Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Darkness Before Dawn	By : SangoHuntress1977 Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 3356 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: YuGiOh and the characters thereof are the sole domain of Kazuki Takahashi and all rightsholders. I'm only borrowing them for entertainment purposes and am deriving no profit.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
The drive to the beach house was a pleasant, uneventful affair as Jou’s red convertible made good time over the coastal highway. While Mai and Shizuka sat in front, navigating their journey for Jou, Yugi was finally able to relax and marvel at the spectacle that was the Pacific Ocean, with the sun’s light glinting off its lapping waves and vault of blue seeming to go on forever.

Yugi looked over at Atem and smiled fondly at the sleeping beauty next to him.

“Wake up, Até! We’re here!” Yugi announced, gently shaking Atem’s shoulder.

Atem’s face scrunched up and heavy eyelids cracked open to reveal sleep fogged rose petal irises that looked about without focus before closing again as the Egyptian slipped back into the depths of sleep.

“I still can’t wake him up,” sighed Yugi.

“He’s in a healing sleep right now, Yugi. Once he’s recovered sufficiently, he’ll wake up of his own accord,” explained Mai, laying a reassuring hand briefly on Yugi’s shoulder. “Jou!”

“No prol’m,” replied Jou, reaching down and lifting Atem into his arms with practiced ease.

In the safety of Jou’s arms, Atem sighed and shifted, but showed no signs of awakening. With a fond smile at the Egyptian, Yugi followed the others toward the beach house, where Mai was already pulling out her key.

When they rounded the small hill, which cut the property off from the road, Yugi and Jou’s faces lit at the sight: a huge sandy beach with the rolling blue tide swishing in and out like clockwork. Aside from the sounds of the wind and water, the only thing to be heard was the squawking of gulls as they wheeled about overhead, commenting on the arrival of the five young people below.

“Sunuvabitch!” commented Jou. “Mai, ya gotta bring me here one a dese days!”

“We’ll come here next summer,” promised Mai as she put the key into the keyhole.

“Dat’d be cool,” grinned Jou.

Mai turned the key and pushed the door open, revealing a large, clean interior, made entirely of wood. On the smooth, polished floor a luxurious Hokkaido black bear rug lay spread out before a large fireplace, which was already furnished with wood. These were surrounded by a couch and glass coffee table.

On the walls hung several beautiful pictures of natural landscapes. Also, there were large windows, which looked out upon the beach from all directions, seeming to draw the rolling blue ocean into the house.

After removing their shoes, the quartet crossed the house into one of the two bedrooms, in which reposed a substantial bed with a thick, soft mattress upon which to rest. It was upon this that Jou gently set the sleeping Atem before Mai stepped in and gently removed Atem’s pants, then tucked him under the blanket so he could sleep more comfortably.

“Thanks,” Yugi said in a dropped voice as he and Jou exited the room to join Shizuka, who was fiddling with what appeared to be a small black box on a table beside the couch.

“No prob,” said Jou. “Yer gonna have a blast here.”

“That’s an understatement. I just turned on the wireless router for you guys,” replied Shizuka, handing Yugi a paper with a password scribbled on it. “Enjoy!”

“Oh, yeah! I forgot all about that! Thanks!” said Yugi with a grin. “Good thing I brought my laptop. We can do our classes from here.”

“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Jou.

“I’ve stocked the fridge with fresh food to last you guys for the week. The store’s one mile north on the right side of the road; you can’t miss it. If there are any problems, you just text me and I’ll be out in a hot minute,” instructed Mai as she reached into her pocket. “Here’s a refill of Atem’s sleeping pills.”

“Mai-sensei, would you leave those in Atem’s room with him?” Yugi asked quickly.

Mai opened her mouth to object.

“When he found out you gave me the first bottle instead of him, he wasn’t too happy about it, to put it mildly. I promise to keep a sharp eye on him,” Yugi continued.

Mai looked into Yugi’s eyes, which shone with conviction, and the determined set of his jaw, before sighing in surrender and stepping into the room to deposit the pills.

When Mai exited the room, it was time for her and Shizuka to get back to the clinic.

“Thanks for everything, guys. I really appreciate it. I’ll text you all regularly and tell you how we’re doing,” Yugi promised with a bow from the waist.

“Remember to let Atem direct everything. He is in control of his healing process. Your role is to facilitate it for him,” Mai advised.

“Yes, ma’am,” said Yugi with a small smile.

“Good luck, guys,” smiled Shizuka gently.

“Thanks, Shizuka,” said Yugi gratefully.

“Text me t’night, Yuge. I got some great memes t’ sendja,” grinned Jou.

“Will do,” promised Yugi.

“BYE!”

Yugi stood in the driveway, watching as Jou started the car and pulled out, everyone waving goodbye. As soon as the car disappeared around the small hill, Yugi went back inside and returned to the room to check on his sleeping Egyptian. Atem lay as Jou had deposited him, completely oblivious to everything around him. With slow, gentle movements, Yugi stroked long blond bangs from the swarthy brow.

Atem’s face wrinkled a bit before relaxing as he leaned into the touch. Yugi couldn’t help but smile sadly at this small return of affection.

‘You’ll be OK, Até. I’ll help you get through this,’ he thought as he continued to slowly stroke the long blond bangs.
Yugi retrieved his laptop from his luggage and sat down in the chair, facing the bed so he could watch Atem while he worked. After logging into his school account, Yugi did the posted assignments and submitted them. Since he had no distractions in the form of one Jounouchi, it only took him an hour.

Finished with his homework, Yugi plugged his earbuds in and spent the rest of the time watching videos on a new site that had just launched, which allowed ordinary people to upload their own videos and comment on other people’s. He found a lot of metal videos, some he was familiar with, others completely unknown and was soon headbanging to the thrashing lyrics and screaming guitars.

Yugi had just finished a video when movement caught his eye, causing him to look up from his laptop’s screen. When he saw that the body on the bed was beginning to stir, Yugi quickly yanked the ear buds from his ears, put his laptop aside and knelt at the bedside.

Yugi watched as Atem’s eyelids scrunched up before cracking open to reveal dark ruby irises that looked up at him, totally unfocused.

‘Poor guy,’ Yugi thought as a tender smile passed over his features.

Atem wormed his hand out from under the blanket, seeking Yugi’s. Yugi promptly grasped Atem’s hand and squeezed. With a small smile, Atem returned the squeeze, eyes falling shut once again.

With a yawn, Yugi laid his head on the mattress, shut his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him as well.

/
c 1270 BC
Waset, Kemet

“And then Horus struck the final blow to Set, slaying him and avenging his father, the august Osiris, who had watched from the afterlife. The end,” concluded Hebai, looking up from the scroll in his hands.

Lying in his four poster bed, Atem smiled at Hebai even as he shifted a bit to try to chase away the lingering discomfort of his bandaged wounds.

“You recite divinely, Hebai,” the Pharaoh sighed happily.

“Thank you, Atem,” returned Hebai, looking demurely at the floor.

“Eyes up, Hebai. You’re my lover, not my slave,” reprimanded Atem gently, but firmly.

“S-sorry, Atem,” returned Hebai.

“Without you by my side, my recovery would take twice as long. Perhaps I would already be in the Field of Reeds,” mused Atem. “Stay with me always, Hebai, in life and death as you said to me before.”

Hebai took the proffered hand and squeezed gently.

“Always, my Desert Rose,” the young man sighed, closing his lilac eyes on the tears of joy that welled in them.
/

Monday, June 13, 2005

The rising sun’s crimson light flooded the room through the east facing window, hitting Atem’s eyelids and piercing the veil of sleep that had held him for a day and a night.

Crimson irises blinked lazily for a moment before registering that they were in an unfamiliar room. Atem looked over to his left and saw the rolling waves of the seashore through the large window near his bed.

‘We’re at the beach house! Did I sleep through the whole journey?’ he thought. ‘I must have; I feel more relaxed than I have in months.’

After yawning widely and stretching out his limbs, Atem turned his attention to the small, cute thing sleeping on the chair at his bedside.

‘My dear Yugi. How do you put up with me?’ he thought with a sad smile as he stroked his fingers through disheveled black and lilac strands.

Moving slowly and carefully, Atem stood up, lifted Yugi into his arms and deposited him on the part of the mattress that was still warm from Atem having been on it for so long, then tucked him under the blanket.

Yugi stirred a bit, but didn’t open his eyes. Finished tucking him in, Atem gently stroked the crown of his head for a few seconds.

Next, he retrieved his pants and exited the room on silent feet, shutting the door behind him.
After a quick tour of the house, Atem ventured outdoors, feeling the patio’s smooth wood under the soles of his feet and the cool ocean breeze ruffling his long blond bangs. After sliding the door shut behind him, Atem stepped down from the patio and walked across the beach, the familiar feeling of the coarse sand between his toes grounding and calming him. When he stood at the shore, with the chilly ocean water lapping around his ankles, sending shivers up his spine, Atem took a deep breath, threw back his head and stared at the beautiful crimson hue of the rising sun dancing on the water before him. As the water glistened like a thousand rubies, Atem slowly allowed his lungs to empty, visualizing all the toxic stress that had been accumulating in his being for the past six years flowing out with it.

Overhead, the gulls made their presence known, swooping, wheeling on the wind and squawking as they set out on their daily forage. Atem wasn’t certain, but thought he could just make out dolphins in the distance, breaching the surface as they swam quickly along in search of their breakfast.

At the thought of breakfast, Atem’s stomach rumbled loudly, protesting its empty state. With a contented sigh, he turned back for the house.

After hosing the wet sand off his feet, Atem strode into the kitchen and opened the fridge, eyes lighting with gladness upon spying the tofu, fish, rice and tempura reposing on the shelf.

‘Ra bless you, Mai-sensei!’ he thought happily as he pulled his hair back in a ponytail before grabbing the desired ingredients.
Later…

The smell of grilling fish, boiling rice and cooking miso filled the room, making Yugi's mouth water and finally pulling him to wakefulness. As he yawned and stretched, he felt the softness of the mattress under him and realized that someone had put him to bed. Flinging the sheet aside, Yugi charged out of the room and went in search of said someone.

Yugi found Atem in a place that he hadn’t been in since this whole ordeal had begun: the kitchen. There he stood at the stove, all four burners going at once, occasionally stirring with the long cooking chopsticks.

“Bonjour, Yugi. Set the table. I’m almost finished here,” the Egyptian spoke, without looking over his shoulder.

A smile breaking out on his features, Yugi went and grabbed plates and chopsticks, setting two places at the low table. He then sat down cross legged on the cushion as Atem brought over a tray with everything on it. Yugi watched as Atem served two equal portions of everything, moving with his inimitable grace. After returning the tray to the counter, he sank fluidly down to his cushion and fixed Yugi with a warm smile.

“Thanks for the food!”

Yugi and Atem sat across from each other, eating their rice and soup in silence, the rising sun steadily brightening the room.

“Your food’s as awesome as ever,” Yugi complimented Atem at length.

“Why, thank you, habibi,” Atem purred, crimson eyes flickering with affection and amusement. “How I’ve missed this.”

“How I’ve missed this,” giggled Yugi, holding up a chunk of fish in his chopsticks.

“Is that all I am to you, a cook whose food makes your mouth water?” teased Atem, eyes dancing.

“Hee hee! Of course not, Até,” giggled Yugi, smiling widely at these longed for shows of affection and good humor from Atem. Of course, he would still take things slowly and let Atem direct everything, but this happy moment filled his heart with hope.
Later…

Yugi looked out at the bright blue sky, feeling the cool, but not too cool, wind blowing in from the ocean through the open window. The blue of the water beckoned to him like an old friend. Yugi jumped to his feet, ran to his room and fished his trunks out of his suitcase. He wasted no time in shedding his clothes and donning the suit.

Lilac eyes shining, Yugi tore through the house for the door and burst through it, flying over the patio and down onto the beach.

“Yugi?” he heard the voice of Atem, who had been sitting at the small table on the patio calling after him.

“Swimming!” Yugi threw over his shoulder as he flung himself into the water’s cool, blue embrace.

“You’re not supposed to get your bandages wet!” Atem called.

Alas, it was like calling to the wind.

‘Ra, Osiris and Set!’ Atem thought as he watched Yugi’s form wading about in the shallow water. ‘I’ve never understood the appeal of swimming. Water is for drinking and bathing.’

Atem frowned as he stood up and made his way down to the shore.

“Yugi, don’t get your bandages wet!” he called over the noise of the rolling water.

“Yeah, yeah!” Yugi returned nonchalantly.

‘Cheeky little thing!’ Atem thought as he waded out to his ankles, feeling no great desire to go any further and watched in mild amusement as Yugi romped about, splashing the water like a small child.
Presently, a rather mischievous idea took form in Yugi’s brain. He began to make his way toward Atem, hopefully to make the Egyptian think he was ready to leave the water. When he was within distance, Yugi splashed the water as hard as he could, succeeding in soaking Atem’s aloha shirt.

“Yugi!” yelped the startled Egyptian.

“Gotcha!” laughed Yugi, pulling away as Atem lunged forward.

Thus began a madcap game of chase, Yugi running as fast as he could, but always being caught and tagged by Atem, whose legs were longer enough than Yugi’s to give him an edge in the speed department.

Every so often, Atem would take pity on Yugi and slow down just enough so that Yugi could catch up with him and tag him without actually knowing that Atem was letting him catch up.

Under the warm summer sun, the tricolors dashed about, splashing each other with water, feeling the sun on their skin, the wind in their hair, the spray of the water on their faces and the wet sand between their toes.
That night…

Click click click click click

Four more pieces fell in line and Yugi was able to join these to two sections. Yugi gasped as he realized the puzzle was halfway toward completion and that he could make out its base form.

‘This is…’

/
c 1270 BC
Waset, Kemet

Hebai sighed in contentment as he rested bonelessly in Atem’s protective embrace. Since being allowed out of bed by Isis, Atem had become even more affectionate, were that possible, to his young servant. Hebai couldn’t help but smile at the light kiss the Pharaoh bestowed on the crown of his head.

His eyes fell on the beautiful golden pyramid that rested against Atem’s chest, Ra’s light reflecting off it, making it seem to glow. Cautiously, he raised his hand and fingered the smooth surface.

“Does the Pyramid interest you so, Hebai?” Atem’s voice rumbled with good humor.

“It’s so beautiful, Atem,” breathed Hebai.

“Thank you, meriu. It was my father’s last gift to me. I wear it in remembrance of him,” Atem explained, an uncustomary softness in his voice.

“I’m sorry, Atem. I miss my parents too,” sighed Hebai.

He felt Atem’s embrace tighten around him.

“We have each other now, Hebai, to the end of our days and beyond,” the Pharaoh murmured, resting his chin on the crown of Hebai’s head.

“Forever,” agreed Hebai, closing his eyes.
/

That familiar full feeling deep within brought Yugi to wakefulness with a groan of protest.

‘That’s it! Nothing to drink an hour before I go to bed!’ he thought as he opened his eyes.

As Yugi made his way down the small hallway, he noted that the door to Atem’s room was ajar. This was odd as Atem always slept with his door closed. Upon peering into the room, Yugi found the bed unoccupied.

‘Where’d he go?’ Yugi thought.

Yugi went to the bathroom and did what he needed to do. On his way back, Yugi happened to glance out the eastern window and saw the large yellowish-white orb, keeping vigil over the night sky.

‘A full moon! I haven’t seen that since I was a kid,’ Yugi thought.

Forgetting his desire for further sleep, Yugi opened the door and stepped out onto the deck, gripping his upper arms as a cool night breeze hit him through the thin blue cotton of his PJs. A further look revealed the familiar form of the missing Egyptian, standing on the beach, also watching the moon.

As if sensing Yugi’s stare, Atem turned and looked back at the smaller man standing on the patio. When Yugi saw the Egyptian’s hand motioning him over, he didn’t need to be told twice and bolted off the patio, tearing down the beach to join Atem.

Yugi skidded to a stop a few feet away from Atem and stood still beside him, glancing at the Egyptian out of the corner of his eye. Quite the next moment, he saw Atem’s form sidle up to him and felt a pair of lean, muscular arms wrap around his small frame, pulling him into a long absent embrace. Yugi slowly and carefully wrapped his arms around Atem’s lean torso and watched the night sky, feeling warm and secure in Atem’s strong embrace. The two stood in each other’s arms, watching as the moon’s light chased away the darkness.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Alas, iron gray clouds find their way even to paradisiacal beach houses, as Yugi found out, much to his dismay the next morning.

‘Isn’t there anywhere I can go where I don’t have to look at you?!’ he thought, shooting an angry glare at the thick, dark clouds that swirled overhead.

As always, Yugi’s thoughts turned back to that dark night ten years ago, when his world had ended in a fiery car crash on a rain slicked highway.

‘Gods… Why can’t I just forget?’ Yugi thought as he wrapped his arms around his knees, hugging himself for comfort.

So lost was he in his misery that he never heard the hushed cadence of bare feet over the wooden floor, nor felt the slight shift in weight as another body sat on the bed behind him. He wasn’t entirely surprised when felt the strong arms encircle his trembling form. He remained silent as he felt himself being pulled to the lean chest of his dark twin. Closing his eyes, Yugi allowed himself to go boneless in Atem’s embrace. The tears fell freely down his round cheeks as he buried his face in the fabric of Atem’s dark maroon shirt.

Atem held Yugi close to him, rubbing the younger man’s back in slow, soothing circles, as Yugi had so often done for him when he had been upset or sad. Shifting positions slightly for comfort, Atem rested his chin on the crown of Yugi’s head and closed his eyes.

The two spent the rest of the rainy day thus, barely moving a muscle, drawing comfort from each other’s touch.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Atem peeled back the last bandage to check the healing wound on Yugi’s shoulder. Thanks to Mai-sensei’s timely treatment and his careful vigilance, the wounds had finally closed up fully, which Atem knew would make Yugi’s day.

“Congratulations, habibi. Your wounds have fully healed,” Atem announced with a smirk.

“Yes!” cried Yugi, jumping up and almost bowling poor Atem over in the process.

Before Atem could say anything, Yugi was tearing toward his room, shedding his clothes along the way.

‘Ma’at’s feather!’ Atem thought in consternation as he followed Yugi, picking up the trail of clothes left in his habibi’s wake… just in time to see a now swimsuit clad Yugi go tearing out of the room and making a beeline for the door.

‘Obviously, he’s as fixated on swimming now as he was when we arrived here,’ Atem thought as he neatly folded Yugi’s clothes and laid them on the bed.

When Atem emerged into the wind and sunshine, Yugi was little more than a tan speck against the deep blue backdrop of the ocean. With a shake of his head, Atem ventured down to the beach, coarse sand being squeezed between his toes as he walked, and stood on the shore to watch Yugi.

“C’mon, Atem!” Yugi called, waving his arms at the Egyptian.

“No, thank you,” Atem returned disdainfully.

“Wimp!” called Yugi as he playfully splashed the water. “C’mon, Até! It’s fun! If you can’t swim, I’ll teach you!”

‘Teach me?! You arrogant little…’ thought Atem spitefully as he peeled off his shirt and cautiously stepped into the flowing and ebbing water, crossing his arms over his chest and shivering as the icy ocean engulfed him. ‘By Isis, this is cold!’

Yugi couldn’t deny his appreciation of the view as he watched Atem strip off his shirt, revealing his beautiful body with those pert little nipples standing at attention as he began to shiver.

‘He’s so sexy when he’s freezing,’ Yugi thought as he watched Atem’s slow advance into the water.

Then, to Yugi’s amazement, Atem plunged into the water and started swimming toward him. In seemingly no time at all, the tricolors stood face to face in the water.

“I thought you couldn’t swim!” observed Yugi.

“I never said that I couldn’t, just that I don’t enjoy it,” Atem pointed out crisply.

“Oh… Well, maybe you’ll enjoy… this!” Yugi put his hands on top of Atem’s head and tried to push the taller man underwater.

“Yugi…”

Yugi continued to try to push, breath coming in grunts.

“What are you doing?”

With a frustrated huff, Yugi pulled back and glared at Atem. Why did everyone have to be taller than he was?!

“I was trying to dunk you, but you’re too damn tall!” he complained.

An eyebrow arched.

“Dunk me?” Atem echoed.

“Yeah,” answered Yugi.

“You mean like… this?!”

Before Yugi could respond, he had been pushed underwater. By the time he reached the surface, Atem was swimming away from him into the deeper water.

“Asshole!” Yugi cried as he kicked and started swimming after his murderous boyfriend.

Atem swam slowly enough that Yugi could keep up with him and was not surprised to be on the receiving end of a goodly splash to the face, which he returned with interest. As the waves bobbed up and down and undulated in and out and the gulls wheeled and squawked above, a madcap splashing game commenced, Yugi and Atem flinging water into each other’s faces and getting their hair so thoroughly soaked that it slumped down over their shoulders.
The next thing Yugi knew though, he had been grabbed and pulled sharply up against Atem’s rock hard chest and was staring up into those smouldering sunset irises of his boyfriend’s. As Yugi smiled up at Atem, roses and lilacs communicated wordlessly. The next thing either of them knew, Atem was leaning down, Yugi was reaching up and their lips brushed. It was a soft, chaste kiss, but it sent fire blazing through their veins. They pulled apart and stared.

“Oh, gods, Atem! Was that OK?!” Yugi asked, body beginning to quake. “I didn’t…”

He was silenced by a finger over his lips and looked up into the rose petal eyes once again.

“It was more than OK,” purred Atem.

‘Thank God!’ thought Yugi as he started to lean into Atem again…

Only to feel Atem’s lips against his, this time with the tongue running along them, seeking entrance, which he gladly granted.

‘I can’t believe he’s kissing me! I never thought…”

Yugi was distracted by the feeling of long fingers sliding down his back and caressing his pale flesh.
That evening…

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Yugi sat with his laptop balanced on his knees. Behind him, legs spread wide to accommodate Yugi sitting between them, sat Atem, looking over Yugi’s shoulder at the anime episode Yugi had just torrented over Mai’s wifi.

“You’re right, Yugi. There’s nothing like watching Sango brain Miroku for flirting with other women! What a lecher!” grinned Atem.

“Yeah. He doesn’t know a good thing when it bites him on the ass,” mused Yugi.
"Or brains him on the skull in Sango's case," chuckled Atem.

The two glanced at each other, then fell into hearty peals of laughter once again.
That night…

/
Thump-bump!

Atem’s breath came in short gasps as the weight of the heavy body behind him pressed his overheated body into the smooth, cool sheets. Cruel fingers pinched tender nipples as another painful thrust pushed the bed against the wall.

Thump-bump!

“Unh…” a strangled cry that he tried desperately to silence.

“Silence, demon! You know what happens when you cry out!” growled the voice from behind him.

Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump! Thump-bump!

Eyelids scrunched and lips pursed to hold back the tears and screams that wanted desperately to erupt from him even as the burning, tearing pain exploded throughout his body.

“You little demon. I will exorcise this evil from you if it’s the last thing I do…”

Thump-bump!
/

Atem’s eyelids flew open as his body jerked spasmodically. Gasping for breath, he sat up and looked about the room, eyes meeting with the quiet darkness, punctuated only by the whooshing of the seashore from outside.

‘Oh, gods! He still rules me in my dreams! Will these nightmares never cease?!’ he thought as he closed his eyes against the tears already welling up.

With a shuddering breath, Atem sat up and opened his shutters in a bid to chase away the consuming darkness. As the tears rolled from tired, haunted eyes, Atem stared desperately up at the twinkling diamonds set against Nut’s dark body.

‘Mama, Papa, are you really out there?’
With a sigh of relief, Yugi exited the bathroom and began padding down the short hallway to his room, when he was stopped by the unmistakable sound of soft sobbing, which caused his heart to feel hollow and heavy in his chest.

Though being at the beach house seemed to be helping Atem a great deal, Yugi knew that recovery was a process of milestones and relapses. He approached the door, raising his hand to knock.

Knock knock…

At the sound of the knock, Atem silently cursed himself for not having been quiet enough. He had already been such a burden to Yugi and really hadn’t wanted Yugi to know about this nightmare. But if he kept his nightmares from Yugi, was that any better than Yugi withholding information on Akhnadin from him?

‘That has to stop. If Yugi and I are to have a future together, I must open up fully to him,’ Atem thought as he wiped the moisture from his cheeks.

“C-come in,” he called in a small voice.

At the stuttered consent to his entry, Yugi opened the door and peeked in, heart softening at the sight of Atem sitting up in bed, still wiping the remaining moisture from his face, large, frightened eyes fastened expectantly on the door. Taking a deep breath, Yugi stepped in, closing the door behind him.
“Hey, buddy. I heard you crying. Were you having a nightmare?” Yugi asked gently.

With a sniffle, Atem nodded, looking down at his hands.

“The usual?” Yugi ventured.

Another nod.

Yugi approached slowly until he was standing at Atem’s bedside.

“OK if I sit down?” he asked.

With a glance up at Yugi, Atem nodded. Yugi sat down next to, but not touching, Atem. The two sat in silence, staring out the window at the star spangled navy sky for a bit.

“When will it stop?” Atem asked in a small, shaky voice.

Yugi frowned and sighed, remembering Mai’s words of warning.

“It may never stop, Atem. You might have to live with it forever,” he answered truthfully.

A hitched breath was Atem’s only response.

“But you don’t have to face it alone,” Yugi piped up quickly. “Even if you have these nightmares and panic attacks the rest of your life, I’m gonna be right at your side and face them with you. I won’t be scared and I won’t run off. It may not be much, but it’s a promise!”

To Yugi’s surprise, Atem turned and gazed at him solemnly. He flinched when he felt the warm palm of Atem’s hand caress his cheek softly.

“No. It’s worth a great deal… to me,” Atem replied in a breaking voice.

“Me too, Até,” Yugi agreed, gently grasping Atem’s hand and rubbing his cheek against it.

Yugi was surprised yet again, when he felt the warm body of his boyfriend snuggle into his, followed by hot tears seeping through the cotton of his PJ top as Atem broke down completely.

‘Oh, Atem…’ Yugi thought sadly as he began rubbing Atem’s back, occasionally planting a kiss on the crown of the Egyptian’s head. ‘My beautiful Até… Gods, you’ve suffered enough. There’s gotta be a way to help you heal from all this.’

As they lay thus, a realization struck Yugi full on. For the first time, Atem was permitting Yugi to hold and comfort him after a nightmare. So though he felt bad for Atem having to endure yet another nightmare, Yugi couldn’t help but rejoice at the new level of trust Atem had given him just now.

‘Maybe there’s a silver lining to all these clouds after all,’ he thought as he buried his nose in Atem’s thick hair.

At long last, Atem’s sobs died down to hiccups and he shifted in Yugi’s arms, looking up at Yugi with puffy, bloodshot eyes and tear dampened cheeks.

Yugi smiled gently down at Atem, brushing back long blond bangs from his brow. His heart lightened in his chest at the sight of Atem’s lips quirking up in just the tiniest of smiles. It wasn’t much, but to Yugi, it meant the world.

“How about a back rub to help you relax?” Yugi whispered at length.

Atem considered a moment, then nodded briefly.

“Why dontcha get comfortable while I get the lotion?” suggested Yugi as he sat up and departed the room.
A few minutes later…

In the bedroom, lit only by the dim, dancing light of four candles, one burning in each corner. Yugi stood appraising the view of his Egyptian who lay prone on the bed before him. With a small start, Yugi noticed Atem’s boxers, lying discarded on the chair.

‘Well, this is new!’ he thought as he slowly approached and poured a dollop of lotion into his left palm.
"I'm gonna start on your shoulders."

After his hands were thoroughly coated, he gently laid them on the small of Atem’s back to begin his work. He worked his way steadily down Atem's back, pushing and kneading where needed in order to relax the muscles. One muscle after another, the pent up tension drained away, leaving the man under Yugi’s hands as loose as a noodle.

“Unnnnhhh… unnnnnnnhhhhhhhh…” Atem’s melodic groans assured Yugi that he was totally relaxed and enjoying the experience.

When Yugi reached the base of Atem’s spine, he finished off with a magnificent swirl of his hands, then helped the Egyptian to roll over so he could tend to the front. He gulped hard as his eyes fell on that area. The dark beauty that lay before him certainly had no need to be ashamed here.

“Yugi,” Atem’s voice rumbled, distracting Yugi from the prurient fantasies that arose in his head.

“Y-yeah?” Yugi asked, hoping his voice didn’t squeak as his eyes roved over the plains and contours of Atem’s chest.

“Would you do me a huge favor?” Atem asked, fixing Yugi with a direct, serious gaze.

“Anything you want, you name it,” Yugi returned.

“I need you… to touch me,” Atem replied as he traced his fingers over his muscular chest and flat stomach.

“Where?” asked Yugi, aware that his mouth was now as dry as a desert.

“Anywhere you like, without asking or warning me first,” Atem instructed, gazing intently up at Yugi.

This pulled Yugi up short. In the months that they had been in their relationship, Yugi had always asked and warned Atem before touching him any more intimately than holding his hand or stroking his brow.

“Are you… sure?” he asked tremulously.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life,” Atem answered passionately. “Will you do this for me?”

“OK. But if anything I do bothers you, tell me right away,” Yugi said uncertainly.

With a brief nod, Atem put his head back and closed his eyes.

Yugi climbed onto the bed next to Atem and laid both hands on his chest. He began rubbing lightly and gently in small circles while watching Atem's face for any signs of distress.

Quite the opposite of distress, Atem’s features visibly relaxed and he let out a deep, contented sigh.

“Ahhhh…”

Emboldened by this, Yugi leaned in and placed a light kiss on Atem’s forehead, then touched their brows together, while his hands traveled lower.

Yugi began rubbing his palms in slow circles over Atem’s nipples, making them rock hard. When he heard another contented sigh, he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

Working his way downward, Yugi softly grazed his fingertips over lean ribs, causing Atem to squirm and laugh involuntarily, opening his eyes and glaring mildly up at his smaller boyfriend, who smiled guilelessly back at him. Smiling up at Yugi, Atem closed his eyes and tilted his head back again.

Yugi worked his way down, pressing into Atem’s stomach with a firmer touch to avoid tickling him. In small centripetal motions, he worked his way around Atem’s navel, dipping a finger into the small orifice every once in awhile and causing Atem to squirm under him.

“Mmh!”

At this vocalization, Yugi looked up into Atem’s face, but as he saw no signs of distress or discomfort, continued his work, moving steadily down, down… His eyes fell on Atem’s now turgid length. All of Yugi’s ministrations had evidently been very enjoyable for the Egyptian and Yugi was glad of that, but… he began to withdraw his hands.

This was stopped by the feeling of Atem’s hands over his own. Yugi looked up into Atem’s face. The half-lidded crimson eyes smoldered with something Yugi had never seen in them before, even as Yugi felt his hands being guided to the rigid length by Atem’s.

‘He wants this?!’

Yugi gave an experimental stroke from the base to the tip and was rewarded by the body underneath him arching up and a groan, torn from Atem’s lips.

“Unnnnhhh!”

Atem’s eyes opened again, looking up at Yugi with hunger and desperation flashing in their incarnadine depths. Giving Atem a gentle smile, Yugi set to work, stroking Atem rhythmically, palm over palm.

All too soon, Atem’s entire body was writhing under Yugi as he guided the Egyptian to completion.

“Mmmmmm aaaaaaaah!! Mmmmmmmm nnnnngggh!!!” Atem groaned and grunted out as Yugi’s hands tortured him sweetly.

Then, just as the precum began to weep from his tip, Atem’s eyes shot open.

“Yugi, stop!” he commanded.

Yugi immediately ceased all motion, glancing at Atem.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked anxiously.

Atem shook his head.

“I need you to complete me… from the inside,” Atem instructed in a husky, cracked voice.

Yugi’s entire body began to quake as he scrunched up his face in trepidation. Atem wanted Yugi to touch him there?! Yugi absolutely wanted to avoid another little indiscretion like the one with the vibrator. What if he moved his finger the wrong way and hurt Atem? All the trust and rapport they had worked so hard to build up could be destroyed by one misplaced digit!

“I can’t!” he blurted out. “What if I hurt you?! It’s a bad idea. Mai-sens…”

“Damn it, Yugi!” Atem’s voice broke in harshly. “You’re doing it again! I’m not a porcelain statue to be kept behind glass and stared at! I'm tired of shrinking away from normal human contact, of flinching every time someone comes near me! I need to feel your touch, not his! I need to heal!”

Yugi blinked, startled by the barely restrained rage in Atem’s voice and the crimson eyes burning even as tears of desperation pricked them.

“Remember that Atem is in charge of his healing process. Your job is to facilitate it for him.”

“Alright, Atem,” he said softly.

Using the lotion, Yugi liberally coated the first three fingers of his right hand and with his left hand, gently parted Atem’s nether cheeks. Yugi looked to Atem’s face for guidance, but the Egyptian’s eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply.

‘Probably fighting his fear of this. I hope this is really OK,’ Yugi thought as he began.

Pushing gently, Yugi began the gradual insertion of his digit, feeling the ring of muscle clamp around his finger, the smooth warmth of Atem’s tunnel enfolding him.

“Hnnn-aaaah! No!” Atem whimpered as Yugi slipped in.

‘Am I hurting him?’ Yugi thought, ceasing all movement and anxiously looking to Atem’s taut face.

“Please… don’t…” Atem whimpered brokenly, voice just above a whisper.

“Atem, open your eyes and look at me. See my face, not his,” Yugi instructed in a gentle and firm voice.

Atem’s eyelids fluttered open, allowing fear bright eyes to focus on the face of his boyfriend.

“Yugi…” he whispered breathlessly.

“Do you wanna stop?” Yugi asked.

Atem quickly shook his head.

“OK. Just keep your eyes on me,” Yugi said gently.

After these words, Yugi fell silent and kept absolutely still, allowing Atem to adjust to the feeling of the finger inside him. He watched as Atem breathed deeply, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on Yugi’s face to remind himself that it was not Akhnadin he was feeling inside him.

After a bit, the muscular ring relaxed and Yugi felt the roll of Atem’s hips against his hand. Taking this as permission, he began moving and twisting his finger inside Atem’s rectum, pushing in gently, seeking out that special spot.

When he felt the strong body jolt under his touch, Yugi knew he had hit home and began teasing the area with short, soft strokes.

“Mmmm aaaaah haaaaaa, Yugi! Oh, gods!” Atem cried as Yugi’s finger curled up in him, tickling his insides and sending warmth exploding through him.

After he felt the ring of muscle relax, Yugi began pushing his middle finger in, wriggling it to aid entry. The ring spasmed as he pushed forward.

At the feeling of the second digit seeking entrance, Atem tensed for a moment before taking a deep breath to relax his body, the feeling of being invaded and stretched both frightening and exhilarating.
“Aaaa haaaaaa-aaaaaaaah, Yugi!” he cried as he pushed down experimentally against the digits.

By the time the third finger was in, the veins in Atem’s neck were bulging as his head turned from side to side, eyes closed and lips curled back in a snarl.

As Yugi continued the slow, steady strokes, Atem began to thrust wantonly against those spreading fingers, crying out as they brushed against his prostate, the whole bed moving underneath them. Yugi noticed a few clear drops leaking from his tip as the movements increased in ferocity.

‘Wow! He really is enjoying this!’ Yugi thought in amazement as he continued his work.

Deciding to experiment, Yugi lowered his left hand to the scrotum and began massaging the testes, watching as they rolled under the sac’s thin skin. This caused an immediate reaction in Atem, who took a deep, shaky breath and let it out in a broken sob as tears began to stream from his eyes.

The Egyptian’s back arched and he threw back his head as a white geyser erupted from his tip. An inhuman scream was torn from his lips as his body convulsed as the waves of warmth broke over him.

“AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”

Determined to watch over Atem’s completion, Yugi continued stroking Atem’s prostate and fondling his genitals right through the Egyptian’s release, not stopping until the last tremors had died down and the dark beauty fell bonelessly back to the mattress.

Yugi withdrew his fingers, released Atem’s genitals and stretched out next to him, pulling his boyfriend into his arms.

“Are you OK? Was that alright?” he asked as he rubbed Atem’s back in the familiar, comforting gesture.

Poor Atem could only bury his face in Yugi’s PJ shirt and sob stormily, overwrought by all the emotions and sensations that had inundated him simultaneously.

Taken aback by Atem’s emotional release, Yugi could do nothing but hold his dark twin close to him while rubbing small circles in the scarred back, hoping to bring him a measure of comfort.

After a bit, the sobs died down and Yugi felt Atem’s body go limp in his arms. Pulling back just a bit to look, he saw that Atem’s eyes were closed and his face looked peaceful in sleep.

‘I hope that was OK. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt you,’ Yugi thought as he held Atem close to his heart and let his eyes fall shut.
Thursday, June 16, 2005

Floating up through layers of unconsciousness, Yugi became aware of the pleasant sensation of something stroking through his hair. There was something important that he had to see to, something involving… Atem!

Yugi’s eyes snapped open and looked straight up at Atem, who smiled blissfully down at him as he continued to comb his fingers through Yugi’s hair.

‘He’s smiling. That has to be a good sign,’ Yugi thought hopefully.

“A-are you OK?” he asked anxiously.

“Better than I’ve been for a long time, thanks to you,” Atem purred, rose petal irises glowing strangely as he leaned forward and touched his brow to Yugi’s. “You have helped me, more than I can say.”

“I… I’m glad,” Yugi squeaked.

Atem smiled again as he pulled back to gaze into Yugi’s eyes.

“Just being near you like this is a balm to my heart,” the Egyptian continued.

Yugi felt his cheeks heat up as his heart beat a staccato in his chest.

“Not just me. Jou, Mai-sensei and Shizuka all care about you and want you to get better too,” he quickly put in.

At this, Atem chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated throughout Yugi's body due to their proximity to one another.

“Jou and Shizuka are great friends and Mai-sensei is a fine doctor, but you, Mutou Yugi, are my sunu,” he said emphatically, fingers under Yugi's chin to make the younger man look into his face.

“What’s that mean?” Yugi asked.

“My healer,” Atem’s voice rumbled.

At these words, Yugi could only blush and bury his face in Atem's bare chest.

After a minute to allow his cheeks to stop burning, Yugi was able to smile back up at Atem, who smiled back down at him. Yugi wasn’t naive enough to believe that Atem could be fully healed by one good fingering. However, the light that shone in the Egyptian’s eyes was new. An important milestone in his recovery had been achieved.

Yugi looked up at Atem again, just in time to see the dark one leaning his head down and capturing his lips in a gentle, but passionate kiss. Yugi’s eyes fluttered closed and he returned the kiss, feeling for the first time like he could show affection for Atem without worrying about everything he did. Boundaries would still be respected of course, but now Yugi felt safe being a bit more adventurous.

Testing this out, he wrapped his arms around Atem’s waist and was rewarded by being pulled sharply up against the very warm and very naked body of the Egyptian.

‘Gods, he’s so beautiful and he smells like sandalwood and incense!’ Yugi thought.

How could he never have noticed this before?

“Something interesting you, habibi?” Atem teased.

“It's just I never noticed that you smell like sandalwood and incense,” Yugi responded, praying he wouldn't blush again.

At this, Atem threw his head back and laughed, a deep, wonderful sound that Yugi hoped to hear more often from now on.
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Darkness Before Dawn