Here is my contribution to this year's Christmas stories. It's a sort of bittersweet tale about success and failure on Broadway, while at the same time coming to realise that love and friendship is more important than chasing a dream of stardom.

Warnings: References of death, near death.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

I hope you enjoy.

Not All Dreams End On Broadway.

The weather in New York was dreary at this time of year. Today a bitter wind was blowing, making the rain feel like needles of ice, and the cold seemed to seep into her bones making her shiver. Not that Anzu was complaining; the weather might be dull and cold, but Christmas was a celebratory time of year and no one seemed to mind going outside in the cold –it was not the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing.

Broadway shows were in full swing, and Anzu was in good spirits because she was living her dream to dance in one of them. Okay, so it was only a chorus line role, but Anzu considered it a stepping stone on the way to bigger and better things. Her plan was to show commitment, perform well, impress the director, get herself noticed and, come springtime, she hoped it might be her name up in lights on Broadway.

As she made her way along the street on her way to the theatre for this evening's performance, Anzu smiled as she passed the throngs of people, all wrapped up in their winder coats, doing their Christmas shopping and enjoying the many spectacular displays on offer. Giant Christmas trees lit up the square, and festive decorations filled shop windows, adding light and cheer to the dull winter's day. Anzu was hoping she would have time to visit one or two of the more spectacular displays on her day off, but last week she had been so tired she had spent the majority of her day sleeping.

The waft of roasting chestnuts filled her nose as she walked past one of the street vendors. It made her mouth water, but she did not have time to stop and buy some – perhaps on her way home. A little further on, the smell of hot dogs and doughnuts caught her nose – she found those less appetising.

A group of people collecting for a local homeless shelter were singing Christmas carols, reminding Anzu that not everyone was fortunate enough to be enjoying the love and comfort of a safe home this Christmas. Anzu was not earning much, but she stopped anyway, and dropped a few dollars into their collection tin. One of Santa's elves thanked her. "Merry Christmas Miss," he said cheerily, his face red and teeth yellowed and rotten, no doubt from years of addiction and rough sleeping.

"Merry Christmas to you, too," she replied, before hurrying on her way.

Further along, a laughing couple passed by carrying a bundled up spruce, which they were no doubt going to take home to decorate with baubles, fairy lights and tinsel.

Seeing so many people made Anzu think her of her friends back home in Japan. She wished they could all be here to celebrate Christmas with her. She had suggested they come, but they were too busy working, or, in Jonouchi's case, skint and unable to afford it.

The one person she really did miss more than anyone else was Yugi. He had hoped to come, but his responsibilities, both at work and as the King of Games, meant that he was unable to and was forced to let her down. Anzu was disappointed, but they had talked and she had forgiven him. She knew he was proud of her, as she was him, and they would always remain close friends, even if their ambitions had set them on different paths causing them to drift apart romantically. She wished it could have been different, but that was life, she supposed.

Telling herself not to dwell on the what-ifs, Anzu pulled up the collar of her coat, adjusted her scarf so that it covered her chin, and continued along the side walk. This was her dream, her choice, and if sacrificing the love of her life was the price she needed to pay to achieve it then so be it.

Realising she had been dawdling too much and was now running a bit late, she picked up the pace. She reached an an intersection and waited with the other pedestrians until the lights changed and they could cross.

Up ahead on the other side of the road she could see the theatre –the place where her dreams were coming true, hopefully.

Glancing to her right, saw the coast was clear and stepped into the road. Someone close by shouted "NO!" but it was too late.

Everything become surreal, as though it was happening to someone else and not her. There was the sound of a car horn and the simultaneous screech of brakes. The sound seemed to stretch on forever, when in reality it was a mere split second, between her realising that she had stupidly stepped into the path of an oncoming car, to the moment of impact.

Her thoughts, as she hit the bonnet and bounced off the windscreen into the grimy, wet gutter, were, 'Shit! Is this how I die?' She was not ready, not yet, she still had too many unfulfilled dreams.

Cold and damp seeped through her coat. Her head spun and pounded. Her ears were ringing and her vision filled with black then white then tiny, spinning silver stars. Her body throbbed and her right hand side, which had taken the brunt of the impact, hurt.

"Miss! Are you alright?"

"Can you hear me?"

She could barely register what they were saying through the throbbing, pounding noise in her ears, but it was a relief to know that she wasn't dead.

She attempted to move; to get up and away from the cold, wet gutter, and into the safety of the theatre, but arms held her firmly.

"Try not to move, Miss."

Anzu thought she laughed stupidly, but was unsure. She tried to say, "Silly me. I looked the wrong way," but had no idea if the words came out or not. Why did she not remember that they drove on the right hand side of the road here and not on the left?

A crowd was gathering.

The sound of sirens.

Medics tending to her.

A needle in her arm.

And then everything around her faded into nothingness.

::::::::::::

When Anzu came too she was somewhere nice and warm. The sun was beating down on her and she was laying on soft warm sand.

She dug her hand into the sand and scooped it into her palm, letting it sift through her fingers. "This isn't New York?" she muttered, planting her palms on the sand and pushing herself to sit so that she could look around and see which beach she was laying on.

Her mouth formed an 'O' when through the heat haze she saw a towering palace."Huh!?" She recognised that palace.

Scratching her head, she tried to remember what she was doing in the moments before. A car sprang to mind, and she suddenly remembered being thrown into a cold, wet gutter and hitting her head – must be concussion. But she could feel no bumps and no blood. "This is getting really weird," she said to herself.

Her eyes widened, when she heard a deep voice from behind her, "Anzu! Are you okay?"

She gasped and turned to face him. "Atem?!" He was framed by the bright sunlight so she could not properly see his features, just the familiar outline of spiky hair and… "Are you wearing a dress?" she said thoughtlessly, clamping her hand over her mouth when she realised that she had probably just insulted him.

Instead of being offended, he laughed. "A shendyt," he corrected her, rolling his eyes in amusement. Anzu was embarrassed at herself for being such a ditz and giggled nervously in response.

"W...where am I?" she asked tentatively.

"You don't know?" he asked incredulously.

"No!" she said indignantly. "Why should I? One minute I'm laying on a cold, wet New York street, next minute I'm here, with you!" Atem looked at her, bemused.

"Well, this definitely isn't New York," he informed her. "I was out riding my horse when I saw you running, and then you seemed to trip, or faint." He did not elaborate further.

"Oh! Well, I er...guess…" Completely confused, she asked, "What was I doing running in the middle of the scorching desert?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea," and then changed the subject. "Here, let me help you up." Crouching, he offered her his hand and gently helped her to her feet. But her legs wobbled and she nearly collapsed in a heap again. Luckily, strong arms slipped around her waist and held her upright. "It's okay, I've got you," he said. "Perhaps it's the heat making you feel faint. Come, let me help you find shade."

Anzu nearly swooned when she realised she was leaning against his bare chest. Trying not to purr in delight, she slipped her arm around his warm, lean, muscular torso, and let him lead her to sit under the shade of a tree.

She watched him, as he went over to his horse and took what looked like it had once belonged to a camel from the saddle. He was… stunning. Those athletic legs in that… shendyt made her heart rate soar and her face flush.

He came back over and sat down next to her. Concerned, he touched his hand to her forehead. "You look flushed. Here. You should drink," he ordered firmly. Should she tell him that he was the reason she was so flushed?

She was about to open her mouth to say, 'you want me to drink from that gross thing?' but instead smiled weakly, said nothing and took the water pouch. Trying not to gag at drinking from a dead camel's hump, she sipped the warm, weak beer. It wasn't very nice, but it quenched her thirst. "Thanks," she said, handing it back to him. Smiling, he took it from her and drank some himself, not caring that the nozzle had just been in her mouth. Almost letting out a whine, she licked her lips and watched his Adams apple bob as he swallowed. He was sitting so close she could smell the soft scent of his body odour mixed with sandalwood and spice. His masculine scent reminded her of Yugi when he had been sweating, and it was making her even more flustered.

Completely oblivious, he fastened the cap on the pouch, went back over to his horse and hooked the pouch back on the saddle.

Anzu took the opportunity to get another good look at him, this time taking in his attire in more detail. He was wearing his trademark golden crown in the shape of the Wings of RA on his head, and had white slip on shoes on his feet decorated with gold thread. His shendyt was made of the finest white Egyptian cotton, tied with a blue and gold sash. Around his neck he wore a fairly understated gold collar, and had matching bracers on his forearms arms. His white horse was tied to a low hanging branch.

No one died and got this lucky! She was dreaming, she had to be.

She looked down at her own clothing. Her winter boots, leggings, coat, hat and scarf had been replaced by a plain white cotton dress, tied at the middle with a pale red sash. On her feet were a pair of flimsy sandals – no wonder she fell over if she was trying to run in those! She raised her hand to feel her neck, where a pendant sat, inlaid with what felt like a precious gem. "Oh, Boy! I've died and gone to Egypt."

"A'Aru," he corrected her, with a cheeky little smirk. Anzu smiled back at him timidly. His skin was a flawless golden bronze, his teeth white and perfect, and his smile wicked yet kind. His strong, chiselled jaw was dusted with the faintest hint of stubble and his cheekbones were sculpted and refined. His eyes were lined with khol and were a mesmerising mix of amethyst, plumb and ruby. Maybe it was a trick of the afterlife, but he looked older than she remembered –stunningly akin to Yugi now that he was a fully grown man. Yet, while he could almost pass as Yugi's identical twin, there was something different, more regal, more otherworldly about him. Overwhelmed by it all, Anzu swooned, and fainted.

A few seconds later, she woke up with her head in his lap. "Tell me this isn't real?" she muttered, peering up at him, and using the closeness as an excuse to reach up and touch his toned abs, mainly to see how firm they were. She was not disappointed.

He looked down at her, confusion in those beautiful eyes. "Yes, this is real. Why would you think it not?"

Anzu blinked. "I was on my way to the theatre," she told him. "I didn't see the car until it was too late." She pouted at him. "Please, tell me the truth, because I need to know: I'm dead, aren't I?"

He deftly stroked her forehead with the pads of his fingers, pushing her messy hair away from her face. "Death is not a word we care to use here."

Like that made her any less confused. "Why won't you just answer my question?!" she said irritably, sitting up and starting to cry.

"Anzu! What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Too many regrets." Her breath hitched. "So many dreams unfulfilled," she sniffed and pouted miserably at him. "Sorry. I just…" she did not want to be dead.

He wrapped his arms around her. "Try not to worry. I will look after you."

Wiping her eyes, she pulled away from him. "W..will you dance with me?" she asked, hoping it might take her mind off her current predicament. It did not even occur to her that he might not know how to dance her modern style of dancing.

"Of course," he replied, standing and pulling her up with him.

Placing one hand on her waist, and holding her hand with his other, he lead her in a dance similar to a waltz. The sound of soft orchestral music guided them. She did not question where the music was coming from, or how Atem even knew this style of dancing, assuming that if this was indeed the afterlife then anything was possible.

Anzu was not quite sure what was happening, but as they danced the heat of the sun seemed to fade to a warm, pleasant evening. A soft breeze gently kissed their bodies and moonlight bathed them in a silver light.

Round and round they twirled, and Anzu felt herself being led expertly by her accomplished dance partner, until at last they slowed and came to a stop, breathless and laughing. Smiling at her, he held her hand her hand and they turned to gaze out over the Nile. The indigo sky was lit by thousands of twinkling stars. Small fishing boats, lit by lanterns, bobbed on the Nile, and slithers of moonlight danced upon the river's surface, giving it a silvery sheen. "In a week from now it will be Christmas in my world," she told him.

"Yes. I remember Yugi telling me about the Christian tradition of Christmas. I believe it's origins began a thousand years after my reign as Pharaoh," he said thoughtfully. Anzu shivered at being reminded that Atem was born, and died, three thousand years before she was even a twinkle in her parents eyes. "Are you cold?" he asked, and out of nowhere his Royal blue cape appeared in his hands. He wrapped it around her shoulders and cuddled her close to his side.

Anzu snuggled against him, and noted that like Yugi he was only taller than her due to his hair. "No. I'm not cold," she replied. "Just….thinking." She was still not convinced that this was not something she had constructed in her mind in the moments before death?

He turned to face her with his arms loosely around her waist. "What are you thinking about?"

Shrugging, Anzu looked into his eyes and saw genuine love and concern. She smiled weakly. "About all the people I've left behind. Guilt. Regrets. Yugi."

Atem could read between the lines. "What is it you regret about leaving Yugi?" he asked, his eyes glazing over fondly at the mention of his former aibou.

Sadness caused her to almost well up again, but kept her tears at bay.

"He's always been the most amazing, kind friend to me. He supported my dream to become a dancer because he loves me unconditionally. Yet I broke his heart when I left him."

"You and me both," said Atem, a slight glint of moisture in his eyes. "But I was lucky, I got a second chance to see him and make things right, all be it briefly." He gave a small, nostalgic smile. "In those moments, I knew he would be fine without me."

"I'm sure he'll be okay without me, too. He'll probably meet a nice girl, who can be a much better wife than I could ever be." Anzu sighed, and Atem listened with a knowing, sympathetic smile on his face. Anzu sighed again more sadly this time, and added, "I just wish I could get another chance, but it's too late for that. My story ended in a New York gutter, and Yugi will never know how much I love him."

"Then you should go back and tell him how you feel."

Anzu's eyes widened, "What?"

"Unlike myself, you're not dead. Not yet. Your life hangs in the balance, and whether or not you wake up is up to you."

Averting her gaze, Anzu bit her lip. So, she had a choice: stay here, let her physical body die, and with it her chance to tell Yugi how much she loved him and that her dream of being a successful dancer no longer mattered if they were not together, or stay here and be with Atem. What a choice!

No! It was a simple choice.

She knew what she wanted to do.

::::::::::::

When Yugi received a call from someone in New York, to say that Anzu had been hit by a car and was on a ventilator in a New York hospital, he dropped everything to go and be with her.

Knowing the quickest way to get there was in Kaiba's Blue Eyes White jet, he went straight into Kaiba's office to ask.

Of course, the frosty CEO made a point of being his usual unhelpful self, but Yugi was in an assertive mood and not taking 'no' for an answer.

Seto smirked. He had developed a great deal of respect for his rival and business associate over the years, and when Yugi made his mind, and asserted himself in that unique way of his, there was no arguing with him. Besides, it would be mean to refuse – since when did he care about being mean? He also admired the Mazaki girl's feisty spirit and knew that Yugi loved her. "Fine. I'll take you," he said.

Yugi ignored the begrudging tone of his voice – that was just Kaiba being Kaiba. "Thanks, Kaiba!" he said, his hardened stance softening into one of relief. But he knew better than to grovel or say he 'owed him one' because Kaiba hated grovelling, sycophantic behaviour.

Seto huffed in amusement.

Arriving in a third of the time it would take a commercial flight, Yugi was by Anzu's bedside in the early hours of the following morning, less than six hours after receiving the call.

She looked so small, laying motionless on the hospital bed hooked up to a ventilator. He held her hand and whispered soft words of encouragement. He told her about what was going on at home. "Jonouchi's sulking because Shizuka just got engaged to Honda." He chuckled. "But I think he's secretly happy about it – just likes to piss Honda off and make a big fuss of being an overprotective brother. They don't know you're in hospital yet, I haven't had time to tell anyone. But Kaiba knows." I think he's a bit upset about you being in a coma, though he won't admit it. But he flew me here, so that means something, right?"

The nursing staff were nice; they brought him coffee and a sandwich, but then charged him for it. They explained to him that Anzu was put into an induced coma because they were concerned about her head injury.

"Will she be okay?" he asked anxiously.

"Her scan was not as concerning as we first feared, so we're hopeful your wife will make a good recovery, but we won't know much until we wake her up, which we hope to do first thing in the morning." They thought he was her husband. Fearing they might throw him out if he told them he was only a friend, he did not correct them. Perhaps it was because Anzu had put him down as her next of kin!

Smiling anxiously, he thanked the nurse.

Exhaustion taking hold, he fell asleep in the chair, and was woken again when they came to do the breakfast rounds. Such was his haste to get here, he had no change of clothing, no toothbrush, shaver or toiletries. He felt gross, but right now, all that mattered was Anzu.

::::::::::::

The way back was easier than Anzu thought it would be.

All it took was a soft, gentle kiss and some guidance from Atem, and the world in which she currently resided started to spin and change shape as it slowly faded away in the distance, leaving her in strange new environment.

She blinked, and was aware of bright florescent lighting and the beeping of machines.

Someone was holding her, and she remembered how Atem had been holding her a moment ago.

A feeling of mild panic surged through her at the sudden new surroundings.

"It's okay Anzu. I'm here." The voice was…..very similar, but not Atem's voice. It was….

"Yugi!" she cried out, holding onto him for dear life in the hope that he might ground her, save her, pull her back from the brink of wherever she was.

Yugi held her gently, as if he were afraid to break her, and softly said, "You've been in an induced coma overnight. They tried waking you but you seemed to want to stay sleeping." He had been worried when she had not woken up immediately.

Panic subsiding, her breathing settled as she became more aware of where she was. She blinked up at him and tried to adjust to her surroundings. It took her a few minutes before she was able to talk again. "What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" she whispered, throat sore and raspy. Her body suddenly weighed a million tons and her mind was a fog. She could not remember.

"You got hit by a car on your way to the theatre," he told her. Her eyes widened in horror and her mouth opened and closed. He knew what she was trying to ask. "Don't worry. Your limbs are all intact. You'll be dancing again in no time."

Looking relieved, she blinked up at him, and reached up to touch his face. His face was handsome and kind and dusted with light stubble. "Yugi," she whispered horsely, and told him, "I just saw Atem. We danced and he helped me come back to you."

At the mention of his old friend, Yugi's face twitched and his eyes widened in surprise, before a small, nostalgic smile appeared on his face. He had no idea if she hadreally seen Atem, or if she was just imagining she had, but he would always live on in all of their hearts, so he would not be at all surprised if he had helped her.

"That sounds like something he'd do." He winked at her. "Except for dancing. You did well if you got him to dance." Yugi remembered him being even more reserved than he was when it came to dancing.

Anzu tried to laugh, but it came out more of a cough. Yugi was worried for a moment, but the nurse gave her some water for her parched throat.

Her thirst quenched, Anzu said, "He's a good dancer," with a weary smile.

"Better than me?" he teased.

"I don't know. You always wriggle out of dancing with me," she muttered.

Chuckling lightly, he took her hand and held it against his lips. "That's because I don't want to step on your toes," he admitted.

Anzu looked up at him and smiled wearily. She had never felt this much love in her life.

::::::::::::

With Anzu about to be moved out of intensive care, Yugi was restricted to visiting times only and had to leave.

Anzu gave him the key to her apartment so that he had somewhere to stay, as well as a list of things she wanted him to bring her when he next visited.

Having arrived with no change of clothing, no toiletries, no toothbrush or shaver, Yugi also needed to go shopping for himself. He visited a budget clothing store on his way to Anzu's apartment, and bought enough essentials to see him through, as well as a warmer coat and a hat.

He found her apartment block without getting lost and let himself in. The heating was off and it felt cold, so he put the heating and water on, made himself a mug of tea and something to eat while he was waiting for the water to get hot enough for him to have a much needed shower.

It was the first time he had seen Anzu's new apartment. It was smaller than he imagined, with bland, off white neutral walls and oak wood effect laminate flooring throughout. But Anzu had put her own personal touches on it and managed to make it feel homely and comfortable. She had even put up a small Christmas Tree in the corner.

Yugi went over to the small sideboard unit, and picked up the framed photo of himself and her together. Their cheeks were pressed together and they were both smiling into the camera.

They had been lovers at the time, and it warmed his heart to think that she did still care about him.

:::::::::::

Anzu was discharged on Christmas Eve under strict instructions that she was to rest as much as possible. It was not in her nature to rest, but Yugi would see to it that she did.

After a week of not really being able to wash properly, the first thing on her list of things to do when they arrived back at her apartment was to soak in the bath. Yugi ran it for her and frothed it up with a mountain of bubbles. It was bliss, and she felt lovely and relaxed as the still achy bumps and bruises from her accident were soothed away.

Yugi was a real sweetie and she was glad to have him here to look after her and keep her from becoming depressed about being forced out of the show by an unfortunate accident.

"I know it's not much comfort right now, but you will soon be dancing again, and there will be other opportunities to shine," he told her. And he was right. The bumps and bruises she had suffered would soon heal and she would be back rehearsing for the next show in a few weeks time. In fact, the cast and crew had sent her flowers, and the director had expressed his desire for her to audition for a show coming up in the Spring. It gave her something to aim for.

Yugi ordered pizza, and they cuddled on the sofa together to eat it.

By nine o'clock in the evening, Anzu was yawning. "I'm so tired," she mumbled, around her yawn.

"You need the sleep," he said. "I..er… should sleep on the couch." He had slept in her bed while she was in hospital, but now that she was home….

"You'll do no such thing," she said in an admonishing tone. "It's a double bed! There's plenty of room for two."

Blushing, he smiled tentatively. "Sure. But only if you really want me to?"

"Of course I want you to. You're my boyfriend, aren't you?" she said teasingly.

He smiled happily and kissed her cheek. "If you want me to be? You think we can make it work this time?"

"I do," she said. "Having a near death experience has made me realise what I was losing. I still want to dance for a living, but I don't think I need to base myself in New York. I want to go home and be with people who love me, and care about me."

Yugi leaned in and kissed her lovingly. He pulled back and winked at her. "You won't regret it. We can enjoy our successes, and failures, together, eh?"

"I'd like that," she said, trying and failing to stifle another yawn.

"You need your bed," he said, chuckling. "It's too early for me. I'm going to deal with a few work e-mails. I promise not to wake you."

She leaned over and kissed him, before standing up. "Night, Yugi. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas!" he replied. "I love you."

His eyes were drawn to the little present under the tree. She had not spotted it yet. He already knew her ring size and had bought it from a jewellers the other day.

He was tempted to do it now, but she was tired, so he would stick to his original plan and give it to her on Christmas morning.

It did not have to be an engagement ring if she did not want it to be, but he hoped that she would say 'yes'.

The End.

Happy Christmas everyone.

I started this several weeks ago, but my dad was taken into hospital just over a week ago and sadly passed away on Wednesday 20th December. It's been a very difficult time for us, especially my mum. I've found it hard to finish and post this, but I felt I should.