Where was he?

There were whispered words and soft touches. Fleeting moments of awareness, then the darkness would sweep forth again. If he was dead, it was not peaceful. Yugi dreamt of butterflies with torn wings. Roses with wilted petals. Gold that crumbled into loose sand. Purple blossoms on ivory skin. The smell of dirt. The smell of blood. The sound of screaming.

Was any of it real?

If it was real, it was surely his fault.

At one moment, Yugi drifted back to awareness in the middle of a conversation:

"—Aren't you tired?"

A grunt.

"When was the last time you slept?"

Silence.

The man sighed and changed the subject.
"He's still unconscious?"

The answer was soft.
"Yes."

More silence.

"Has he…" There was a heavy pause. "Has he moved yet, at least?"

"No."

"He will come back to us. Eventually."

"Kaiba, I…sometimes I think that he's actually…"

"He is not dead."

"I know. It's just that he's so still that…well, you know."

"I'm sure his mind is just healing. It's only been a day, you know."

"Yes. I suppose you're right…" Yugi felt a slight pressure on his skin. "You take you're time sorting out things in there… Just don't forget to come back."

Kaiba coughed. "Speaking of healing, how is your—"

"It's fine. I'm fine."

"Okay."

Yugi didn't understand what they were talking about, and it was too hard to stay alert to the conversation. He wanted silence again, so he let himself slip back into the darkness.

A sharp, curt voice:
"—still holed up in his room."

Another, softer voice:
"We can't really force him to do anything…"

"Like hell we can't!" The first snapped.

"Well…we can try to coax him out. Gently."

"What, like he's a god damn dog?"

"His best friend and the love of his life is dead. He needs time."

"No—I don't mean that he can't—of course he needs time—but…!"

"Can't we do this another time, Bakura?"

"He was my best friend, too, Ryou!" Bakura exploded.

Silence.

Then Ryou's whisper:
"I know."

Days or weeks—maybe even years—later, Yugi emerged from his dark sea for the last time.

"When ever you come in here, you ask me how I am." Someone said, and Yugi felt a comfort in the low bass of the voice. Atem. Thank god, Yugi prayed. Atem was alive. Yugi was no longer dazed on where he was, what he was, or who he was. The past eons in the quiet and darkness seemed so long ago - though he hoped he hadn't been out as long as he felt it had been.

"Well, can you blame me?" A female voice. Rebecca, Yugi thought. She was safe, too."You're always here when I come. Do you ever sleep?"

"Of course. Periodically." There was a smile in Atem's voice. Yugi felt like rolling his eyes. Of course Atem had been there the whole time.A warmth spread from Yugi's chest. That was just like him.

"Well…I'm glad you get some sort of rest, then." Rebecca replied. "What about your back?"

"Perfectly fine, thanks to a certain sleeping beauty."

Yugi would rather not remember that scene. He cringed.

"Did Yugi just grimace?" Rebecca asked suddenly. Footsteps came closer.

"Did he?" A touch was placed on Yugi's cheek.

"I'm sorry. I must have looked at him wrong or something. I just thought I saw his face move."

"I've been waiting for him to show me some kind of life other than breathing…" Atem sighed.

Yugi wanted to open his eyes then and there, question Atem and make sure all of his friends were okay, but it was like his body was frozen. He was the most aware he'd ever been since falling unconscious, yet he couldn't make his limbs do as his mind said. For now, he thought, this is fine. But, oh, how he wished he could at least hold Atem's hand.

As if they shared thoughts, Atem's fingers wrapped around Yugi's gently.
"How are you holding up, Rebecca?" He questioned.

"I'm doing alright. Just…trying to figure out my next step."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I don't have any where to do."

"Yes, I know, but I told you that—"

"—I can stay with you and Yugi for as long as I'd like." There was weight on the foot of the bed, and Yugi guessed she'd just sat down. "I appreciate it, of course. But…"

"But?"

"I want to find my parents."

"But—I thought…?"

"Well…yeah. I mean, after I turned six and started showing signs of my abilities…Well, I suppose they didn't want a freak as their child."

Atem's hand pulled away from Yugi's. "You're not a—"

"I know I'm not a freak." Rebecca laughed. "It's okay." Atem hesitated and sat back down. "Anyway…there are not a lot of sorcerers in the world, but when we are born, the parents do one of two things: accept them…or reject them. My parents denied me body and soul as soon as they realized what I was."

"That's awful."

"Yes. Anzu…she never realized how lucky she had it. Her parents accepted her – magic and all. They gave her everything she desired, and she soaked it all up like a dry sponge. That's why she was so spoiled. I like to think that maybe, given time, I could've helped her realize how good she really had it, but…" A sigh. "I guess I wanted to be her more than I wanted to help her, though. Aren't I just awful?"

"No, Rebecca. You're not."

"Yes, I am. I'm a selfish girl. When I saw the kindness in Yugi – how you and everyone around him loved him…I wanted that. I wanted a family so badly, I was willing to help Anzu get what she wanted. But before I could really do anything for her, you all found us. And I realized just how rotten and stupid I had been to even think to take what's not mine. Anzu wasn't a bad girl…really. She just didn't know any better. She's never been denied something before and she didn't know how to handle that."

"I am sorry for the way Anzu ended, but I can't ignore the fact that she brought it all on herself."

"She did. I know." Rebecca swung her feet over the side of the mattress. "But…even so, I want to find my parents. I want them to know that I'm here. I'm alive - whether they like it or not. The child they abandoned has grown, has keep living. It'll be a closure of sorts, I suppose. They can decide what they will do after that. I'm not saying I'll forgive them, but hopefully they'll see the errors of their ways. I'm not expecting much, though."

"It sounds like your mind is made up."

"It is."

"Nothing I can do will stop you?"

"Nothing."

Yugi smiled slightly. She was so brave.

"Then, I guess all I have to say is… Have a safe trip." Atem said. "Do what you need to, and come back home."

"Of course I will."

"You better at least write or something." Yugi said in a hoarse voice, opening one eye and staring at the girl.

"Yugi!" Atem and Rebecca both cried out. Atem quickly rose and leaned over Yugi, cupping his face in between his dark hands. Rebecca got off the bed and ran to Yugi's other side.

"You're awake!" Rebecca said, grabbing his hand. "We've all been so worried!"

"How are you feeling?" Atem asked, thumbs brushing over Yugi's cheeks.

"…Lethargic." Yugi admitted. He blinked a couple times, and scrunched up his nose. Something was off. "My mouth feels like sandpaper."

"I'll get you some water." Rebecca said. "I'm sure you two have things to say to each other, anyway." Atem gave her an almost angry look, and she pursed her lips at him before stepping through the doorway.

"…Do I want to know how long I've been out?" Yugi asked.

"Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway." Atem pulled his hands from Yugi's face. Yugi blinked, feeling that, again, something was off. What was he missing? "You've been unconscious for a week."

"That long?!" Yugi struggled to sit up on the pillows.

"I'm just glad you're alive." Atem replied, looking forlorn. Yugi looked at Atem's face carefully and, like a bolt of lightning, he realized what was different.

"What happened to your eyes?" He asked, grabbing Atem's face. The once ruby irises were now the color of a deep wine. His fingers traced around Atem's eyebrows. "How…?"

"There's…a few things different about me now." Atem admitted, pulling his face away from Yugi's questioning hands. "And there's a few things different about you, too."

"What do you mean?"

Atem was clearly uncomfortable.
"I don't want to tell you right after you just woke up."

"Tell me what?"

"Yugi…"

"Tell me." Yugi now demanded.

Atem closed his foreign eyes.
"Please. Just trust me."

Yugi's eyes started to water.
"Oh my god." He muttered. "You're dead, aren't you?"

Atem's eyes opened again.
"W-what?"

"You're dead!" Yugi was full-on crying now. "I'm talking to your spirit, right? Hell, angels and magic are real - why not ghosts, right? I knew it!"

"Whoa, whoa. Oh, dear."

"I can't believe this!" Yugi sobbed, scrubbing at his eyes.

"Will you listen to me, you silly man?" Atem grabbed Yugi's hands and placed them against the front of his shirt. Yugi felt a steady heartbeat under his palms. "I'm not dead. I have you to thank for that." He placed his knee up on the bed and leaned closer. "I am very much alive, thank you. And I plan in staying that way." Yugi swallowed hard and nodded, trying to calm down. He took several deep, shuddering breaths.

"Okay?" Atem asked.

"Okay. Yes." Yugi nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Atem set Yugi's hands down. "I need you to tell me the last thing you remember."

"Um…we went to my house…and Saguaro was there. I was hit by his magic and it knocked me back. I hit my head – on the coffee table, I think." Yugi absent-mindedly toyed with the bandage on his shoulder where one of the beams had struck him. "They you were knocked down, and he…" Yugi froze. The memory of an inhuman scream rang in his ears. Without another word, he grabbed Atem's arm and yanked him down face-first onto the bed. Before Atem could stop him, Yugi pushed up his shirt, looking down to see…nothing. Yugi shivered. There were two long, jagged scars covering his back.

"I see you remember that." Atem's unhappy, muffled voice came from the mattress. Yugi jerked his hands away from him. Atem sighed and sat up, fixing his shirt. "Saguaro really got me good, yeah?" Atem said, cracking a slight grin.

"I thought I had healed you." Yugi whispered, horrified, staring at his own hands. "I felt it tingling in my palms…I was sure that I did." He looked up. "I'm sorry, Atem. I'm so sorry. I tried."

"It's not your fault."

"But I'm the one who put you into this mess."

"No, Yugi." Atem shook his head. "I willingly put myself in this mess. I willingly saved you from dying in the park. I turned you on my own terms. I've helped you because I wanted to. I admit, the falling in love part wasn't my plan, but I like to think of it as a perk." He smiled. "Stop blaming yourself." Yugi kept silent, and Atem continued. "You thought you were healing me, and you were. You closed my wounds so I, at least, wouldn't bleed out. But you couldn't bring my wings back. Hell, they were so mangled and damaged, even if you could have gotten them attached again, I would never be able to fly. But, because of you, I'm still here."

"What about your eyes?"

He narrowed said eyes, looking slightly bleak.
"I no longer have my powers."

"Where did it go?"

"You have it."

"I…do?"

Atem looked at Yugi. "When I had my wings torn off, it was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt in my life. The shock of it was so great, the shadows acted on their own – to protect me from whatever was causing the distress. And, since I fell unconscious, I couldn't control them."

"So…they went to me?"

"I think maybe because you were the only conscious, able host. They saw you as a safe haven of some sort. I don't know. Maybe they recognized you."

"They sounded like whispers." Yugi said. "I called your name, and they stopped. One of them came to me—" Yugi used his finger to mimic the movement in the air "—and I asked it to help. I touched it. Then they – well, they killed Saguaro, for a nicer way to describe that. But while they were tearing him apart, they were…" Yugi struggled for the right word.

"They were entering your body, right?" Atem guessed. "Your body went cold and everything went black." Yugi nodded. "You invited them in." Atem rubbed his own arm. "If I'd explained my powers in more detail to you before, all this could have been avoided."

Yugi felt sick. An icky sensation of wriggling worms went through him.
"Take them back." He said, quietly.

"Yugi…"

"Take them back. They're yours."

Atem looked anguished. "I can't. I'm sorry. I don't know how without it causing you…a lot of pain." He shook his head. "I will not do that to you." Yugi slumped back against the pillows. "You still have your healing powers." Atem assured him, scooting closer. "The shadows... It's not a bad thing. You'll see. I'll teach you how to use them. I know it seems scary, but it's not. You know they can be gentle."

"No, it's just…it's your power. Not mine."

"Not anymore."

They were both silent for a long time.

"Does your back still hurt at all?" Yugi asked.

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop that."

"I love you."

Atem's Adam's apple bounced from the sudden confession.
"Yeah." He caressed Yugi's cheek. "I love you, too."

"Even though I couldn't save your wings?"

"Even though."

"And took your only ability?"

"Of course." He replied. "My abilities do not define me." He kissed Yugi's hand. "Don't be mad, but there is one more thing."

"Oh, god." Yugi sighed

Atem opened the drawer of the beside table and pulled out a mirror.
"Here," he said as he handed it to Yugi. "Don't freak out."

"Oh, god." Yugi repeated. With trembling hands, he rose the mirror to his face. Wide ruby irises stared back at him. "Fuck." He muttered, placing the mirror - reflective side down - on the bed. "Fuck." He said again, louder.

"I figured it was best to show you now rather than you go to the bathroom and scare yourself."

"Does this mean your natural eye color wasn't red all along?"

Atem suddenly laughed brightly.
"No, red was not my natural color." He pointed at his eye. "This is."

"That's fantastic." Yugi sighed, and peeked over to his lover. "Do you still find me extra attractive, at least?"

"Of course." Atem assured him. "What about me?"

"What? Are you still unbelievably sexy? Of course."

They both laughed.

"Yugi!" Jou suddenly rushed into the room and tackled him in a hug. "You're awake!"

"Thank goodness!" Ryou added, also entering the room.

"You're eyes are wicked." Jou added, and Yugi shoot him a look. "hey, hey - not bad! Just, ya know, different - like a vampire!"

"Oh, nooo…" Yugi groaned. That was the last thing he wanted to hear.

Rebecca handed Yugi a glass of water.
"Sorry, I got hung up telling everyone the good news."

"It's fine." Yugi sipped from the glass.

"Kaiba will be here to see you later, he got caught up." Jou told him. "And, well…Yugi…has Atem told you yet?"

"Which part? About his wings or his power or my eyes?"

"No, about…" Jou's face sagged. "Well…Malik left."

"What?" Yugi set the glass down. "Where did he go?"

"We don't know." Rebecca answered. "He packed up a backpack, told us he'd be back, and left. He didn't say where he was going or how long he'd be gone."

"Why would he do that?"

"Marik is dead." Bakura said, and Yugi looked at the doorway to see him walking in.

"What?" Yugi shook his head. "No. No way. He can't be." But one look at Atem's expression told Yugi that he could. And he was.

"After the funeral, Malik didn't talk or eat much…eventually, he came out of his room and told us that he decided to leave for a while."

"He said something to me about wanting to spread Marik's ashes somewhere meaningful." Jou added. "That he wanted him to see one last beautiful thing in the world."

"I don't know what to say…" Yugi said. Marik seemed like one of those constant things in life - an undeniable force. Something that would never change. He looked to Bakura, knowing that out of them all, he had been the closest one to Marik. "Are you okay?"

Bakura looked surprised, and he opened his mouth, looking like he was about to say something curt. But then he closed it and turned away from Yugi, away from everyone who was now watching him, expectant. Ryou stepped over and placed a hand on his arm. Some kind of silent, mutual understanding passed through the two, and Bakura's shoulders relaxed.

"No, but I will be." He finally said.

"We all will." Jou replied.

And maybe, in life, that's all you need - the promise that tomorrow will be brighter.