Ramadan had just ended and it was approaching Marik's birthday when Bakura realized they were also coming up on the one-year anniversary of the date Yugi defeated his darker self and sent him away for good. On the pretext of buying a birthday gift for Marik, Bakura traveled to Cairo alone to visit with Yugi. Before leaving Luxor, he'd arranged with Ishizu to close the monument in Giza where the Memory Tablet was displayed so he and Yugi could visit it alone, a sort of private pilgrimage. The place where Yugi had followed the Pharaoh, his other self, into the memory world.

"We're friends, Yugi, aren't we?" Bakura asked as they looked at the tablet that depicted a Pharaoh who looked a lot like Yugi battling with a monster that looked a lot like Dark Magician against a guardian who looked a lot like Seto Kaiba using a monster that looked a lot like Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Yugi looked startled. "Of course we're friends, Bakura."

"Do you ever find that ironic? We each of us played hosts to ancient spirits who were mortal enemies, after all."

"That was them and this is us," Yugi said carefully.

Bakura smiled. "Not quite. I told you, find your own way to come to terms with the Pharaoh's connection to you. I've found my way to come to turns with my connection to the Spirit of the Ring." He thought of the Sudanese refugee camp he'd recently begun volunteering for.

Yugi regarded him thoughtfully. "You do look happy, Bakura. I don't think I've ever seen you look really happy before. Cheerful, maybe, but not really happy."

"Well, that's not surprising. The entire time I knew you until a year ago I was possessed by a homicidal maniac. Doesn't scream contentment, does it?"

"But you really have found a way to come to terms with it, haven't you?"

"Several ways, actually," Bakura confirmed.

"Like?"

Bakura told him about working with the refugees.

"That's awesome, Bakura."

Bakura looked around him to see if they were alone. He knew they would be since Ishizu had arranged to close the monument for everyone but them, but still, he'd grown accustomed to being overly cautious.

"Can I tell you something else?" Bakura asked. "In confidence?"

"Sure."

"I've fallen in love."

Yugi's eyes widened and a smile spread slowly across his face. "That's really awesome," he enthused. "Does this person feel the same about you?"

Bakura raised his eyebrow, noting the very gender-neutral phrasing. "Yes, I think so," he said warily. "We haven't actually used that word, but we've been together for almost two months now and the feeling is definitely mutual."

"I'm so happy for you, Bakura. You really deserve to be happy."

Bakura looked at the stone carving that so closely resembled his short friend. "Am I to assume by the way you phrased your question that it would not shock you to hear that I'm talking about a man?"

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Yugi's head dip in embarrassment, but not surprise. "It's none of my business, Bakura."

"Does it bother you?"

Yugi snorted and looked at Bakura with a wry grin. "As you pointed out yourself, we each were hosts to ancient spirits who were mortal enemies. If I were going to be bothered by you, I don't think your being gay would exactly be top of the list."

"Touché," Bakura laughed, surprised by Yugi's sudden candor. It struck him that this was more characteristic of the Pharaoh than of the Yugi he used to know. Perhaps Yugi was finding a way to come to terms with his other self after all.

He sobered, remembering that there was more to tell. "You should also know that this man I'm seeing is someone you know."

This, finally, did surprise Yugi. "Someone I know? Who would I know in Lux—?" His eyes widened and Bakura knew the pieces had just fallen into place. "Marik?" he asked.

Bakura nodded, then watched as Yugi processed that. Then his friend smiled. "You know, I can see that. You two would be a great couple."

Bakura smiled, grateful to have someone outside of the Ishizu family with whom he could confide. "Thank you, Yugi. That means a lot to me."

"I'm glad you're happy. You and Marik both."

"You understand you can't tell anyone," Bakura said. "We could get in a lot of trouble. That sort of thing is frowned upon here."

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, I suppose it would be. I won't say anything, Bakura."

"Thank you."

"You're being careful, though? Marik doesn't strike me as, uh, very reserved."

"No," Bakura laughed again, "but he grew up here and he knows how to stay safe. And not just from the police."

Yugi nodded, understanding his meaning.

"And we have a brilliant cover story. You see, I'm in love with and courting Ishizu."

Yugi choked, which, if Bakura recalled, was exactly his reaction when Marik had told him the same thing.

"Okaaaaay," Yugi said.

"Well, I figured I should tell you since Ishizu and Professor Hawkins run in the same circles. I imagine eventually word will get back to him that we're courting."

"Courting?"

"You don't really 'date' in Egypt, you 'court.' We can't be alone together without Marik or Odion acting as chaperones, that sort of thing. Of course, Marik and I, as prospective brothers-in-law, can spend as much time alone together as we like."

Yugi laughed. "Okay, now that's ironic. The rules for dating are so conservative that it's actually easier for a gay couple to have a relationship than a straight one."

"Funny how that works out, isn't it?" Bakura grinned.

"And you're happy?" Yugi asked.

"Delirious," Bakura confirmed. He looked at his friend. "What about you, Yugi? Are you happy?"

Yugi frowned. "I… yeah, I guess I am. Not delirious, but I'm glad I'm here. I'm glad I'm studying Egyptology."

"Well, I expect for you to be delirious you'd have to be in New York, not Egypt," Bakura said suggestively. Yugi turned deep red but didn't deny it. "But what about the Pharaoh?" Bakura continued. "Are you coming to terms with your connection to him?"

Yugi was quiet for a moment. "I don't know, Bakura. I don't know if I'll ever understand what exactly he meant to me. Which is pretty stupid if you think about it. If you can come to terms with your evil spirit, I should be able to come to terms with my good one."

"Not necessarily. Hate is pretty straightforward. Love is infinitely more complicated. Give it time. I have every confidence you'll figure it out in due time."

Yugi nodded, looking once more at the carving of the Pharaoh that looked like him. That was him. "Yeah, I suppose I will."

-END-