Tears don't fall.

Yugi.

You know, I'm not afraid to love you.

I fiddled nervously with the cuff of the white suit I wore, smoothing down the black silk shirt and fumbling with my tie. My fingers slipped around the fabric as it hung almost mockingly against my neck. I groaned in aggravation and attempted to tie it properly underneath my collar. Eventually, my hands stopped shaking and I secured it properly and winced at myself regardless. But I wandered over to the mirror hanging above the bookcase and peered into the murky glass for the tenth time. The confidence I had felt when I had informed Yami of our date had faded over the hours, leaving butterflies that swirled in my stomach and a fear I struggled to keep out of my mind. I patted my hair and stared at my reflection with a criticising eye. I flicked a strand of hair behind my ear and toyed with my cuffs again.

"Yugi! Leave that alone!" Ryou snapped, he strode forward and slapped my hands away from it.

"I'm sorry, Ryou!" I whined. "I can't do this. I'm going to make a fool of myself and Yami's going to hate me and then I'll spend the next four freaking years looking for him…again…and I don't like this suit. Why did you bring it with you?...Why are you laughing at me?"

Ryou smothered his laugh behind his hand and cleared his throat. "Have you finished panicking yet?"

I huffed in annoyance and nodded. "Think so."

"Great. Now, breathe and calm down. Yami won't hate you if you make a fool of yourself. He loves you. We're not going to spend the next four years looking for him because he isn't going anywhere. Duh! He's still here, isn't he?"

"Y-yeah."

Ryou smiled gently and folded my shirt cuffs back from my hands. "Just be yourself, OK? I really don't think Yami is looking for a perfect superhero. He's looking for you."

"I hurt him, Ryou. OUCH! What was that for?" I cried, reaching a hand to rub at the back of my head.

Calmly, Ryou lowered his hand and glared at me. "That was four years ago. Prove to Pharaoh that you aren't going to hurt him again."

I nodded slightly and offered the bubbly, silver haired man a shy smiled. "Thanks."

"Anytime. Now, Seto is letting you borrow his car for the evening and we've all chipped in and given you money for tonight."

"What? I don't want you guys to give me money." I protested.

Jou bounded into the room and waved his hand in my face. "Shush! We're depending on you to bring Yami back and get him away from Jamie. We can't have you messing it up. You take the money."

"No pressure then." I grumbled. "What's the time?"

Jou checked his watch and his eyes widened comically. "Time you went to pick up Mister Mysterious, Gorgeous Pharaoh."

"Did you really just call him that? Should I be worried?" I teased.

But Jou didn't appear to be listening to me and he pushed me toward the door, slipping a wad of rolled bills into my hands.

The hands on the clock crept toward the seven when I pulled up outside Yami's apartment in Seto's sleek black jaguar. I fumbled with the golden box I had hidden in the backseat and smiled. Insuring, I locked the car door behind me, I stepped confidently toward the apartment and rang the bell, hearing it chime within the house. My hand clutched a single red rose tightly, I was afraid off damaging the petals. Scott opened the door to me and I tried to peer around him to see Yami.

"You're early. I'm impressed. Atemu will be ready soon." Scott grinned.

I smiled in response. "I'd rather be early than late."

Scott nodded. "I'm sorry to ask you this but I have too. You love him, right? This isn't some sick joke you've got going with your friends, is it?"

I shook my head fiercely. "I love him. I won't ever hurt him again."

"You know what, kid? I believe you. I really do." I beamed, thrilled beyond belief that I had the blonde man's blessing. "Therefore, I entrust my best friend to you and must inform you that it's your manhood on the line if you hurt him."

I gulped loudly. "U-understood."

"Perfect." Scott turned back into the apartment. "ATEMU! GET A MOVE ON! IT'S RUDE TO KEEP YOUR DATE WAITING!"

Yami's footsteps echoed from deep inside the apartment, the butterflies in my stomach made themselves known again. My breath stumbled in my throat when Yami appeared before me and I had to blink back my tears. He was beautiful and perfect, dressed in a charcoal suit I'd never seen before and was almost pleased I hadn't. But his hair framed his face and reached toward the sky, blonde strands falling over his eyes. He was the ghost of a past I thought could never get back and suddenly I wondered if the future was more important.

"Hi, Yugi." Yami greeted softly, twisting his diamond studded earing through his fingertips nervously.

"Hello, Yami. You look stunning." I complimented, smiling when crimson dusted his cheeks.

I pushed the slender stem into his fingertips, keeping the thorns away from his skin. Yami smiled beautifully at me, it reached his crimson eyes and set his soul on fire.

"Thank you."

"Right!" Scott declared. Yami and I both jumped in unison but I didn't mirror Yami's glare. "Yugi, I want Atemu back by two at the latest. Understood?"

"Perfectly."

"Scott! You can't do that!" Yami argued.

"Yes, I can." He swept the rose from Yami. "I'll put this into water. Have a nice night, kids."

He pushed Yami toward me with a little too much force, sending him stumbling into me. I locked my arms around his torso and steadied him.

"Hate it when he does that." Yami mumbled, I laughed. "Where are we going? "I lead him toward Seto's car, watching his eyebrows shot up. "And whose car is this?"

"It's Seto's. We're going to the Diamond Cobra. Have you heard of it?"

Excitement was bubbling in Yami's eyes and he turned to me, surprise clear on his face. "The Diamond Cobra? How can you afford that? It's so expensive. I'll pay half!"

"Nope. They guys gave me this money with the strict instruction to not let you spend a penny tonight. This is all about you, my Pharaoh."

Yami slipped his fingers between mine briefly in thanks and smiled.

Yeah, I love you so much.

The Diamond Cobra sent a golden glow onto the pavement outside. A stunning silver cobra with diamond studded eyes glittered above the door. I turned to grin at Yami, he mirrored it with one hand playing with his earring. I pulled his fingers away from it and held them tightly in my own. His smiled turned shy and endearing, a blush tickling his cheeks. But he led me into the restaurant with a confidence that I remembered. Gentle piano music trickled in the background as we entered, only a few tables were occupied and decorated with silver candles and black cloths. A waiter clad in a pristine apron strode toward us, a comforting smile on his face that almost looked genuine.

"Good evening gentlemen."

"Hello. I have a table booked. Under Mouto."

He opened a book on the desk beside us and flicked through it. "Ah, yes. This way sirs."

He swept his hand extravagantly behind him and gracefully moved away. We followed him at a sedate pace, Yami's hand still clasped in mine. The table we were directed to was private and nestled in the back of the restaurant, secluded and away from the other guests. A cold bottle of red wine was placed down on the table as we sat.

"From Seto Kiaba, I believe." The waiter smiled. "I'll get you a menu."

I smiled my thanks and he folded into the crowds. I switched my gaze to my dark as he studied the room around him, a peaceful smile on his face. The blue of his shirt complimented the grey suit perfectly, I had never seen him look so mature and there was a pang of sadness that I had missed it. Sensing my gaze on him, Yami turned to look at me with a curious tilted head.

"Something wrong, aibou?" He inquired softly.

"No. You're beautiful, Yami."

He ducked his head momentarily, I was captivated by the shyness I saw in him. He met my eyes again with a bashful smile.

"Thank you, Yugi. You look wonderful."

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered once and stilled in appeasement. Wounds on my soul cleansed and started to knit together. Yami reached his hand across the table and treaded our hands together, pressing our palms firmly.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet with me, Yami." I mumbled softly.

"I wouldn't have missed it, Yugi. We both need to put the past behind us."

I nodded gently, glancing at the waiter as he placed two menus down on the table. He left with a smile and a flitter of his apron.

"I had a lot of fun with Scott and the others. They're interesting people." I commented as Yami cracked open the bottle of wine and carefully filled up the glasses.

"I really didn't think everyone would get on. Lucy fancies Jou, she wants his number."

I laughed. "Really? She can have it. I'm sure he likes her as well."

"She'll be thrilled."

I picked up the menus, pushing one in front of Yami and smiled at him. He flipped through it briefly before closing it and pushing it away.

"What are you having?" He inquired when I let the heavy menu slam closed.

"Ribs. You?"

"Steak."

Yami motioned to the waiter and repeated our orders to him.

"What does the Seal of Orichalcos mean to you now?" I questioned, suddenly remembering the design tattooed on his arm.

Yami paused thoughtfully for a moment, swirling the wind around in the glass he held close to his lips.

"It doesn't mean what it did once before. Before you found me, it meant freedom, that I was strong enough to be myself and I didn't need anyone. It mean that I had escaped you and what you had done to me. But I know I hadn't. At least, not when I got it done."

I nodded. "What does it mean now?"

"That it's OK to make mistakes because they can be fixed if you try hard enough."

I grabbed his hand again and squeezed it in mine. "I love you, Yami."

Yami's eyes said everything his heart wouldn't let him speak yet. The thrill of the burn of passion and the warm glow of a rekindled love.

The waiter placed our food down in front of us and comfortable silence fell over us.

"I can't believe it came to that much!" Yami exclaimed. "You should have let me pay for some of it. I owe the others now!"

"You owe them nothing, idiot." I teased and linked my arm through his.

"You can't keep insulting me, aibou. It isn't very nice." Yami replied in amusement.

I rested my head on his shoulder as we walked, my free hand clasping the gold painted box tightly. We ambled through the park beneath the stars, the car parked in the deserted car park behind us. I let a laugh rumbled in my chest and felt a smile tug on Yami's lips.

"Would you ever move back with me? Back to the Game shop?" I asked but acknowledged the rejection before Yami answered.

Yami was silent for a minute, staring up at the stars above our heads. "I'd like to, one day. Am I really welcomed there? Isn't Mr Mouto angry with me?"

I span him around, framing his face with my hand and gazing into his eyes. "No. No one's angry with you. You're the only one angry with you."

Yami rolled his eyes but smiled softly. "I'd like to come back with you. But I can't leave Scott behind, I promised him I wouldn't."

An odd mixture of pride and jealously battled in my mind briefly. "Scott could come with us. Grandpa would love more life in the house."

Yami threw his arms around me with an excited cry. "Thank you, aibou! Thank you so much!"

I held him tight to my chest, his face pressed in my shoulder and his fingers clutching at my jacket. For a moment, everything was perfect and I knew paradise wasn't too far out of my grasp. Yami's breath was hot on my sensitive neck, I shuddered and felt his smirk. I threaded my hand through his wild, untameable hair, remembering the nights when this was the only way to soothe his nightmares.

"I missed you." Yami whispered. "I'm sorry I was so upset."

I increased my grip on him. "It's in the past, Yami. Don't worry about it."

He hummed in contentment and I glanced up toward the sky, smiling and thanking a being I couldn't imagine for the man in my arms. I pressed my lips to his temple and he relaxed even more in my arms.

"What's in the box, Yugi? You haven't put it down."

"Let's sit down." We folded ourselves down onto the damp grass, ignoring the evening dew. I placed the box on Yami's lap and smiled gently at him. "It's for you. Don't be afraid when you open it. You don't have to keep it but it needs to be with you again."

Yami stared down wordlessly at the box he held before glancing at me, I nodded.

/I can sense something…old…like me…what is it?/

"Open it." I prompted.

Yami slipped his nails underneath the tape holding it closed and broke the seal. I held my breath when he lifted the lid and peered inside. Yami froze, his eyes widening and his mouth falling open. There was something magical about reuniting the puzzle with its master and igniting an ancient power. Yami eased it out of the box and cradled it in his hands, the gold reflected in his eyes and I swallowed my sudden tears.

"Y-Yugi…it's my…my puzzle. You kept it?" He questioned with a wavering voice and I was thrilled to hear the love in it.

"Of course, it's a part of you. I couldn't get rid of it. It was all I had of you." He hugged the hard, metal edges to his chest and closed his eyes. I was shocked to see tears escape his tightly closed lids and glitter as they slipped down his cheeks. "Hey, it's OK. Don't cry."

"Thank you." He whispered and pressed his forehead against mine. "Thank you so much."

I just echoed his loving smile and touched my lips to his face again.

"Dance with me." Yami asked suddenly, rising to his feet and offering my hand.

"We don't have any music." I laughed.

He shrugged. "Think of a song and dance."

He laced his hand into mine and tugged me against his chest. I let myself mould against him and held him tightly. Yami was moving to a rhythm I couldn't hear but I was mirroring his footsteps and following the lead of his hand. He hummed softly under his breath, loud enough for me to hear it but it didn't destroy the stillness of the night. I trailed my hand down his back and smiled softly.

"I love you, Yami." I repeated.

"I know." He whispered. "I love you too."

…..