Chapter Two

Yugi Mutou paced outside the Mandarin hotel.

He scuffed his shoes down the sidewalk as he tried to muster the courage to enter the gilded carousel doors but, his stomach churned every time he rounded the valet station and remembered that Yami Atemu, the King of Games, was waiting for him somewhere inside.

A black town car pulled up as Yugi made another lap, and the driver scurried to open the door for a dark haired man with a cellphone plastered to his ear. The man was dressed in full business attire, and the label on his suit wasn't the first luxury brand Yugi had noticed since arriving outside the Mandarin fifteen minutes ago.

Yugi glanced at his cellphone, noting he had four minutes until three o'clock, and saw a text from Anzu.

have fun! take a breath & be urself (:

Yugi took her advice, breathing deep and settling his nerves. He shoved his cellphone back into his pocket. You can do this, he told himself. He's just a person – just like you. You're going to hang out and, then you're going to go home and help Jii-chan do inventory. No big deal – just a normal day.

The valet was grinning and nudged his partner as they watched Yugi press through the hotel doors at last, stepping into the Mandarin's lobby. White walls, crown molding, and cathedral ceilings greeted Yugi as he walked past the reception desk, his shoes squeaking on the waxed wooden floors. There was a bar off to his left, and he swung behind a plant as he noticed Yami seated there, speaking to the business man who had entered the hotel just before Yugi.

I can't do this, Yugi thought. The older boy unsettled him, scared him even. At first, he'd thought it had been his title. Yugi had recognized the boy as soon as he entered the café yesterday, and as a longtime fan of the ironfisted duelist champion, he had thought his nerves were just due to Yami's celebrity status. However, when the boy had touched him, Yugi knew it was more than that.

The power that filled him when Yami had touched his skin had been a dark, seductive smoke. It had filled his limbs, weighing him down in a delicious heat that spread from his head to his toes. It had been greedy, all-consuming, and undeniable, and by the time Yugi had regained his senses, Yami was leaning on his shoulder as if trying to emerge from the same current.

I am just going to go home and tell Anzu that we had a great time, and that's that, Yugi thought. He wanted to leave this place, hole up in his room with his textbooks, and study an ancient world far away from here. The energy that he'd felt yesterday had been dark, maybe even evil, and the scariest thing of all was how much Yugi had yearned to feel that same power fill him again.

The younger boy was just about to make a break for it when a hand came down on his shoulder. Jerking in surprise, Yugi turned to find the King of Games in front of him, his skin tingling under Yami's hand. The older boy was several inches taller than him and, he had to look up to meet the boy's crimson eyes.

"Hi," Yugi said, willing himself not to blush under Yami's stare.

"Hello," Yami said. His slid his hand from Yugi's shoulder, brushing his fingers down the younger boy's arm.

"I was…" Yugi said, trailing off. How was he going to explain his hiding place behind the lobby greenery? The business man was gone, and he wondered how long he'd kept Yami waiting. Guilt flooded him as he realized how close he'd been to standing up the boy. "Sorry, I am late."

Yami nodded. "Would you like to walk with me?" he said. "There is a park nearby."

"Sure," Yugi said. If they were moving at least he would feel less awkward under Yami's scrutiny. "It's Kai Park, right? My friend and I used to hang out there all the time when we were growing up." He and Anzu spent most of their high school days camped out at the park's picnic tables, sharing sweets and studying as they ignored the bullies who taunted him from the park's athletic field.

The pair pushed onto the street, and the autumn sun warmed them as they walked down the sidewalk. Domino University was only a few blocks away, and the street was busy with people, many students, as they crossed the road.

"You've lived in Domino your whole life?" Yami asked. He was wearing black jeans and a grey t-shirt. His spiky blonde hair, not unlike Yugi's, gleamed under the sun.

"Yup," Yugi said, "I was born and raised here." He was feeling calmer as they walked, and he chanced a glance at the older boy as they started up the next block. "You were born in Japan too, right?"

"Yes, but my parents emigrated from Egypt right before I was born," he said.

"Really?" Yugi said. "That's amazing!"

"Maybe you can meet them some time," Yami said. "They miss their home, and they relish the chance to discuss it with anyone who will listen." He smiled, seeming more relaxed than Yugi had seen him so far.

"I would like that," Yugi said.

The pair crossed the street into the park, walking under the half-naked trees as leaves brushed against their ankles. Yami pushed his hair from his eyes, and Yugi's stomach fluttered as Yami's gaze slid to his. He smiled at the older boy, and the urge to reach for his hand was unexpected.

It surprised him that he was so affected by Yami. It had been more than a year since his last crush, and Yugi had always thought he was straight. Still, as his arm brushed against the older boy his pulse jumped and heat spread low in his stomach.

"You said that your grandfather owns a store?" Yami said. They passed the park's playground, watching a group of children gathered on the swings before continuing down the path.

"He owns a game shop," Yugi said. "He's actually the one who taught me how to duel. My parents died when I was little so, it's just been him and me for as long as I can remember." A breeze passed them, ruffling the leaves. "I help him out when I can, usually on nights and weekends."

"What about you?" Yugi said. "What do you do when you aren't dueling?"

"I am a major shareholder in my cousin's company. I assist with the operations in the Kyoto offices," Yami said. "We are both visiting Domino for business."

"Oh," Yugi said. Kyoto was more than two hours from Domino by train and more than three by bus. You already knew he didn't live here, Yugi told himself. He's just visiting and then, he will go back to where he came from.

Dread hit him like a brick. Yami was temporary. He didn't live here and, he was a champion duelist, who traveled the world throughout the year. In fact, Yugi didn't know why the older boy had insisted on meeting him today to begin with, and suddenly, he felt angry. It was a rare emotion but, it flooded him. Why did this boy, who could have anyone he wanted, who was intimidating, dangerous, and beautiful, want to walk into his life, twist his emotions around, and then leave – just like that?

That's what everyone did. They walked into his life, and then walked right out – no warning. Yugi had always prided himself on being a positive person. He didn't believe in letting his past define him but, something was different with Yami. The connection that he felt with the older boy felt so real, almost as if he relaxed around him, he could just cease to exist, content just to linger in Yami's presence.

Yugi felt himself retreating and, the calm that had filled him since they had begun their walk had all but disappeared.

"Are you alright?" Yami said.

Yugi realized that he had stopped walking, and Yami had his hand on his chin, tilting his head up. An energy, dark and heavy, filled him, and Yugi leaned into the older boy's hand, thoughts slipping away. I'm mad about…something, Yugi thought, losing his focus as Yami cupped his cheek. What was it…?

Yugi knew something was off but, he closed his eyes and relaxed as Yami stepped closer to him. It felt like he was lying under a pile of blankets, the material weighing down his body with a soft, warm pressure. Yami's fingers were rubbing circles on Yugi's back and, his other hand cupped the back of his neck. This feels nice, Yugi thought.

Yami wrapped his arms around Yugi, and the older boy smelled like fresh air and sandalwood as Yugi melted into him, resting his head on his chest.

"Tell me your troubles, aibou," Yami said.

His voice sounded like it was coming from both inside Yugi's head and out loud at the same time. Yugi shifted closer to the older boy. He didn't want to talk. He just wanted to stay here and live in this safe, warm space because nothing could go wrong here. It was like spending a lazy morning in bed, taking the first sip of hot chocolate on a snowy day, and finding a lover that fit like a puzzle piece.

"Yugi," Yami said, whispering. His fingers were combing through Yugi's hair, and if they weren't standing, Yugi thought he might drift into dreamland, floating away like a balloon on the breeze.

"I don't want you to leave," Yugi said. Part of him cringed at the desperation in his voice. But, he doesn't live here, he thought. His mind churned. This isn't right - something about this this isn't right. I am in the park…I am in the park and, I am with...Yami.

Yugi jerked out of Yami's hold, stumbling back a few feet. His mind felt foggy as he looked at the older boy. "I didn't – " he said, stopping. He was embarrassed, confused and groggy, and his body was aching at the loss of Yami's touch. It was as if he had been startled from a deep sleep, heavy lidded and trying to discern reality from the dream.

"Aibou," Yami said. He seemed dazed, his eyes unfocused and shoulders lax as he took a step towards the younger boy. "We need to talk."

"Why did you call me that?" Yugi said. The dregs of the dark energy were fading, and the once warm autumn day cut through him with a teeth chattering chill. He moved back as Yami stepped towards him. "Please don't," he said, holding up his hand to stop Yami's progress. He couldn't think with the older boy too close to him.

Yami stopped. He looked unsure of himself for the first time since Yugi had met him. This wasn't the poised King of Games on television, razor sharp and ruthless, rather this Yami looked younger, hesitant to approach.

The older boy glanced around them. A group had gathered to play soccer across the way, and a couple holding hands passed the two boys, sharing a cigarette as they disappeared around the bend.

"We can't talk here," Yami said. "Come with me."

The soccer game had started, and shouts rang out as the ball shot down the field. Yugi was exhausted, and he just wanted slide under his sheets and close his eyes, surrendering to the darkness.

He didn't trust himself around Yami, and he didn't like the nervous, desperate person he was acting like in the older boy's presence. He had survived much of his life alone, with only his grandfather behind him, and now was not the time to start forming ridiculous attachments to famous duelists with good hair.

"I don't think so," Yugi said. He was feeling more lucid now but, the autumn chill seemed to take up residence in his bones as the sun disappeared behind the clouds, an emptiness filling him.

Yami frowned, and he crossed his arms, looking as if his opponent had just sprung an unexpected magic card, taking a chunk of his life points and all the cards in his hand.

"I need to go," Yugi said. He swallowed, loosening the knot in his throat. "It was nice to see you, Atemu-san." He bowed and turned from the older boy, and was surprised that Yami let him go without comment.

Yugi didn't turn around as he left the park and didn't stop until he could no longer hear the shouts of the soccer players. He checked his phone and saw a text from Anzu but ignored it as he shuffled down the street. It was only a little past four but, he decided he would sneak up the back stairs and take a nap before helping his grandfather in the shop.

He turned into the nearest subway station, descending the steps into the tunnels that ran beneath the city. The early rush hour crowd jostled him as he boarded his train and finding an empty spot, he parked in front of the window.

The doors whooshed closed, and the platform lights blurred before the train plunged into the tunnel, darkness swallowing the car. The cabin was silent as the train bumped down the track but for the briefest moment, Yugi could have sworn he heard Yami's voice in his head.