutting off his laughter. "Atem is wiser and stronger than you will ever be. He could kill you easily." Enraged, Saguaro sent his foot flying at Yugi, who rolled away, dodging the foot by inches. Yugi could feel blood seeping from the slash on his cheek, but he didn't bother to wipe it away. He would have to deal with it for now.

Saguaro stopped and then started to laugh again. "Oh, my god! You love him, don't you?" Saguaro gave him a nasty look. "And do you really think he loves you, too?" Another snort. "Nobody loves you. Nobody ever will, faggot!" Saguaro lunged forward and grabbed Yugi by the collar of his shirt and pinned him to a wall.

"Atem…I had to write and let you know what I'm doing. I know, you're probably really mad at me right now, since I left when you told me not to.
But I just couldn't let you be in danger. I went to Saguaro by myself. You may wonder why I'm doing this…hell, even I don't fully understand why I am.
I told you before – it has to stop. This is the only way. I just can't let Saguaro get you…you are all I really have. Please understand, Atem…"

Yugi thrust his arm forward; letting the heel of his hand hit Saguaro in the nose. Yugi felt and heard the sickening crunch, and he collapsed to the floor when Saguaro suddenly let him go to cover his face, crying out in pain.

"Yo broged my nobs!" He yelled, pinching it. He looked at Yugi, eyes flashing. He pulled back his foot and connected it into Yugi's hip. "Yo basthard!"

"You're the bastard here!" Yugi screamed back, grabbing Saguaro's ankle and twisting his foot. Saguaro let out a hiss and jumped back from Yugi, stumbling a little. Yugi quickly got to his feet, his breaths ragged as he readied himself for the next blow.

"…I'm not doing this just to hurt you. I don't want to. Hurt you, I mean. I'll deal with this and be back soon. After all, we're not finished talking.
There is a lot I want to say to you. About earlier. About now. And about the future. You. Me. Us. All that shit, you know?"

Saguaro reached out, trying to get a proper hold on Yugi. Using his size to his advantage, Yugi ducked under his arm and around Saguaro. Before he was a safe distance, Saguaro gained hold on his shirt, and the fabric ripped. Yugi turned in fear as his back was exposed.

"What da…fuck?" Saguaro demanded in a quite voice, staring at the white wings with wide eyes. "When did…how th' hell…?" He was so shocked that he couldn't form a complete sentence.

"It's unforgivable, what I've done to you. I'm sure you were happy without me in your life, and now I've just dragged you down into my hell. For that, I'm sorry.
But I don't regret it, and I pray that you don't either. Sometimes…sometimes things are meant to be, you know? Like you finding me, and me finding you.
I've probably hurt you…I'm probably still hurting you. It seems all I do is cause people trouble. But I'm not going to give up. It's time I stand on my own two feet and win."

"Freak!" Saguaro shouted. "I knew dere was something wrong wit' you, but damn! When did you get wings you little birdie?" Saguaro started whistling at Yugi. "Does you friend have wings, too? No wonder you're sthill alive!" Saguaro reached over and grabbed Yugi's wing roughly. Yugi groaned from the pain. It was worse than when his cheek was cut. Worse than any beating he's ever had. The feeling of his wing in Saguaro's twisted, strong grip was unbearable. "I don't know how he did this, but I'll make sure to get him and find out after I'm done wit' you."

"And please don't think that I'm saying goodbye. I am not. I fully intend to come back here:
To this house, to this family. My new family. Back to you. I am not finished living. I am not finished with you."

Saguaro pulled Yugi back by his wing, tossing the boy to the ground. Yugi let his breath seep out between his teeth, wishing for the first time that he didn't have wings. It was just so agonizing when they were manhandled and pulled on. It felt like Saguaro had pulled something apart in them.

Saguaro placed his boot on Yugi's neck, and Yugi struggled under it. His fingers dug into them as he tried to lift the shoe of off his throat. He was able to breathe still – it was just enough. Stream by little stream, Yugi forced air in and out of his lungs, still trying to get the man above him off. It was no use. Saguaro was just too heavy. Too strong. But he didn't give up. He wasn't going to let himself die. He may be bruise, broken, and in agony, but he wasn't going to let Saguaro win.

Black was at the edges of his vision, and Yugi gritted his teeth and pushed harder against the sole holding him down. He couldn't black out. If he fainted he would lose. That was not an option. Yugi pushed the foot up an inch, then another, strengthened by his will. Yugi saw something move behind Saguaro. It looked like…but it couldn't be. Yugi blinked. Suddenly, the weight lifted from Yugi's neck completely. He lay there, staring ahead, too stunned to move just yet. There was so much pain racking his body, Yugi wasn't even sure if he could sit up just yet.

It was a shadow – like Yugi had thought.

But that was impossible. Shadows couldn't just get up and move around by themselves. The shadow wrapped around Saguaro, pinning his arms at his sides so they were of no use. Another shadow came. Then another. Then it seemed all the darkness in the room was moving forward, jumping on Saguaro till he was forced down to the ground. One shadow came over to Yugi, and before he could shout from fear, it wrapped around his eyes like a blindfold, and everything went dark.

Yugi heard screams and movement. Then more screams. He cringed. He wanted to get out of here, escape those inhuman shrieks coming from Saguaro. The shadow over his eyes was suddenly gone; off to join the fight, and Yugi quickly sat up. Saguaro was covered in blood, his eyes going dull. Still the darkness over took him. Saguaro fell to the ground with a loud thud, causing the ground to shake. Yugi stared, frozen with fear as Saguaro jerked and coughed up a lot of blood, then stopped moving.

Then there was a ringing silence. The only noise left was a strange ripping sound, and Yugi realized it was him. He looked down at his hands, which were shaking so violently he feared they would never stop. He couldn't breathe. But why couldn't he breathe? Nothing was blocking his throat. Yugi gasped through choked sobs, leaning forward onto his hands. Why…couldn't he…breathe? Panic was starting to sweep in now. He felt like he was dying.

This was it. He was going to die like this. Choking on his own breath.

Yugi heard movement to his left, and he spun around. Atem carefully stepped forward from the shadows, hands up in a surrendering way. Yugi tried to suck in a lungful of air from relief, but it got lodged in his throat. Atem's bright crimson eyes widened, and then settled to concern. They slowly challenged shades – darker and darker until all that was left was that safe, familiar ruby. At once, Yugi knew what happened. How could he forget that Atem had such a scary – albeit useful – power over shadows?

But even his presence wasn't enough for Yugi's lungs to stop seizing up. Black started to frame his vision and close in around him. He bent forward with the effort of trying to breathe. Hands were suddenly on his arms, then moved up to hold his face. He looked around wildly, trying to see past the black.

"Yugi." Atem spoke calmly, though he looked so worried. "It's okay. Calm down."

"I can't…breathe!" Yugi managed to get out, grabbing Atem by the shoulders.

"You're hyperventilating." Atem pushed Yugi back so he was sitting on his behind, and then he guided Yugi's head down. "Keep your head between your knees. Relax. I'm right here – nothing will hurt you."

Little by little, Yugi regained control of his lungs. The ache in his chest was all to real prove of what had just happened to him. If Atem hadn't shown up, he probably would be dead. That thought made him shudder, and he looked up, taking a deep breath.

"Better?" Atem asked, looking his real age with all the stress.

"That depends."

"On?"

"…Are you angry?" Yugi whispered. He felt something wet irritating the skin of his cheek, and for a minute he thought it was tears. But when he wiped it away, blood was smeared on his hand. Atem leaned over and touched the cut on Yugi's cheek carefully, his eyes tightening and flashing crimson before Atem held himself together.

"Yes," He finally answered; a frown set on his face.

"I'm sorry." Yugi mumbled, looking down.

"I'm not angry with you," Atem clarified, pulling his chin back up with a finger. "I am angry with what Saguaro has done to you. I am angry that I let this happen." He touched Yugi's forehead. "I could never be mad at you. I should've known you would have come, no matter what I said."

"I'm sorry." Yugi repeated. "I didn't want you to get any more involved that you already were. It's my burden."

"You can't deal with everything by yourself Yugi." Atem replied. "You need to rely on others when things get rough. Don't you think I'm strong enough to help you?" Then, before Yugi could answer, Yami pulled him close. He wrapped his arms around Yugi tightly and whispered, "I thought I was going to be too late. I thought he was going to kill you—" He broke off with an odd sound, and Yugi felt something wet on his shoulder.

Tears. Atem was crying. Yugi held Atem close and nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck.
"It's okay," He said back. "I'm alive. I survived." Atem's body relaxed, and they pulled away from each other.

"Look what you've done to me," Atem said with a little laugh, using the palm of his hand to wipe his eye. "I haven't cried or worried about someone like this since I was a kid."

"Oh?" Yugi blinked. "What did I do?"

Atem looked back at Yugi incredulously, like he was missing an important point. "Yugi…after all we've been through – after all you've done – how could I not fall in love with you?"

"You…love me?" Yugi asked, a smile beginning to form at the corners of his lips.

"No, I usually ten to go kiss and cling to people I don't like." Atem said with an exasperated eye roll. He took Yugi's hands and spoke softly, choosing his words carefully. "Yugi, I love you more than I've ever loved anything before. You've changed me somehow – I'm a lot nicer than I used to be."

"You've always been nice to me."

"To you, yes." Atem paused. "But let's just say I wasn't the kind to be out with people. I preferred my solitude. But now…" He placed a hand on his chest, over his heart. "It's like I have this fire inside me. It's soft and warm. And it's all because of you."

Yugi part cried, part laughed. "Well that's good because…I love you as well." He stopped and thought for a minute, his eyes flickering over to the limp body lying on the floor. "And I guess…we have Saguaro to thank for that."

"What?"

"Well…without him, I would've never met you." Yugi turned away from the dark form and looked back to Atem. "So…can we go?"

"Of course." Atem shifted, and as he stood, he picked Yugi up in his arms.

"Atem!" Yugi flushed. "I can walk!"

"Yes, but can you fly? You look totally beaten and exhausted. I don't want to risk you falling halfway home. Besides," Atem's arms constricted a little. "I like holding you. I don't plan on ever letting you go again."

Yugi blushed darker and sighed.
"Fine, then. Let's go home."

"Wait."

"For what?"

Atem smiled. "For this." And with that, he bent over and lowered his mouth onto Yugi's.
It was a kiss of an end. A kiss of a new beginning. A kiss of possibilities, trust, and love. Always love.