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Rending the Veil	By : SangoHuntress1977 Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3154 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: YuGiOh and all characters thereof are the sole property of Kazuki Takahashi and all media rightsholders. I am merely a fan borrowing for fun and entertainment and derive no profit therefrom.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Startled, Yugi let out a yelp as he dropped the baseball bat and flashlight, which landed on the floor in just the right position to illuminate the face of his unexpected guest, causing Yugi to gasp in shock. Rainwater ran like rivulets through long, tricolored locks, among which Yugi could see a beautiful golden winged diadem. A soaked white shenti clung to the lean bronze body, serving to accentuate every plain and curve thereof. There could now be no mistaking the being’s identity.
“Other Me!” Yugi sobbed as he knelt down and rolled the waterlogged figure over.
It was Atem, as real and solid as he had been during the Ceremonial Duel. What was he doing here?! The Egyptian’s eyelids were just able to crack open, revealing glazed crimson eyes that seemed unable to focus. His right hand reached up for Yugi, who promptly caught it in his. Ice cold!
“Yu… gi…” the ancient one managed to get out before succumbing.
“Other Me! Other Me! Wake up!” Yugi pleaded as he shook his Other’s shoulders, to no avail.
‘I have to get him inside and out of these wet clothes!’ Yugi thought as he dragged Atem further inside, then shut and locked the door.
Mustering all his strength, Yugi slung the waterlogged Pharaoh’s arm around his neck while gripping his other wrist. In this awkward manner, Yugi managed to drag the dead weight of his Other through the house, up the stairs and into the guestroom across from his own room.
After a very difficult struggle to get Atem positioned on the bed, Yugi ran into the bathroom and retrieved the digital thermometer. After carefully lifting the diadem from his Other’s brow and setting it aside, Yugi touched the thermometer’s sensor to Atem’s temple and waited till it beeped, then checked the LED: 104°!
‘You’re burning up!’ he thought in a panic. ‘I can’t do this alone!’
“Other Me, hang on just a second. I have to get something from my room. I’ll be right back,” Yugi spoke in a raised voice, hoping to reach his Other’s fevered mind.
“Aaannnhhh!” was the only reply he received as the Egyptian’s head turned from side to side, face contorted in pain.
Yugi beat a hasty retreat to his room and quickly grabbed his phone off his desk. He tore across the hall and right back into the guestroom, as if afraid his Other might have disappeared in the few seconds he had been gone.
With trembling hands, Yugi scrolled through his contacts until he hit Jou, then composed an email, swearing aloud as the plastic device almost slipped from his wet hands several times as he worked.
blackmage: Jou! I need you to come to the game shop right away! I need your help, please!
Bzzz!
W4rDoG: want me 2 bring sum beer
"Really, Jou?!” Yugi face palmed, then fired off another text.
blackmage: I’m not joking. This is an emergency! Please come!
Bzzz!
W4rDoG: on my way ovr brngn sum beer jst in case tho ;-)
Yugi rolled his eyes as he typed his next text.
blackmage: Fine. Just please hurry!
“Unnnhhh!” Atem’s moan made Yugi set his phone aside.
He looked to the flushed, feverish twin of his lying helplessly on the bed.
“Other Me?” he tried again, grasping the Pharaoh’s left hand between his.
“Paiå… meriu…” was all Atem was able to get out as his head turned from side to side in his delirium.
‘He’s only speaking Ancient Egyptian. Must be because of the fever,’ Yugi thought as he squeezed Atem’s hand. ‘How was he able to come back from the afterlife? This is just too crazy to be real!’
“Āatchar!!!!!!”
The Pharaoh’s tortured cry recalled Yugi sharply back to reality. There would be time to think and wonder about everything later. For now, the Egyptian needed looking after. The first thing to do was get him out of those soaked garments.
“Sorry, Other Me, but I’m going to have to take your clothes off so I can lower your fever,” Yugi said as he disengaged his hand from the Pharaoh’s.
Working carefully, Yugi unlocked the gold bands from the Pharaoh’s arms and legs, and gently unclipped the earrings from his earlobes, laying them alongside the diadem.
With the jewelry removed, Yugi turned his attention to the rain soaked garments. It took several tries before Yugi was able to disengage Atem’s purple cape from his other clothes, then work it out from underneath his body. As the white shenti was slowly peeled away, the lean, bronzed body of a god was revealed to Yugi’s wide eyes. As his eyes roved over the planes and curves of the Pharaoh’s body, Yugi noticed that his mouth had gone bone dry and he felt a strange warmth stirring deep within him.
“Meriu!” Atem suddenly cried out, hand reaching desperately for contact, which Yugi gave by grabbing and squeezing gently.
“It’s OK, Other Me. You’re safe here. I’ll take care of you,” he said softly. ‘What is this feeling? Like how I used to feel when I thought about Anzu, but… more.’
A loud knock at the door downstairs startled Yugi back to reality.
“I’ll be right back,” he spoke softly as he gave another gentle squeeze before setting the Pharaoh’s hand back on the mattress.
Flashlight illuminating the way, Yugi flew downstairs and opened up the door to reveal Jou, looking for all the world like a bedraggled golden retriever, thanks to the rainwater dripping from his unruly shock of blond hair.
“Hey, Yuge!” he greeted with his easygoing smile, as if coming over to the game shop in the middle of a night rainstorm were a common practice.
“Thanks for coming, Jou,” Yugi said with a tired smile as Jou stepped in and out of his shoes.
“Hey, da place don’t feel haunted no more!” Jou exclaimed happily as he looked around. “So sailin’ da lantern worked!”
“Seems like it,” Yugi replied quietly.
“T’ank God. Dat was some crazy shit,” said Jou. “So, uh, wat was it ya needed help wit’?”
These words caused Yugi to remember why he had called Jou out in the first place.
“Head up to the guest room while I lock up!” Yugi instructed.
“Uh, OK,” said a mystified Jou, pausing to deposit the beer on the counter before heading upstairs.
After locking the door, Yugi charged upstairs to find Jou standing in the middle of the guestroom, staring incredulously at the bronze figure lying on the bed.
“Izzat da Pharaoh?! What da hell’s he doin’ here?!” the blond yelped.
“Dying of a fever unless we help him,” was Yugi’s practical answer as he rounded the bed and grasped Atem’s searching hand.
“Whyntcha call an ambulance?” asked Jou.
“I can’t! He doesn’t have any ID and you know how strict the government is about undocumented foreigners,” said Yugi. “It’s up to us…”
“Gotcha,” said Jou, snapping into action. “I’ll get some ice bags ‘n Tylenol.”
“Liquid only. I don’t think he can swallow pills right now,” advised Yugi.
“On it,” said Jou.
When Jou returned with a large bucket full of ice bags and a plastic bottle of liquid Tylenol, he and Yugi set to work on Atem. Jou laid an ice bag on the Pharaoh’s brow while Yugi put another one just under his chin. Two more were deposited under each arm.
Atem did not take kindly to the cold ice bags being laid against him, crying out and struggling to move away from the coldness. Jou gripped the powerful shoulders while Yugi gripped his thighs. Both men had to press hard to hold the feverish man still. Eventually, when the bags warmed a bit, the Pharaoh stopped struggling and they were able to let go for a bit.
The peace did not last though, as it was necessary to change each bag after the ice had melted too much. As soon as the spent bag was removed and replaced by a new, cold one, the entire thing would begin anew.
Atem proved to be a fractious patient, tossing, turning and crying out in ancient Ancient Egyptian. Several times, his limbs would swing out and nearly miss Yugi and Jou. Once, his right arm did connect with Jou’s chest, sending the blond sprawling. Even in this depleted condition, Atem was as strong as a lion!
“Jou, are you OK?” asked Yugi over his shoulder.
“Oh, yeah,” said Jou sarcastically as he pulled himself to his feet, gasping for breath.
“Sorry. He didn’t do it on purpose,” apologized Yugi.
“Yeah, I know…” muttered Jou as he clutched his chest.
“Easy there, Other Me. Me and Jou just wanna help you,” Yugi spoke to the Pharaoh as he applied fresh ice packs before leaning over to immobilize him.
Atem’s only response was to cry out in Ancient Egyptian.
“Hefat! Ash-t!”
“Wadda hell’s he sayin’?” asked Jou.
“I don’t know! I don’t speak Ancient Egyptian!” cried an exasperated Yugi.
“Well, excuuuuuuse me!” shouted an affronted Jou.
Yugi winced at the anger in his friend’s tone.
“Sorry. I’m just worried,” he apologized in a subdued voice.
“Well, yeah. I can see why ya would be,” Jou conceded as he continued to press down on the Pharaoh’s shoulders.
Falling silent, Yugi and Jou continued to pack the delirious Pharaoh in ice, changing the bags as it melted, all the while holding Atem immobile while he cried out in his ancient tongue. At last, the Egyptian seemed to exhaust himself, body going limp on the mattress. Seeing this, the two men gradually eased up on his body, glad for the chance to take a break.
“I need a way to talk to him in Ancient Egyptian until he wakes up,” Yugi said.
“Heh! Dun’ look’it me. I got enough trouble wit’ Japanese,” grinned Jou.
“I know. I know. I just wish there was something I could use to translate between the two languages,” said Yugi.
“Bakura!” said Jou after a moment’s thought.
“Bakura?” Yugi echoed, looking up at Jou.
“Yeah. His dad owns da museum! He might have sumthin’ dat could help us!” said Jou, pulling out his phone. “Lemme send ‘m a message.”
“Please don’t tell Bakura about my Other Self being back. I don’t want people coming around and asking a lot of questions, at… at least not till he’s better,” Yugi implored quickly, looking at Jou with large, solemn eyes.
Jou paused and read the worry and sadness in Yugi’s eyes.
“Gotcha,” he said. “I’ll just tell ‘m we’re learnin’ Ancient Egyptian fer kicks.”
Yugi looked down at the now still form of his Other, whose chest rose and fell with his ragged breathing.
“He’s exhausted,” Yugi said as he tenderly stroked the long blond bangs back from Atem’s forehead.
“Strong as an oni dough!” was Jou’s rejoinder.
Just then, Jou’s phone roared to life, blasting out a Church of Misery song.
“Shut that thing up!” yelped Yugi.
“Shit! Sorry!” said Jou, quickly opening up his phone.
Yugi checked Atem, but thankfully, the Egyptian had slept through the momentary break in the silence.
“Thank God…” he said softly.
“Good news! Bakura’s got an Ancient Egyptian dictionary we kin borrow, if one of us kin git ovah to his flat ‘n git it offa ‘m,” said Jou. “Ya want I should go?”
“Could you?” asked Yugi, looking up hopefully at his friend.
“Sure t’ing. You just look after yer Pharaoh till I git back,” said Jou, turning for the exit.
“OK. Thanks for all your help,” said Yugi with a tired smile.
“No sweat. It’s kinda like an adventure,” grinned Jou as he departed the room.
Moments later, Yugi heard the side door close and Jou’s car start against the soft backdrop of the pelting rain. Alone in the house with the one who had once been his darker self, Yugi sighed and sat down at the bedside.
“Now that you’ve worn yourself out, let’s get some Tylenol in you,” he said as he poured the pink syrup from the bottle into a small plastic cup.
Cradling Atem’s head in his right hand, Yugi held the small cup to the Egyptian’s lips, then tilted it a bit so that the pink syrup trickled into his mouth. The Pharaoh made a face as the strong flavored medicine was poured in. Before he could spit it out, Yugi closed his mouth and tilted his head back, forcing him to swallow the syrup.
The poor Pharaoh coughed so forcefully, that for a moment, Yugi was afraid that he might be choking and rolled him onto his side. However, no liquid came up and after a moment, the coughing subsided and the Egyptian’s labored breathing resumed. Heaving a sigh of relief, Yugi rolled his Other back over.
“Sorry about that, pal. I know that stuff tastes awful, but we have to get your temperature down,” Yugi explained as he replaced all the ice bags, causing the Pharaoh’s brow to furrow in displeasure. “I know. I know it hurts. Please, just bear with it for a while.”
Finally finished with the unpleasant duty, Yugi picked up Atem’s hand in his left hand, and with his right hand, began stroking it with slow, soft movements, even as he wished that he might be able to transfer some of his strength to the Pharaoh, as he had done in Memory World.
As he looked at the sleeping face of his Other, Yugi remembered back to the earliest days after his completion of the Puzzle, when the blackouts had started and bullies had started mysteriously disappearing or going insane. At the time, he had believed his Other to be nothing more than a darker aspect of his own personality, a mental defect brought on by all the bullying he had endured throughout his school career.
He remembered a few times when he had been so disturbed by his “Other Self,” that he had almost torn the Puzzle from around his neck and smashed it against the wall. Yet something had always stayed his hand.
Their whole relationship had been one of gradual unrolling and discovery. During all that time, the two souls had grown closer and closer, passing friendship and even brotherhood to enter into some kind of relationship that Yugi wasn’t even sure there was a word for in any human tongue. Soulmates, perhaps? But even that didn’t go far enough.
“How'd you go from being a mental defect to someone I love so much, it hurts?” Yugi mused as he stroked his Other’s hand, voice thick with emotion. “When you walked into that light, it felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I’m not sure how you got back here, but I know one thing: I’m never letting you go again. You protected me when I was small and weak, so I’ll protect you this time around. I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you or take you away from me again. I swear.”
The screech of tires outside told Yugi that his solitude with Atem was about to come to an end. Gently setting the sleeping Egyptian’s hand down on the mattress, Yugi looked tenderly down at him.
“I’ll be right back, OK?” he said softly as he laid a hand on the Pharaoh’s shoulder and gave a squeeze.
Atem responded by taking a deep breath and leaning toward the touch, which made Yugi smile sadly. With a final squeeze on his Other’s shoulder, he made his way out to the hallway to intercept Jou.
Within seconds, Yugi heard the side door slam shut, then saw the blond come tearing toward the staircase, brown wrapped book tucked under his arm. Yugi held his forefinger over his mouth in a gesture to silence the blond. Jou at once moved with a lighter step.
“He still sleepin’?” Jou asked as he reached Yugi.
“Yeah. Hopefully for a while,” said Yugi, eyes turning to the brown package under Jou’s arm.
“Oh, yeah! I got just wutcha need!” grinned Jou, handing the package to Yugi, which he opened.
After they had walked back into the room and Yugi was seated in the chair at the bedside, he began perusing the book.
“Ancient Egyptian to Japanese dictionary,” he read the cover.
“Bakura said we kin keep it as long as we need,” Jou answered.
With Jou looking half-heartedly over his shoulder, Yugi flipped through the book, looking for anything he could use as a greeting.
“Yuge, if ya t’ink ya can manage from here, I’ma go crash downstairs,” Jou said with a yawn as he stood up.
“Huh?” said Yugi as he looked up at his friend. “Oh, yeah. Thanks for going out in this weather, man. There’s an extra blanket in my room you can take if you want it.”
“Da one wit’ da lil trains…” said Jou with a wince.
“Well, it’s not like anyone’ll see,” said Yugi with an indulgent smile.
With a grunt, Jou left the room to get the train blanket, then retreated downstairs. Yugi turned his attention back to the dictionary. He began to flip through the pages. He never noticed when the fog of sleep crept over him, causing him to fall asleep in the chair, the book still open on his lap.
Suiyobi, Wednesday, July 17, 2002
The sound of lightly tapping raindrops pierced the veil of sleep, pulling Yugi to wakefulness. He yawned and stretched out, upsetting the dictionary from his lap as he did so and sending the book to the wooden floor with a soft thump.
‘Hm?’ Yugi thought as he leaned down and picked the book up. ‘Oh, yeah. I was studying Ancient Egyptian…’
Yugi looked over at the figure on the bed next to him. Atem still lay on his back, limbs spread out upon the mattress, head lolled to the right, chest rising and falling in thready but steady breaths.
Grasping the thermometer, Yugi again checked Atem’s temperature: 101°. Still too high. A glance over to the bucket showed no more ice bags.
‘Gotta get more ice,’ he thought as he grabbed the bucket and quickly left the room.
Yugi made his way downstairs, pausing at the entrance to the livingroom to glance at the couch. There, sprawled out with two empty beer cans on the floor beside him, was Jou, snoring like a buzz saw.
‘Always so laid back,’ Yugi thought with a smile and shake of his head before he went for more ice bags.
Ice bags in the bucket, Yugi was making his way back up the stairs.
“Åbata!”
A wrathful shout from the guestroom caused Yugi to speed up his steps.
‘Other Me is awake!’ he thought, hope dawning in his heart.
Yugi ran into the room and quickly set the bucket down before looking at the bed. Atem was leaning against the head of the bed, crimson eyes wide open.
“Oth…”
The words died on Yugi’s lips as his momentary hope was dashed when he saw that the Pharaoh’s eyes, though open, were unfocused and still bright with fever.
‘He’s delirious,’ Yugi thought, heart sinking in his chest.
Suddenly, Atem’s fevered gaze snapped forward and locked onto his own. Yugi was completely frozen in that gaze, as a bird trapped in a cobra’s.
“Åbata!” the Pharaoh repeated, as though calling a dog.
‘Åbata? What’s that mean?’ Yugi thought, quickly rounding the bed and scooping the book off the chair.
‘He thinks I’m a slave?’ Yugi thought, hurt lancing through his heart for a moment before he tamped it down. ‘He doesn’t recognize you. Probably best to play along for now.’
Moving quickly, so as not to agitate the delusional Egyptian, Yugi thumbed through the pages and found some words to use in response.
((“Yes, Great Pharaoh? How may this slave serve you?”)) he asked, pronouncing each word slowly and carefully.
((“I am cold. You will cover me with that blanket!”)) the Pharaoh demanded, pointing to the blanket that Yugi had stripped from the bed last night, which was now lying on a shelf against the wall.
((“Forgive me, Great Pharaoh, but I cannot obey your command right now,”)) Yugi spoke carefully, eyes dashing over the pages.
((“What do you mean you cannot obey my command?!”)) the Pharaoh shouted, deep voice bouncing off the walls.
In that moment, Yugi could see why so many had been in awe of Atem, both as an ancient Pharaoh and when dueling him in the modern era. His aura was nothing if not intimidating when he was angered, which he was bordering on right now. However, Yugi had a will and strength of his own and knew he couldn’t afford to let himself be intimidated by Atem right now.
((“Forgive me, my Pharaoh, but I must care for your health and right now, that means no blanket!”)) Yugi returned.
((“I am cold! You will cover me!”)) the Pharaoh barked, nothing daunted.
((“You may feel cold, but you’re boiling hot,”)) Yugi countered, voice rising an octave.
((“You dare?!!!”)) roared the Pharaoh, crimson eyes blazing with indignation and fever.
Feeling fatigued just from a few minutes of arguing with his delusional Other, Yugi stood up straight and met the fevered gaze head-on.
((“Yes, Great Pharaoh! If it’s to save your life, I do!”))
Fever bright eyes blinked, then surprisingly, the Pharaoh looked away and lay down quietly.
‘Sorry, pal’ Yugi thought sadly as he approached the bed and began applying more ice bags.
Through the rest of the treatment, Atem shivered and cried out, but offered no more protest. Yugi stayed at his Other’s bedside until the crimson eyes were again covered by heavy, bruised eyelids and the Pharaoh’s breathing evened out somewhat in sleep. At length, Yugi pressed the digital thermometer against Atem’s temple, where it showed a temperature of 100°. Acceptable, for the time being.
Heart heavy in his chest, Yugi retreated to his room to dress for the day, then headed downstairs to wake Jou up and see about breakfast for both of them. He knew he would also have to try to make Atem take some water, and get some more Tylenol into him.
‘Later. I just need to… stop for a while,’ Yugi thought as he approached the couch with the still sleeping blond on it.
“Jou,” Yugi said, touching Jou’s shoulder and shaking the blond.
“Eh… Five more minutes…” Jou slurred.
With a tired smile, Yugi knelt down so he could whisper in Jou’s ear.
“Kaiba Seto is waiting for his good morning kiss…” he whispered, then sat back. “3… 2… 1…”
“AH! WHAT DA HELL?!” yelped Jou as his eyes popped open and he leapt ten feet into the air.
“Morning, Jou,” Yugi said with a bright smile.
“Yugi… Neva. Do. Dat. Again!” Jou ground out, glaring daggers at his friend.
“Never do what?” Yugi asked innocently.
For a moment, Jou looked words not lawful to be uttered. Then he sighed and shook his head.
“There’s Doritos for breakfast,” announced Yugi through a yawn.
“Heh. So I noticed,” said Jou. “I’ma go git us some takeout. Shouldn’t take moren’ half ‘n hour.”
“Huh? Well, if you want to,” said Yugi with a shrug.
“See ya when I git back,” said Jou as he shut the door and went for his car.
To pass the time, Yugi sat on the couch and looked out the window at the gray sky and landscape. Raindrops continued to fall unabated from fat, iron gray clouds, soaking everything they came in contact with.
‘Will the sun ever come out?’
Finally, he heard the screech of tires as the car pulled back up. Moments later, Jou was through the door.
“I’m back!”
“OK…”
“I got us some Korean takeout fer breakfast. I dun t’ink ya’v eva had dat,” Jou said.
“No. Let’s see what it’s like,” responded Yugi, feeling somewhat adventurous.
He and Jou sat at the table together and folded their hands.
“Thanks for the food!”
They then picked up their chopsticks and started eating. Yugi’s eyes lit when the haejang guk hit his tongue. It was quite good. Who would have guessed Korean takeout could be so tasty?
“Wow! This stuff’s great!” exclaimed Yugi as he shoveled the soup in.
“Tastes good and it’s a damn sight betta’n Doritos fer breakfast,” teased Jou.
“Yeah, yeah,” replied Yugi with a roll of his eyes.
The two ate in silence for several minutes more, shoveling the soup in with their chopsticks before attacking the buldak.
“So, how’s he doin’?” Jou asked with a glance at the staircase.
The smile left Yugi’s face and he looked down at his spicy chicken.
“Delirious. He was awake earlier, but he thought I was a slave in Ancient Egypt,” he explained at length.
Jou whistled in amazement.
“Look, Yuge, if he ain’t no betta by t’night, you really oughta call an ambulance. If anythin’ comes up wit’ da government, I could prolly get Kaiba to help us out,” he offered.
“You think he would?” asked a dubious Yugi.
“Yeah, I t’ink so. I’ve upgraded Kaiba from ‘bastard’ to ‘asshole.’ I t’ink if we explained ever’thing to him, he’d help,” reassured Jou.
Yugi looked into the serious brown eyes, then down. He knew Jou was right. A high fever alone could kill a person, and neither of them was a doctor.
“OK…” he acceded.
Jou and Yugi continued their Korean breakfast with no further words.
That afternoon…
“Åbt…”
Yugi looked up from his dictionary to see those fever-bright eyes staring at him. At once, he was looking up the word he had just heard spoken.
“So, you’re thirsty,” he said to himself. ((“Yes, Great Pharaoh. This slave will bring you drink right away.”))
Yugi beat a hasty retreat to the bathroom, where he poured some Tylenol into the plastic cup, then quickly filled another cup with cool water. When he returned, he found that feverish gaze fixed expectantly on him.
((“Before the Great Pharaoh partakes of the water, this humble slave entreats him to drink this elixir. It will cure your ailment,”)) Yugi spoke as he held the small cup full of pink liquid in his hand.
((“Are you my healer?”)) the Pharaoh asked, eying Yugi warily.
((“Yes. I am here to attend to you until you are well,”)) Yugi spoke in his most authoritative voice. ‘Please let him buy this…’
The Pharaoh appeared to consider, then glanced back up at Yugi.
((“Very well. Any tricks and I shall banish you to the shadows personally!”)) the monarch growled.
((“No tricks, Great Pharaoh; just medicine,”)) said Yugi as he moved to the bedside and held the cup of pink liquid to his Pharaoh’s lips.
Atem downed the Tylenol in one swallow and made a such a face at the taste that Yugi had to bite back his laughter.
((“Elixir most foul!”)) the Pharaoh pronounced.
((“But a most effective one,”)) Yugi countered. ((“Here is your water, O Son of the Gods.”))
Yugi held the cup to the poor Pharaoh’s cracked lips. The fevered man began gulping the liquid down greedily, some of it splashing onto his chest. When he could take no more, Atem turned his face away. Yugi helped him to lie back down and replaced the partially used ice bags, much to the shivering Pharaoh’s discomfort.
During that long day, during which Jou took care of anything that needed to be done downstairs, Yugi could only watch helplessly as Atem thrashed about in bed and called for people seen and heard only by himself. Yugi’s heart thumped achingly in his chest as he listened to a feverish Pharaoh cry out the names of long dead people that only he remembered.
“Mahaad, your death shall not be in vain.”
‘Mahaad,’ Yugi thought sadly. ‘Your loyalest servant, the high priest who sacrificed himself to become the Black Magician. You went through so much tragedy and ended up dying when you were only 16. Even if we set things right in Memory World, that was just a retread. It doesn’t change what really happened to you…’
Breath hitching in his chest, Yugi took Atem’s hand in his own, interlacing their fingers and squeezing gently.
‘You’ve suffered enough. Just rest and let me take care of you, my beautiful pharaoh,’ Yugi thought as he squeezed Atem’s hand.
The squeezing seemed to lull the Pharaoh out of the hell he found himself trapped in. His facial features relaxed and his breathing evened out somewhat, though remained labored. With one hand gripping Atem’s, Yugi continued his perusal of the dictionary.
Several times throughout the day, Jou would peek in to see how they were doing, but Yugi always responded with a sad shake of his head. Jou would send a sympathetic gaze his way before retreating downstairs.
As Ra continued his slow, tortuous journey across the heavens behind the curtain of clouds and rain, Yugi stayed with Atem, convinced he was dying. He had had his old friend back for less than 24 hours and seemed on the verge of losing him again.
Atem’s fever broke long after darkness had descended. Yugi heard the ancient one’s breathing gradually grow deep and even. Not daring to hope, he pressed the digital thermometer against his Other’s temple. After a few seconds, it emitted its soft beep and Yugi checked it: 98.6°, normal temperature.
‘Thank God,’ Yugi thought as tears of relief flooded past his eyes.
There was no time to be idle however. Now that Atem’s fever had broken, it was important to keep his body temperature stable. Yugi set to work at once, removing the ice bags from the Egyptian’s body. This done, he replaced the blanket, pulling it up to the Pharaoh’s chin. Yugi regarded the sleeping figure before him, gently brushing back long golden bangs.
‘There we go. You’ll be OK now.’
Now that the fever had broken and his Other was covered, Yugi felt like he could dare to be the slightest bit selfish.
‘I just gotta… sleep…’ he thought as he blundered to his room.
When he reached his bed, Yugi collapsed onto it face first, not even bothering to change clothes.
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Rending the Veil