Yugi woke up snuggled close to Atem's chest, looking up at Atem's face. Atem was sleeping peacefully, and Yugi felt joy welling up in his chest. It hadn't been a dream. He had found Atem after the accident had wrenched him away. They could go home to the café and Yugi would never forget again. Atem stirred and Yugi pressed closer.
"Yugi?" Atem murmured. Yugi smiled at him kissing his cheek.
"Good morning Atem." Yugi said. "Did you sleep well?" Atem nodded.
"Did you sleep well?" He returned. Yugi laid his forehead on Atem's chest.
"Best sleep I've had in two years." Yugi replied. A knock came at the door and Atem sat up, stretching. "Come in!" Duke walked in with a smile and tray of breakfast. Yugi sat up as well, smiling at Duke.
"Good morning lovebirds." Duke cooed, handing the tray to Atem. "We'll be heading back to Anzu's today to get Yami's stuff. And she wanted to talk to Yugi about something. Then I guess we'll head home for the holidays." Yugi swallowed his orange juice, big purple eyes blinking at Duke.
"Me? Really?" Yugi asked. Duke nodded. "But why?"
"You'll have to talk to her about that." Duke replied, "Now get dressed you two, it's time to go." Then he left them alone.
# # # # # #
Anzu let Atem and Yugi inside, smiling at their tightly clasped hands.
"You go on ahead Atem, I want to talk to Anzu." Yugi said, allowing his love to journey up the stairs with his boxes. "You wanted to talk to me?" Anzu nodded, sitting down on the couch and patting the seat next to her.
"I know I may have no business asking you something this personal, but I wanted to ask you." She began. "Duke told me you blame yourself for what happened to Atem. Why is that?" Atem stopped just out of view of Yugi and Anzu on the stairs, heart stopping. Yugi blamed himself? Why?
"I-it's because…" Tears pooled over from Yugi's eyes. "I forgot…"
Yugi sat at the table, staring down at his hands. Today was the day Atem left for yet another business trip. He had been going on a lot of trips lately. Atem was eating in silence, the only noise being the harsh scraping of the knife against his plate.
"Don't be sad Aibou." Atem said, using the nickname he had given Yugi in high school. "It's only a week, I'll be back before you know it." Yugi slowly looked up at him, tears welling up in his eyes.
"It's just…" He murmured. "You've been going on so many trips lately, I miss you. Why do you keep going on so many trips anyway?" Atem sighed, setting down his fork. This conversation always turned into a fight.
"Yugi, it's a way for me to bring in extra money you know that." Atem said, taking Yugi's hands in his. Yugi looked away, clenching Atem's hands tightly.
"I know, but you just got back from one a week ago." He said. "Do you have to go so soon?" Atem released his hands.
"Yugi if he offers me a business trip I'll take it. We've been struggling with rent lately and we need the money." His voice was getting stern.
"Well maybe if you were home more to help me in the café we wouldn't be struggling with rent!" Yugi replied, slamming his hands on the table.
"I'm not having this discussion with you today!" Atem yelled, standing up and grabbing his coat and suitcase handle.
"I'll see you whenever you get home!" Yugi yelled after him as he left.
"I guess you will!" Atem yelled, slamming the door. As he climbed in the car he tried to wipe the image of Yugi sobbing on the kitchen table from his mind. As he drove, his anger subsided and guilt filled him instead. He should apologize to Yugi; he had every right to miss him. He pulled to a stop at a stop sign and pulled out his cell phone.
I'm sorry baby. I'll take less trips from now on. I love you. Forgive me? : ) 3 When he looked up, his eyes only had a fraction of a second to widen before the truck plowed into his car. His head snapped back and then slammed forward into the steering wheel hard enough to make his vision go white and begin to fade. The cell phone clattered to the floor of the car as glass rained over the car. Blood ran down the side of the steering wheel and dripped upon the screen, still bearing it's unsent apology. Flames lapped at the corner of his vision as everything faded to black and one thing echoed through his mind. Yugi… I… need.. to see… Yugi…
Anzu watched Yugi sob his eyes out. Atem sat on the stairs as the memory flooded his senses. That was what happened. That wasn't Yugi's fault! His poor angel had shouldered the guilt for something he hadn't even caused.
"If I hadn't fought with Atem he never would have gotten hit while he tried to send me an apology." He bawled. "It's all my fault. He got hit and got a major concussion that caused him to forget me. It's my fault all of this happened and I didn't even have the strength to ask Atem to forgive me." Atem walked down the stairs, catching the heartbreaking sight of his sweet angel sobbing on the couch. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed into his hands.
"Yugi." His voice made Yugi look up. "Yugi, my angel, that wasn't your fault." He pulled Yugi into a tight hug, burying his face in Yugi's hair. Yugi clutched to him, crying harder.
"It was the only time I hadn't told you to come home safely!" He bawled. "The only time…" Atem rocked him back and forth, gently kissing his forehead.
"It isn't your fault that this happened." Atem said gently. He pulled away and took Yugi's face in his hands and stared deep into those purple eyes. "Fate does some painful things Yugi. But I don't blame you. This has never been your fault. Yesterday is long gone Yugi. Let's focus on today ok?" Yugi sniffled and buried his face in Atem's chest. "Ok?"
"O-okay." He murmured. Atem pushed Yugi away gently by his shoulders and kissed him, pulling him closer again as they shared the passion of the moment. Yesterday was gone, all they had to worry about was today.