"A Story That Ends In Light"

So this was Yuugi Mutou.

Like most of the young men she'd encountered in her tenure at the University, he possessed that same air of fresh-faced eagerness and energy. Yet there was also a shy boyishness in the tentative way he met her gaze. He seemed uncertain of how to greet her; his hand made as if to lift, and then twitched back at his side again. Sarah solved the problem for him by bowing politely. This brought a genuine relieved smile to his face and he bowed back readily, pleased by her show of respect for his culture. Her gesture made it easier for him to finally lift his hand and offer her a handshake, which she grasped with a firm, friendly grip.

"It's so good to finally get to meet you," Sarah led in carefully very aware of Atem's anxious eyes ricocheting back and forth between them. She gestured to the former pharaoh almost teasingly. "You're all he talks about."

Almost instantly, Yuugi flushed and cut a narrow eyed mock glare at the other man. "Nothing too bad, I hope." Atem pretended to become preoccupied by a nearby streetlamp. Yuugi rolled his eyes and returned his focus to her. "So," he began, "what are you doing in Japan?"

Sarah wasn't sure Atem picked up on the faint antagonism that lingered in his question, nor the curious bluntness in which he asked it. What she came here to tell Atem probably – no definitely - wasn't going to go over well with him. Sarah heaved a tiny little sigh. There were some fights one wasn't destined to win.

"There's something I need to tell Atem." She glanced at him meaningfully as she said it, and shifted her posture just slightly to include the both of them. "Normally a phone call would have sufficed, but…" To Atem, directly, "what I need to tell you can only be told face to face." All right, formality over: time to go in for the kill. "Is there a more private place we can talk?"

Atem pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "My room." To Yuugi, he gave a long significant Look. Yuugi held it for a long time, his face made of stubborn granite, subtlety shaking his head no. Visibly disgruntled, Atem's gaze tapered, wholly unyielding. Yuugi tried once more to hold out before ultimately lowering his head and averting his eyes to the right.

Sarah watched the silent duel of wills, mesmerized. No doubt they had just waged an entire argument over that "mind link" of theirs. From what she could tell from Yuugi's defeated reactions, Atem had won it. Under any other circumstances, it would have chagrined her greatly to have placed herself between them. Yet this matter was a private one and she appreciated that Atem seemed to recognize her urgency.

"All right," Yuugi announced out loud, making a grand show of stretching and covering up his defeat. "I have to get up early anyway." As he turned to go, he reached out, and gently grasped Sarah by the arm. "Just… Can I talk to you for a second?" To Atem, briefly: "Alone?"

The ex-god king seemed reluctant to retreat, perhaps scared they might wind up killing one another (considering their situation, no one would fault him). Nonetheless, Sarah gave him her most supportive smile, ignoring Yuugi's hand clasping onto her lower arm. "It's okay. Wait for me in your room. 224, right?" He nodded. "I'll see you in a few minutes." Yuugi was already leading her away.

Atem watched after them apprehensively. "Aibou…" he stated, unwilling to let them go, the thinnest thread of hidden terror inflected in his voice. Unexpectedly, Yuugi glanced back at him silently, and, to her faint surprise, he simply winked. Instantly, Atem relaxed. "Okay." He conceded. "Do not be long." Then just like that, he was jogging away, his slender form moving effortlessly up the stairs, as he clearly decided not to use the elevator this time. Elevators unsettled him, as she recalled, and he avoided them whenever possible.

"Were you telling the truth before?" Startled, Sarah turned back to Yuugi as he let go of her arm. His gaze was flint stone and his expression even more so. "Or were you just saying that to save face?"

"About your being all he talks about?" Yuugi nodded. "Yes, I was telling the truth."

He took her in from head to foot, assessing her in a critical manner that he had not dared to do before, only doing it in a noticeable manner now that they were alone. Sarah bore his intense scrutiny with grace and dignity. He would deem her unworthy or he would not. At this new point in her life, she couldn't be bothered to care about what other people thought of her or how they thought she fit in Atem's world. Certainly braving Malik or Isis's wrath hadn't been (that much of) a concern of hers. If she wasn't worth the trouble to him, Atem would not have sought her out as he had. Yet oddly enough, she did care about what Yuugi thought of her, not only because she knew she had lost Atem to him, in a way, but because of his importance to Atem. This was his other half. She found she cared more about his opinion right now than about anyone else's.

Suddenly he balked, and scratched the back of his head, letting out a little embarrassed laugh. The steel and the stone were gone. "Sorry… I'm just not used to this." He admitted sheepishly. "I've never thought I'd find myself in a situation like this with a woman."

"Nor I." Sarah made an amused sound. "Finding out my rival is a man? I don't think my high school years quite covered this sort of socially awkward situation." Now it was her turn now to do an assessment. "The real question is: can we be adults about this?"

For a moment, Yuugi glanced up toward the room where Atem waited. "I want to be." He turned back to her. "I'm trying. I just want to know…" He stopped, weighing, opening and closing his hands nervously. "I need to know…" He looked up, and for the first time she saw fear in his eyes. "Do you?"

Sarah knew what he was talking about. "I do," she replied softly, "and I respect it; it hurts, but I respect it."

"It has nothing to do with sexual orientation – his or mine." Yuugi bit his lower lip, tearing out each word bit by bit. It was costing him to be decent, to be the good person he knew he was, and probably embarrassed he wasn't raging like a green-eyed monster. But he wanted to communicate with her - she felt it, she felt his need to connect with her, and she appreciated that, because she knew she never would have had the fortitude to be this considerate. "That's not what this is about. His feelings for you, they didn't change, they…" Yuugi looked like he was twisting in agony inside. "They got in the way. So he chose."

When she closed her eyes, he pressed on desperately, coming toward her. "You've got to know how hard that was for him, you've got to know it wasn't easy!" When he took her hands, the same way Atem had done, her eyes flew open and she stared at the young man, stunned. Yuugi was pained, close to tears. "Please don't hate him!" he cried. "Please!"

It was a long time before Sarah was able to find her tongue. For a time, she saw what it was Atem loved about Yuugi: there was a light that radiated from him so brilliantly. It was like she could almost feel it as it enveloped her. "Never." She heard herself whisper fervently. "I feel so lucky to hold a place in his heart, and what's more…" She glanced down briefly at their hands, which he had not yet relinquished. "I want to be a part of your story too."

Fingers loosened, Yuugi gradually released her hands, his sunny smile the sort of smile she was dying to know the secret hidden inside of it. "You are, Sarah. When I saw you, I thought I knew you, and when Atem said your name, I knew you were." Her light puzzled frown only made him shake his head and wave it off. "One day I'll tell you everything."

Sarah folded her arms, feeling thwarted. "You better."

"I will," he promised sincerely. Then Yuugi slipped his hands into his pockets. "I really do need to get going." Shrug. "I want to talk to you some more." His violet eyes beseeched her. "I mean, if… if you want to, I mean."

Nothing would please her more. Sarah nodded. "I'd like that." Already she was mentally planning out her discussion questions for her book – and there were many of them.

He looked so relieved and happy it almost hurt to look at him. "Well, then, I will see you tomorrow."

"Absolutely." In fact, she was sure that after tonight, she wouldn't be able to avoid it. She turned to go.

"Sarah."

She looked back.

Yuugi was gazing at her with a curious sort of wonder and gratitude in his expression, followed by a smile. He lifted a hand to her in a half-wave, before heading back to his car.

Atem was sitting at the foot of his hotel bed, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and his knees going a mile a minute. His palms rubbed together in circles and his gaze was fixed ahead. His heart was thundering against his ribs and his chest felt like it was going to burst at any moment. He hadn't felt this edgy since the morning of his coronation! How had he survived that had been a miracle, but he was certain this might just come close enough to kill him.

Give me Zorc, give me Bakura, hell, give me Kaiba and his Three Headed Blue Eyes! Anything except this!

The knock on his door nearly made him hit the ceiling. Instead he jumped up as if sprung from a spring and answered it. Sarah drew back slightly, her mouth open in an O of surprise at the swiftness in which the door flew open. Atem had to stand there for a moment, staring at her, unable to help himself. She was so pretty, he thought in near despair, whether looking like that or at any other time. Why had been the gods been so cruel? He was sure he was forever going to be torn between her and Yuugi no matter who he had decided to be with. What kept him from complete emotional pandemonium was that he was absolutely certain about Yuugi. Living without him was akin to being dead, and since he was no longer dead, he saw no reason why he ought to.

He let himself have one last moment of weakness when he gently grasped her wrist and tugged her inside. Closing the door, he pulled her to him, cupped the sides of her face and chin, and kissed her. Sarah kissed back chastely, before stepping out of the embrace easily, grazing his lips just slightly with her fingers as she withdrew. The smile she gave him was sad but lit with a soft contentment that assured him he hadn't destroyed them. He nearly wept with relief.

She held his hands in her own, caressing his fingers and his palms thoughtfully. "I know I said I had something important to tell you," she began quietly, "and it was true what I said about it's being necessary to see you, but the truth is…"

"You wanted any excuse to come see me." Atem laughed as her lips quirked up in a little 'guilty as charged' smile. He winked at her. "I know you, Sarah."

"Yes. That you do." Sarah drew a long, silent breath. "I… I'll just say it." She met his gaze boldly and let out her breath in a short huff. "I'm pregnant."

Immediately Atem closed his eyes. His head bowed. After what seemed like a long endless moment, he opened his eyes and met hers. She seemed frightened and braced, as if gathering internal battlements to wage war against the vile barrage she seemed so sure was to come. When he did not react further, or speak, she released his hands and bit her lower lip, which had begun to tremble.

"I found out before you called me about your duel with Bakura," she went on shakily. "I… I didn't say anything because I didn't want you distracted. I didn't want anything to stand in the way of your saving Yuugi." Desperately she raked her fingers through her hair with one hand, turning around to face the door. "It's okay if you don't want it but I do, so you don't have to do anything. I just thought you had the right to know." At last she could no longer suppress the bevy of tears behind the dam of her iron will. She dissolved and began to sob. "Please just say something, please."

Atem finally managed to haul out of his daze. He perceived what she had said. He realized his error in having just stood there in damnable silence. She could not think this of him, he would not let her. He moved and gathered Sarah up in his arms and held her close. He felt her bury her face between his neck and shoulder, her breaths shuddery and sweet against his skin.

"Once," he said with a sigh, "the gods gave me a child and took him from me, and then they sought to steal his mother from me as well; they succeeded both times in this." He pulled away and stroked Sarah's cheek, drying the wetness away with the pad of his thumb. "It is an evil thing that I cannot remember her name, nor was I able to properly give my son his. I will not forget your name. I will not forsake this child."

"You're happy then?"

He smiled with his whole heart. "I am." Then he couldn't help it, he couldn't keep up the façade of regality anymore. "I am!" He wrapped his arms around her and exclaimed, laughing. "I am going to be a father! A pharaoh knows no greater joy."

"Or sorrow." When Atem stared at her in askance, Sarah bowed her head. "It's a mixed blessing of sorts for me," she admitted. "Which brings me to the other thing I have to tell you: I'm out of a job."

"What?" This came as the worst kind of shock to him. "How is this possible?"

"The University cut me off. I'm still an archeologist but I don't work for them anymore. Consequently it means no more digs, no more funds for research, and no more income." Sarah walked farther into the room and perched on the edge of the bed. "I'll be moving out of Anzu's apartment back to my place out in Ohio. My renter's lease is up so I'll be free to live on the property again." Atem was amazed as he listened and watched her speak. She seemed rather cheerful considering the blow she had been dealt. Being an archeologist had been everything to her. She'd put important relationships on the line for this career. How could a person just so blithely accept defeat?

When you accept there are things in this world that are not in your control; when you can accept the breaking point of starting over. Yes, he knew this pain only all too well – and then he understood her better than he thought he could.

"I've got enough money saved to last me for the rest of the year," she continued, unaware of the thoughts going through his mind. "I was thinking about teaching at the community college in Ohio until the baby comes. My parents live out there too, so I won't be alone." She gave a half-hearted chuckle. "Rebuilding my life wasn't something I ever wanted to do the first time when I got my divorce. I'm sure it's not something a person is supposed to get used to. But," she smiled cheerfully, "I guess you know all about that."

He nodded, amazed at how her verbalizations so closely synched with his thoughts. Indeed he did. And I still have such a long way to go.

"I've lived for the hunt for so long." Sarah gazed longingly into the distance, seeing something the former pharaoh could not see. "I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get rid of the itch for Egypt. I guess you could say it's in my blood. Though I will have to say this much for myself," she added before looking up at him almost reverently. "I don't think anyone in my field is ever going to top this."

He sank to one knee before her. "Top this? I am not certain I understand?"

Sarah touched the hand that had come to rest absently on her knee. "How many Egyptologists can say they brought a pharaoh back from the dead? Other than Evelyn from The Mummy?"

"None, because she brought back a priest, not a pharaoh," he pointed out logically, adding with his usual roguery, "and he was not nearly half as sexy as I am."

Eyes lighting up in surprise, Sarah giggled, probably at the comparative mental images of Atem and Arnold Vosloo, and patted his hand affectionately. "You're such a textbook narcissist," she teased, and he made a face. "In light, I think this might turn out to be a good thing for me. I'll be able to work on my book full-time now."

He brightened slightly. "Ah, that you will." He debated quietly for a few moments. "I would ask you to return to Egypt with me," he spoke softly, hesitantly, "but you seem to have figured everything out." He looked away, chewing over his next words. "Also I do not think it would be fair to Yuugi. That part of me belongs to him." Then he looked back at Sarah earnestly. "But the part that belongs to our child: that is yours. I will come to this Ohio in America when your time is near. I will be there when you need me."

And I will guard all of the rivers and the lakes, he vowed privately with internal ferocity. Sobek will not have another woman of mine while I live.

Sarah surprised him by lifting one of his hands and kissing the back of it. "I'd really like that. And if Yuugi wants to come, let him." He stared at her, completely taken aback, not expecting her to have said that. "I like him." She flushed. "I was only alone with him for a few minutes and… I can't describe it. I love him already and I don't even know him."

Atem resisted the urge to kiss Sarah. She had no idea how much her feeling that way about Yuugi meant to him. "He tends to have that affect on people." He grinned. "He does not even try he just cares so much about the people who are important to him. He puts other people's happiness before his own, though he has thankfully developed a sense of self-preservation over the years." Atem closed his eyes, reminiscing fondly. "I feel like I have loved Yuugi forever. He is my aibou and mou hitori no ore." Realizing how hurtful this must be for her to hear, he opened his eyes, and gazed into Sarah's face, which was rapt upon his. "But I love you as well, Sarah, and no less than I always have. I do not stop loving someone once I have come to love them. I simply am not capable of that." He tried to quell the anguish and the helplessness within him, yet it must have shown on his face. "But Yuugi… Yuugi is… I cannot describe it… I…"

And he didn't have to for Sarah leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, letting her lips linger upon his brow before she settled back. "You don't have to justify it," she murmured. "There are some things in heaven and earth and within our own hearts that cries out and we have to listen to what they tell us even if a little part of us must die to understand it – and accept it." Sarah settled her hand beneath his chin and bade him look at her. "All I ever really wanted from you is what I still have now."

Atem leaned in so their foreheads touched. "You will always have that," he murmured.

"I better."

Chuckling quietly under his breath, the King of Egypt moved back and smiled at her faintly sardonic tone. "Well played, Doctor."

Now she made a face! "Oh don't call me that. I hate it when anyone calls me that; gives me the urge to look around to see where my TARDIS went."

"Your what?"

She viewed him with amusement. "You don't watch Dr. Who do you?"

"No, but I am going to." Atem rose up and plopped on the bed next to her. "So where are you residing?"

Sarah looked at the carpet. "Um, actually, this is going to sound completely crazy…" She finally glanced at him uncomfortably. "I haven't been able to check into a hotel yet. My flight just came in this morning, and um, I'd been waiting for you in the lobby all day."

Atem was dumbfounded. "It did not occur to you that perhaps you ought to have checked in?"

Amused, Sarah nudged him for his obviousness. "Of course it did, Your Highness. But they're all booked up for the week." She paused uncertainly, tapping her fingers lightly upon her thigh. "Would it be totally inappropriate if I slept here tonight?" she ventured carefully. "Unless someone else is using the other bed?"

"No. Malik roomed in with his sister."

Her silver eyebrows rose gracefully. "That's surprising. You'd think he'd want to room in with another man."

"Not me, as such." Atem hoped the expression on his face wasn't shuttered in the pout he was afraid was currently adorning it. "He accuses me of taking longer 'primping' in the bathroom than Isis. No one takes that long putting kohl on, he says, and really, why do I not use liquid eyeliner instead… Why are you laughing?" Atem stared at her, puzzled. "Oh Sarah that looks like it hurts, please stop that cannot be good for the baby… No, do not… would you please…" He stared at her as she clung to her sides and slapped the comforter a few times in her throes of mirth. Frustrated, he made a fist and then gestured theatrically. "Fine then!" he boomed. "I give up!" He folded his arms indignantly and set his face to granite. "Laugh yourself unto oblivion for all I care!" Except, it was hard to remain defensive when a tiny smile of its own was fighting to break his face in half, and soon enough, he was joining her, albeit, very quietly.

Yuugi was having a hard time digesting the news. It ought to have been easier, really. Man plus woman equals baby… well, some of the time. Atem hadn't exactly been clandestine when he had told him that he and Sarah had used to have a sexual relationship. This shouldn't have knocked him over the way it did.

Yet it did.

At first he took it completely wrong. In hindsight, he was mortified by how he reacted, and was just thankful the only saving grace was that Sarah had not been there to see it. Yuugi wasn't too keen on unmanning himself before female eyes – as if throwing what amounted to a hissy fit in front of Atem wasn't bad enough!

"Yuugi… aibou… please!" Atem's muffled voice through the bathroom door was absolutely miserable. "You have every right to be upset, I understand, but you h…" The door opening suddenly cut him off mid-sentence causing him to reel back, wide eyed, to Yuugi storming forward and past him into his room.

"It didn't occur to you to use protection?" Yuugi shouted explosively, throwing his arms and hands out wildly. Atem had to jump out of the way of the flailing limbs. "It's called a condom for a reason! You can get them out of vending machines for god's sake!" He put his fists on his hips and glanced around his room, and nodded, satisfied with what he saw. "All right, get your jacket, Pharaoh. We're going for a walk."

"A-All right. If… If that is what you want." Appearing appropriately cowed, Atem scrambled to do just that, nearly tripping down the stairs in his haste.

Yuugi looked after him, smacked the center of his forehead, and groaned softly. He knew exactly what Jounouchi would have said of his behavior. "Yuugi, you are being a dick, you know that?" he mumbled aloud, relieved Atem wasn't there to see the remorse weighing down his entire face and body.

He deserves congratulations and the traditional cigar, not a blast of immature third degree jealous rage! His conscience screamed at the top of its very strong and healthy lungs. It's not like you could give him a baby so don't shit all over his happiness! He deserves this and you know it! Dammit, Yuugi, you're better than this!

Deeply ashamed, it took an entire fifteen minutes of their roving around side-by-side through the side streets of Domino, not speaking out loud or through their mind link, until Yuugi managed to pony up the courage to apologize. It wasn't as difficult a task as it first presented. Atem's hunched shoulders, lifeless walk, hands in pockets, and downcast demeanor filled Yuugi with a peculiar mixture of affection and guilt.

Look at him, he can't even look at me, he's so upset, Yuugi thought ruefully, mentally smacking himself in the face over and over again. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Make it right, Mutou, and do it now!

Yet it felt like his tongue had glued itself to the roof of his mouth. His wandering eyes seemed to find the trees, grass, and fountains of the park they had entered in their travels downright fascinating. Soon they had left the public walkways and were making their way off the beaten path through a small cluster of woods. Shafts of sunlight peeked through the foliage above while small animals like squirrels and birds darted in and out of sight. Out of the corner of his eye, Yuugi saw Atem watch a couple of chipmunks chase each other in and around the remains of a rotting log. A smile curved his elegant lips for the first time all day. He made a small sound of amusement under his breath, his tapered scarlet gaze shifting to meet Yuugi's. It grew when it saw the smile that had involuntarily come out on its own watching his other.

Yuugi moved toward him first, hurt when Atem made as if to step away; he was relieved when he stopped his retreat immediately. Since they were almost the exact same height, it was easy to slide his arms around him, and rest his head on his shoulder. Yuugi exhaled when he felt Atem's arms warmly return the embrace and relax into it, his heated breath stirring the hairs at the nape of his neck. For a long while the two remained under the shade of the trees, wreathed by flashing spots of sunlight.

"I'm sorry." Yuugi murmured, his voice nearly muffled by Atem's shoulder. He pulled away, hands still cradling the other close, so they were looking into each other's faces. He needed Atem to see his sincerity. "I shouldn't have said those things. Those were terrible things to say."

Atem, being the goddamned wonderful person he was, only rewarded the apology with that gentle smile he reserved only for him. "You were only speaking your mind, aibou."

Making an exasperated noise, Yuugi shook his head, stepping from his other's arms. "Dammit, Atem, don't do that," he blurted wearily.

The former monarch was confused. "Do not do what?"

"Give me a free pass on this one. I messed up and you need to hold me accountable for it. I'm not perfect so don't… Just don't put me up on a pedestal. I'm…" It took an effort to get it out but he managed it. "You wanted me to be happy for you, you needed me to be supportive, and instead I decided to be an ass."

Atem glanced away, biting his bottom lip. He said nothing.

Yuugi didn't let him and attempted to follow his line of sight. "You'd have been mad if it was anyone else," he pressed. "Be mad. Please."

The older man smirked and put one hand on his hip. "I cannot," he sighed, shaking his head self-effacingly. "Remember when you said you have trouble becoming angry with me? This goes both ways. You could cheat at a Shadow Game and I would not be able to bring myself to inflict the Penalty upon you."

Yuugi nodded. "We're too forgiving," he agreed glumly.

"I do not think it is that." Atem answered Yuugi's raised eyebrow by raising both of his own. "Else you would not have felt the need to apologize to me. You are angry, Yuugi, and it is not entirely without understanding. I should think I would have felt the same if our situations were reversed." He cupped Yuugi's cheek and chin, running his thumb along the curve of his face as he liked to do so often. "This changes nothing between us," he murmured tenderly. "You know better than anyone there is no force in this world capable of doing that."

Yuugi reached up and removed the hand, instead enfolding them together, interlocking their fingers. "You really are something, other me." He smiled with a small chuckle. "But you're wrong about one thing: there are going to be changes. Only what kind they have to be is up to us."

Pausing, Yuugi pulled Atem with him to a nearby tree, and together they settled beneath it, Yuugi's back against the trunk, Atem seated just slightly to his left, one knee casually raised with his arm draped over it. A peaceful stillness passed between them, a welcome adjustment from the uneasiness that had begun when they'd first left the house.

Yuugi rocked his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying the diluted warmth of the spare sun rays playing over his face. His lips quirked upward when he felt Atem move close and press against him. He basked under the light kisses he administered to his chin, down his throat and up again, before he felt the gentle heat of his breath in his ear.

"Aibou."

He opened his eyes and tilted his head, listening.

Atem bit his lips together once, his brain humming. Yuugi felt what he wanted to say and waited patiently. "Can you… be happy for me?" he asked cautiously.

Yuugi kissed his pharaoh on the forehead and then the cheek. "I think… I think I can be," he whispered, raising his voice with his next words. "I always wanted you to have your own life, with or without me in it."

"Without you?" Atem appeared rather miffed, injured Yuugi even entertained the notion. "I attempted this, aibou, and I have found it is no kind of life of my own if I cannot share it with you."

Delighted, Yuugi laughed. "Seriously, I wish I knew how you fire those off the way you do. Are you reading Anzu's Harlequin romances when I'm not looking?" he teased.

"I can neither confirm nor deny," they answered together before both cracked up.

"No, truly," Atem insisted, apparently not buying, or at least able to fully accept yet, Yuugi's answer. "Even if you cannot, I still need you with me." He looked away to hide the anguish in his eyes. "I do not want what happened with my previous woman and child to happen again. The gods have deemed me worthy of a second chance and I am… I am not certain of my strength."

Yuugi reached out and grasped his other by the shoulders. "You are the strongest man I know," he told him fiercely, determination set in his lower jaw, and in the potency of his grip. "You stood up against the madness of Bakura and crushed the forces of darkness countless times. If you felt the power of your soul the way I used to when we shared a body, you wouldn't be saying that, you wouldn't even be thinking it. You can do this because you have done it." He kissed him soundly. "I bet my deck on it."

Atem lit up. "You still have your deck?"

It always was about the games, wasn't it? Always and forever, they got me him, so I can't complain. Yuugi sat back and grinned, shrugging. "My old one? Yeah. I haven't dueled in years, though." The god-king got a calculating look on his face and he rubbed his chin. Yuugi leaned forward, hopelessly intrigued. He knew too well what was brewing. "What's up?"

Atem steepled his fingers together thoughtfully, tapping the tips together rhythmically. "Remember that I said Kaiba recently challenged me to a duel, or rather," he amended, "I did, and now he's holding me to my word. Winner receives or keeps his Game King status."

Yuugi rolled his eyes. Yes, he did remember, unfortunately. Dammit, Seto, there are some things you just can't let go can you? "Good grief."

"I agree. Still, I must honor his challenge."

Yuugi smirked, knowing better than to be fooled by his partner's false nobility. "Honor my foot. It has nothing to do with it. You just can't wait to kick his ass."

"True." Atem grinned apologetically. "I was wondering if perhaps I might borrow your deck?"

"Of course."

Leaning forward so he could get to them, Yuugi reached into the back of his jeans and procured the cards, which were held together by a rubber band. Atem took them, handling them almost reverently, stroking the card stack's worn sides in wonder. "You have always kept these with you?" he asked curiously.

"Mmm!"

"Why?"

"We-ell," Yuugi blushed, feeling shy, "I guess it was my way to keep you close, by always keeping something we'd shared with me. I was glad I'd left it at home the day I was abducted, though. Who knows what Bakura would have done if he'd seen them." Not that playing Duel Monsters was on his agenda at all, he added silently. No, he'd had something much more excruciating in mind…

A darkness crossed Atem's eyes then. Yuugi almost cursed, realizing he'd forgotten to put a cap on his thoughts. He smiled and folded his arms in his lap, feigning a cheer he knew Atem wouldn't buy. Atem's smooth brow furrowed and his eyes began to narrow.

"I will not forgive him," the former spirit of the Millennium Puzzle intoned sadly. "I cannot reconcile this time, aibou."

"I know." Yuugi bit his lips together and cast his gaze down to the ground, before lifting them again. He was about to tell Atem something up until now he'd only been able to speak with Otogi about. "It's not his fault," he spoke quietly, "I know he wasn't in there, wasn't in control. Yet even knowing that, I can't… I can't be around him anymore." He inhaled slowly, deeply, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea. "Maybe one day I will be able to see him as my friend again and not as the man who hurt me. I have it in me to find the strength to do that. I know I do."

The rest of what he didn't say, he didn't have to. Atem's arms encircled him then and held him close. Yuugi burrowed his face into his other's neck and collar, feeling the sting of the horrific memories begin to ebb. Their minds met, enfolded one another, and merged. After a time, seconds, minutes later, they gently dissolved their connection, releasing each other.

He had his friends, he had his family, and he had mou hitori no boku. Yuugi smiled secretly as he felt Atem rest his cheek against the back of his neck. I will be okay.

I always have been.

Return from the Field of Reeds, Son of Re
to Walk with Us beneath the Eye of Horus
Go forth before the End of Darkness
and the Beginning of the Light
For you have been the Sacrifice
Live and Love again, Brother
And Be Well.

Author's Note

As I write this, I know there are going to be readers wondering why on earth I chose to end this story the way I did with obviously there being so much more that I could do with it. But I realized while rereading it, this was the end, which astonished me. Two souls holding one another, finally reunited, about to end one chapter of their lives and begin another, felt right to me. Unless things change for the future, I will not be writing a sequel any time soon. There are simply too many other stories I need to complete as of this posting. That said I'm happy with the finished project – as indeed a project it was! - and that is what is important.

I would like to thank one particular reader of mine, spirithorse, for her unwavering support throughout the duration of this story's conception. That Dr. Who reference was for you, sweetie.