A/N: This chapter! Ahh! Feels! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing.

Atem asked me to open my eyes but honestly I knew we were here by the sheer cold and the smell of cigarettes. The sight though I did not expect.

I've seen photos of the Eiffel tower at night, but I didn't know it was actually this beautiful. I thought it was only lit up for special events or it had been altered in photos… and you know maybe it has cause it's smaller than I thought it was, but it's absolutely stunning regardless!

I hear Atem chuckle beside me and then lightly he touches my chin and I realise I'm standing here by the water staring agape at it like a moron. Shyly I giggle and try to keep my eyes off it and anywhere else but this is incredible. I'm in Paris. Like… I'm standing in Paris! That's the Eiffel Tower!

And what is that feeling? Like an irresistible warmth I am drawn to. What is that?

"Do you like it?" Atem asked me and I blink at him. God he's beautiful. Everything is beautiful.

"I … I uhh…" I have no words. I forgot how to speak! He laughs at me his hand slides down my arm to my hand.

A small frown creases his brow and then my cheeks burn when he slips off his jacket to drape around me.

"We should have stopped for a jacket first." He says smoothly.

I'm swooning. Hard!

I just… this… wow!

He guides me and I take the time to look around at literally everything!

It's late at night. The sky is pitch black with some stars above but many of them are drowned out by all the light pollution. The trees purposefully planted in the sidewalk are perfectly pruned. The pavements are cleaner than I expected, at least cleaner than the streets of Domino. The shops are pristine and fancy and well above anything I could dream of affording. The people are well dressed and the cars are … well cars but there's a lot of them.

I just… I don't have words to express how phenomenal this is. It is one thing to magically teleport us to some unknown part of the world, but to then bring us to a bustling, dazzling, entrancing, sparkling city like Paris? This is a dream come true!

I always dreamed of going to Paris, the city of lovers. If I didn't make it in Domino by 40 I was going to come here and try my luck. Surely someone would take me then. But now I am here, with the love of my life and it's even more breath taking and mind numbing than I thought it could ever be.

I hold his hand close to me and lean into him heavily. I don't feel a voice of my own yet but he leans into listen and I whisper a shaky thank you. He chuckles and kisses the top of my head sweetly.

"Indulge my love. This is all for you." He sings and oh my god there's that feeling again. Of immense heat right under my skin. I want more of it. I don't know what it is but it's like a drug that I never knew I craved. It's similar to when he told me he loved me, similar to that feeling when we touched, when he kisses me, when we slept together… but it's not lust. It's something far deeper than that.

"I came here last month briefly." Atem tells me as we walk along the pristine path. The Eiffel tower is just on the other side of this enormous path with lush grass and wide open pavements. I can't help but steal glances at it as I look at him.

"This is one of the nicer cities I've been in. People are quite amorous here, polite and respectful. It's easy to blend in here."

"W-well it would be if you were a refined gentleman such as yourself." I say breathlessly and he laughs at me.

"Of all things to be called in my time I've never been called a refined gentleman, thank you."

I chew my lip as he smiles so dashingly and he looks over to the distance. We stop by a railing, beneath us is a shimmering pond reflecting the golden beauty of the tower before us.

"There's an energy of this city I can't quite describe. I wonder if you can feel it."

I follow his gaze over to an adorable couple walking blissfully towards the tower. Arm in arm, she hangs off him sweetly. Their aura is calm and soothing and a beautiful shade of rosey pink. Their love is blossoming …

Behind them, some yards back, is another couple. They look older but they're simply enjoying themselves on the park bench. Theirs is a deep red and merged together so closely they could be one.

Another walk hand in hand away from the tower, the same shade of pink as the first but no less powerful.

I look at them and I feel their heat burning like a calm fire. It tastes of … I don't know what it tastes like. Sweet and impossibly delicious. Is this what love tastes like? It reminds me of chocolate and whipped cream, and caramel glaze over a sweet vanilla ice cream; or like a decadent hot chocolate after a fresh fall of snow. It's just … unlike anything I've ever felt before I can barely begin to describe it.

And that's just it's taste. How it feels? It feels like I am the sun; all that power shoved into one tiny little space. It feels like I could change the world, it feels like I could will anything into existence if I closed my eyes. It feels like I could burn forever in complete bliss.

"I think so." I breathe quietly. It's almost overwhelming. Or maybe that's just a culture shock. I never dreamed in less than an hour I would be half a world away from home.

He smiles and breathes out slowly through his nose as he walks around me to stand directly behind me, wrapping his arms around me in an affectionate and protective cuddle. I feel so warm here. Safe in his arms, cuddled under the stars of Paris and surrounded by the soft aura of heaven's light. This is more magical than anything I could imagine.

"I love you." He whispers, planting a soft kiss to my cheek as my body swoons into him. I wish I understood why those words penetrate me so. They're like a spell I can't resist. I don't want to resist.

Every romance movie I've ever seen, every shipping in a game, every love story I've ever read - I always wished I would find something like that. I seemed to give it to everyone else I ever met but I never found it for me until Atem waltzed into my life.

Finally… after all my years of searching, I found my 1 in 7 billion. And he's right behind me, keeping me safe and warm and feeding me the love he never thought he could feel again.

"This is what it feels like." I whisper gently, careful not to disturb the delicate mood around us. "This is what it feels like to feed, isn't it?"

He hums pleasantly and leans closer to me. I can feel his smile more than I can see it. "More or less. I believe it might be different for Incubi but yes. It is a symbiotic sensation, one felt more than anything. An almost spiritual bond rather than an act of consummation. We are like leaves feeding off the sunlight."

"Is this why you brought me here?" I ask curiously and he chuckles.

"Yes. I'd hoped you might be able to feed like this now with your mark as weakened as it has been."

My brows crease to a small frown. Tea had told me she weakened it so I could help Kaiba, but apart from noticing what another person's aura looks like I haven't felt any different. It's barely been a day since Atem returned to me and already he knows?

"How can you tell it's been weakened?"

"I can feel it. You might not be able to yet but an angel feels very different to a demon or a human. You'll be able to sense their presence, like an irrefutable fact you cannot deny. Angels - you - feel like an intense flame. One I normally make a point of fleeing from I might add but you I intend to keep alive and dancing to the end of time." He sighs happily at the end there and it makes me feel all dizzy and warm inside. I feel his love so easily now, it's a wonder I am still standing.

"What do demons feel like to you?"

He tenses but he holds me closer, as if seeking his own comfort now rather than protecting me. It's sweet so I hold his hands close to my stomach to try and convey as much comfort as I can to him.

"I am quite used to their scent. Unless they have malicious intent, which most will should they come across me, I might not sense them within the same city until we are but a block or two apart. They however feel repressive and tight and remind me of a dark cavern… I hope you never have to feel that so long as I am around."

He's mentioned fleeing hell before and whenever I've brought up other demons he seems a little distant. This time though I feel he is uncomfortable but willing. I wonder why he fled, why he's hunted, why he doesn't like his own kind.

"Atem."

"Mm?"

"I know you have a lot to deal with. You mentioned yesterday that you had a lot to sort through and this is why you needed some space. I was upset with you for leaving me because I was scared I had ruined something important. I thought you weren't going to come back or if you did it would be another month. I know I was being clingy and unfair and I really shouldn't have overreacted the way I did. I'm sorry. I don't want you to force yourself to unveil everything to me or to force yourself to face something you might not be ready for. That's really unfair of me to ask you to do that, especially since we really haven't known each other for very long. But I want you to know that you are incredibly important to me. You flew into my life and secured yourself down and I never want to let you go. I don't want to imagine a day without you in it. So I want you to know that whatever you have haunting you, I will always love you and will always want to protect you - even if the only thing I have under my belt is a yellow belt in karate from when I was 7."

He laughs at that and I love hearing it. Still he nuzzles my cheek and kisses my neck softly. "Thank you. It means the world to hear you say that."

"I mean it." I say, spinning in his arms and draping my own over his shoulders. "You have quickly become one of the most important things in my life. I won't let any demon or angel take you away from me."

He smiles that gorgeous fanged smile and leans in for a kiss that steals my breath away. We haven't kissed in so long I forgot how mind blowing it is! I hold what breath I have, simply getting lost in the feel of his lips gliding over mine. My body leans into his, pressing flush against his front without my consent and I feel his hands fall down to my hips to hold me close. His tongue darts to beg mine to part and I give willingly. I moan when I feel his steal a brief taste and my hips push against his, harder when I hear his own moan feed into me.

He lets me go to breathe and I feel so hot now I could shed my clothes and still be steaming.

He moans once, licking and chewing his lips as he visibly tries to regain some control. His fingers are pressing into my back and soon he flutters his eyes open. Any hint of red that were in them before are just black with lust but I see teetering on the edge of control. I forgot how hungry he was. Here I am feeding to my hearts content on the love that surrounds us and the love he's been pouring into me, all the while my little incubus has been starving.

"Maybe we should find somewhere more private so you can feed to your hearts content as well." I suggest and he breathes out harshly, clearly hot and bothered by that and oh so tempted but still he resists. Why?

"I promised myself I would tell you the reasons for my brooding before I allowed myself to feed on you. You deserve to know why I put you through so much distress and I do not deserve your forgiveness until you do." He says, his voice strained though with hunger. I don't think it'd take much to change his mind - but he promised himself and he's trying really hard to keep to that.

"Okay. I'll let you tell me now then."

He smirks and glances up at the Eiffel Tower behind me before looking back down at me. "Hold onto me."

I never intended to let him go but I do wrap my arms around his waist and hold on tight. I expected him to teleport us like he has been but not this time. This time I notice his wings unfurl behind like a large dark silhouette and he gently kicks off the ground. I hold on tighter inspite of his hands protectively around me and the world starts to fall away. He's not afraid of being seen?!

We're so high I close my eyes and hold my breath but then I hear his wings flap and feel the rush of wind, and when I open them we're already so close to the Eiffel Tower.

We're above the top floor when he lands on what would be it's roof. It's cold up here but with his jacket and the heat of his own body it's not as bad as it could be. The lights are pretty warm too, and bright! But… oh look at the world!

The city of Paris is glowing!

It is no wonder the stars are hard to see when the stars are down here on Earth. Wow! The city is bedazzling, it shimmers like diamonds. The colours and aura's I can see from up here… oh the aura from below me. Someone is very happy… a union … someone is proposing down stairs … this is amazing!

"Atem." I sing, leaning heavily into him. He catches me with a soft chuckle and together we find a nice place to sit. We dangle our legs over the edge. I sit in his lap and he wraps us both in his wings as we stare out at the twinkling strings of lights sprawling neatly in satisfying even patterns.

"This is one of my favourite sights in the world." He hums happily in my ear. I nod in agreement, drunk on the love crazed couple below us and the awe inspiring sight before me. I will never forget this night. I don't want it to end. Let this be my life, please.

We remain silent for a while. Maybe to let me settle… maybe he's enjoying this as much as I am; but as the minutes pass and I acclimatize to sensations I'm feeling, I lean into him affectionately.

"So… I'm listening."

He kisses my cheek softly and takes a long, deep breath.

"Do you remember what Tea had called me that time in the car?" He asks me softly.

"An unsent, right?" I ask carefully lest he disappears again.

I feel him press his lips against my shoulder and nods slowly, almost shamefully.

"Did she explain to you what that is?"

"No? She told me that I should let you."

He nods again, takes another deep breath and encircles his arms around my stomach, for comfort perhaps. This must be hard for him.

"An unsent is a derogatory term for those who were robbed of the chance to go to heaven. I told you once there are many ways of becoming a demon and you know I was once a human." He pauses but I'm not sure if I should throw in my own thoughts on this. I did notice this but I've never asked if he is a conglomeration of sin or pure sin.

He doesn't continue though so I guess it's okay for me to speak. "You told me that a human is judged and their sins are cast into hell where they either become a demon of their primary sin or they are pooled together until they form a demon, right?"

He nods. "They are two of the more common ways. Most demons are born this way. They're primarily recognised by their Chiropteran wings -"

"Chirowhat?" I ask dumbly and he laughs.

"Bat like. Technical term."

"Oh…"

"Demons like me on the other hand - unsent - are recognised by our feathers. I am one of the rare ones. One of the human's who were sent to hell without being judged."

He lets that sink in, which is good because I'm not sure I understand. "So … you're saying you were never split? Your soul was never judged so your sin never went to hell but your soul never went to heaven either?"

"Close. I was never split, so instead my entire soul was sent to hell where it was changed and morphed into what I am today."

"Why did that happen?" I ask. I feel angry on his behalf. How could someone so remarkable as him never be allowed the chance to go to heaven? I mean it means I got to meet him but that's so unfair!

"I was cursed in life for a crime I did not commit. But the eyes of the judge do not see beyond that, only that my soul was cursed and so to the depths I go."

"That's so unfair!" I exclaim angrily. But he doesn't seem angry about this. Maybe it's because he's had 5000 years to brood but still. That's 5000 years without peace.

"For what I have done since becoming a demon, I do not blame them for turning me away."

"But - you said you didn't commit a crime. So why were you cursed?"

"For the sin of lust." He says simply. It is remarkable how much that does not explain a thing.

I open my mouth to say this when he sighs tiredly. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here. I should hear him out.

"Before you I knew love. Or at least, I thought I did." He says somberly.

"5000 years ago, in the sands of Egypt, I was born to a merchant family. I travelled with them from town to town, selling wares in markets and other travellers. I was young, too young to remember most of that life. I remember snippets, mostly playing with a ball or clinging to my mother in the shade of her stall.

On one of our voyages to a neighbouring town our little convoy was attacked. My parents were killed. I was left alive because I hid, but when they found me they decided to sell me instead of kill me.

I was sold to a wealthy family dealing in fine jewellery making. There I was raised to serve the family. They treated me well enough. My master taught me how to fight, his wife taught me how to cook and together they trained me to serve properly.

They had a young daughter only a few years younger than I and I was tasked specifically with serving her. I was her guard, her servant, her confidant and anything else she needed me for.

But the service I enjoyed most was her friend.

Her name was Amar. She was beautiful, kind, playful… but she had an adventurous streak that I was asked to tame. I tried, but she was very convincing and often I would end up covering for her rather than reeling her in.

One night many years later she snuck off. I covered for her as usual and when she came back the following night she asked me to protect her. I didn't know what from but I vowed I would. Not because I was her servant but because she was my friend.

Many weeks later though my devotion to her would prove to be the knife in my back. Her mother was furious, her father beyond so. Amar was pregnant… and the father was unnamed. She needed someone to protect her and I served her family since I was a child without fail. She looked at me, she begged me… and I owned up to it.

I didn't know what would happen. I thought they would be overjoyed. Their daughter was pregnant. What parent would not be overjoyed? But to a servant boy? She was barely 14…

They disowned me after of course they beat me. I was broken, abandoned with no name and no way to survive on my own. I was branded a defiler, no one would take a servant with a reputation like that.

So I did what I had to to survive. I didn't resort to much, mostly petty thievery of fruit from the farmers, but I had nothing else. I stayed nearby though, just in case Amar needed me. She was my friend before she was my mistress.

But then I learned, some weeks later when I stopped seeing her, that she and her child were no longer there. She died… no one spoke of how. It is my belief that her parents attempted an abortion and it failed, but I never learned the truth. I tried but my attempts landed me in more trouble than I wanted. Her mother was a priestess and she cursed me. If I were ever to succumb to sin I would live eternity in it.

After that I left. I took the first horse I could steal and I made for the desert. To any town that wouldn't know me.

For the next several years I worked as a mercenary. I did odd jobs around towns. Carpentry, animal handling, favours, message delivery, vermin clearing… anything that would give me food and shelter, a means to survive.

When I was 18 and travelling I came across a wagon of miscreants. They had in their cages slaves for selling. No one deserved the life I lived, and no one deserved to be treated worse than I - so in the dead of night I created a distraction and freed them. One woman twisted her ankle on escape so I swept her up and took her with me.

We stole away into the night and rode until we were absolutely safe.

Her name was Mana and she was sweet, fun, kind… she reminded me of Amar in ways. The biggest difference was that she was so playful and accident prone.

I won't lie, at first she cramped me. It became difficult to work for food or shelter when her best intentions kept making a mess for me to clean up. But she always meant well. She wanted to thank me for saving her life and it was nice to have a companion.

At first it was difficult to let her close. I cared for her but only as an acquaintance. I wanted to help her on her way and continue on mine. But she grew on me quickly and soon we were a team.

She was very adept at magic and I helped her hone her skills. Though this lead to more often than not being swept under the sand or drenched in water, or chased by swarms of scorpions…

We grew close. It took a few years but we were a team. Our relationship slowly blossomed before I even realised. I cared for her so much more than just someone I saved. She adored me and I cherished her.

One night we took our relationship further. Our first kiss, our first touches under the bright light of Khonsu… we explored our relationship fully. She gave herself to me and I loved her dearly.

I had a horrible dream that night. Amar's mother's voice echoed among a void of pure black darkness. If thou should give unto thee the sin of lust, then thou shall reap it for eternity.

I woke to screaming. Our little camp had been found by the same slavers that I rescued her from all those years ago. They held me down and forced me to watch as they took her aside and defiled her. She screamed for me to help and there was nothing I could do.

No matter how strong I had become or how desperate I wanted to save her, I could not move.

Before they were done and as she was still crying my name, they brought a knife to my throat and the last thing I heard under her screams, was the chant that would turn me into what I am today.

I never saw the bright light of heaven, I never saw the red skies of hell. I don't know exactly what happened but when I woke up I was standing in the desecrated remains of a modest camp. Men and horses were slaughtered around me, fire licked at the air that was thick with blood. In my hands was the warm, lifeless form of a girl drenched in her own blood.

I didn't know her. I didn't know the men. I didn't know where I was or even what I was.

I was a beast. Nothing more than that. And I was hungry.

It took some time for others of my kind to find me but by the time they did I had already fed on a generous helping of mortals. It wasn't until well into the slaughtering of the modest little town did I start to realise what it was I craved.

When I was taken back to hell, sated but over confident and restless, that is when I learned what I was. They accommodated me and taught me how to be me.

I developed a keen interest in humans. I learned to become the perfect predator. I only killed if I needed to, but it wasn't their blood I desired. I spent more time on earth than I did in hell but I was never a danger to our existence, for that would only endanger us and I was a glutton for lust.

Millennia past and I learned that it was possible for some demons to remember their past lives. It made little difference to me at first but then as I was observing some humans in Egypt I became curious. It was in those sands I woke - but what was I before? Why did I appear different to others?

Curiosity got the better of me and I embarked on an arduous spiritual journey to discover the secrets buried deep within me.

2 years ago I embraced those secrets. I learned of my life as a human, what I had done, why I was cursed - and I saw myself for the first time.

I hated - and still do - everything I saw. Every feather upon my back, every scale embedded on my body, my fangs - everything I am is a result of my weakness back then and everything I did in the millenia since.

Perhaps Amar's mother was wrong to curse me for something I didn't do - but if I am capable of everything I did since then perhaps this would have been my fate anyway."

Atem looked at me then and I felt my body chill. I listened to every word he said in pained silence, hearing exactly how much he hurt - but those eyes. The sadness and regret, the injured soul inside - how can I not feel for him.

"This is why I fled when Tea called me an unsent. It wasn't what she had called me, it is that she said it in front of you. You did not know me, what I am capable of, what I have done, where I came from - and for a moment you gave me a chance to forget all that."

His eyes cast down with a sad, disappointed sigh. "But I knew you'd ask. I knew I'd have to tell you; and I was scared that if I did then you'd disown me. I loved Amar and I let her die. I loved Mana and I killed her myself. I was a slave to lust, a horrendous beast that took sick pleasure out of using and abusing others for my own gain - and there is nothing stopping me from doing it to you."

He looks at me again with a hint of anger. I'd be afraid - but I know it's not me he's angry at. He's angry at himself. But he's wrong. I'm not afraid of him.

"I am dangerous Yugi. You could kill me with ease, yes. You've seen first hand what an angel's instinct is like, you've seen us fight. But I am no less dangerous. I could kill you. It would be too easy like this. But I do not want you to fear me."

He reaches for my cheek gently and I surprise him when I lean into his palm, touching his wrist to push him closer to me. He swallows and stiffly he speaks again. "I love you. For the first time in 5000 years, you have given me a taste of what peace can feel like. My entire existence has been nothing but pain until I saw you. I do not want to lose you. You are the one thing in all of creation that I want to protect with my entire being. Nothing compares to you, not even the light of heaven. I will never intentionally hurt you, and I am praying for the first time that you might look upon this horrendous remnant of a human and you might see past the beast I am and love me too."

My heart!

This … damn doofus.

I laugh lightly, shaking my head softly and reaching to gently stroke his cheek. Hope springs in his black as night eyes and I feel something glorious welling up inside his chest. A tentative warmth that can only be nerves.

"Dork…" I laugh and he smiles. "I love you."

His smile lights his entire face and while I have so much I want to say to him, none of it can be expressed better than with a kiss. So I bring him close and we laugh and smile into the softest, warmest, happiest kiss of our lives. A kiss so searing we could melt the metal around us. A kiss so deep the entire world falls away. A kiss so bright we might have called upon the light of heaven around us.

And if we did it didn't matter. Because I will never let anyone: angel, demon or human, hurt him ever again. He deserves nothing but the best for what he's been through and I am so beyond happy to bring it to him. I will cherish this man for the rest of my life and I will never stop reminding him how beautiful he is.

I feel his hand squeeze my hip as his tongue licks at my lips. A small giggle erupts from my chest because as tender as this moment is, I forgot again how starving he is. That whole story completely took my mind off it, and I think it did for him too until now.

I smile and give him one more kiss before leaning back, denying him from more. A small whimper and an impatient sigh from him is followed by the shameful flutter of his eyes when he looks at me. I can see he's reigning himself in; he doesn't expect me to give him anything though he is hopeful and it is oh so cute.

"Thank you for trusting me with your past." I whisper softly and he smiles sweetly.

"You're really accepting me, just like that?" He asks shyly and I nod happily.

"I have a lot of choice words for the people in your past but they are unfortunately long gone now and I cannot do a thing about that. I'd love to have a good word at whoever decides your fate but again I'm not seeing that happening any time soon. But there is one good thing that came of your suffering and it is that it lead you to me. I'm still learning what love is but thanks to you I found my purpose. I will always protect you and I will gladly do anything and everything in my power to bring you the life you deserve. One of happiness and comfort and safety. But first…" I touch his lip with the tip of my finger and lift myself up so I can straddle his lap. He lets me move, allows me to do as I please until I settle down and he looks at me with eager anticipation. I can see it in the way his eyes sparkle and the way his wings fluff up how excited and hopeful he is.

"I think you've more than earned your reward for making it up to me." I add, whispering so close to his lips but keeping him from taking me. I adore the low growl rumbling in his chest and the tentative way his hands press my thighs.

His breath wavers and I am having so much fun drawing this out. "Why don't you show me the beast you keep locked inside?"

He takes a sharp breath and I see his fangs grow, his fingers dig into my flesh. But still he's holding back. So I lean into his ear, making a point of grinding on his lap to hear him groan. "Show me your true form and feast on what I have to offer you, my love."

"Yuugi." He whispers hungrily, his hips roll up into me and I press against him. I run my hands up through his hair and I smile when I see his ear pointing and his horns grow from the luscious locks of his hair.

"That's it. Good boy." I whisper and he moans so beautifully.

I slide my fingers through his hair and I feel him tense. His fingers dig sharply into my jeans to a point it almost stings. He's got his claws out and he seems to have forgotten that it hurts - but I'll let it slide this time. He's starving and I want to give him everything. He's being so good too. So well behaved.

My fingers brush against the base of his horns and he lets out an exasperated, guttural moan. His back arches into me and he grabs me desperately. I feel his fangs sink into my shoulder painfully. I yelp from it and it makes me go stiff but a moment later he startles me when he rolls me onto my back. My legs are curled around his waist and he sucks on my skin like his life depends on it.

It hurts but its a wondrous pain, one I am happy to lose myself in. I know he's not thinking. When I touch his horns it's like a switch flicks and he becomes a slave to his desire - but I know he'd never hurt me too much. He loves me. I can feel it. Even now while he's drunkenly searching for the lust I feel for him, I feel the love he has emanating from deep within, buried behind the caged primal instinct he's let loose. While he feeds on the desire I have for him to use and ravage my body, I feed on the love and adoration he has for me.

We are like an endless loop, a tangle of bodies moaning and panting out on top of the roof of Paris, singing our song of love and lust for the world to hear.