The last chapter! This also was quite hard to write, but I'm pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. Huge thank you to all those who read and reviewed this, you guys rule! I had a lot of fun making this fic happen, so I hope everyone liked reading it as much as I liked writing it. Not sure what to do for my next fic – completely out of ideas, but if anyone else has any, drop me a line via email.

It was very late at night when Yugi and Yami finally retired to their chamber – well, early in the morning, Yugi supposed. The purple-eyed boy simply curled up on the bed, exhausted but happy. He went straight to sleep, not noticing Yami had not joined him.

Instead Yami was out on the balcony, letting the soft breeze caress his hot skin. He was glad that Yugi had finally been able to trust him, and yet, there was something still niggling at the back of his mind. Turning around, he surveyed the sleeping boy.

Yugi is so at peace now. I still don't understand how someone could hurt someone so innocent as this boy.

The pharaoh continued to watch, as the full moon cast a glow on the boy's already pale skin, making it look almost unearthly.

He is so beautiful... I just wish...

Yami frowned slightly as he tried to make sense of his thoughts.

I just wish...

But Yami didn't know what he wished for. Seeing Yugi happy made him happy.

But still...

He couldn't believe how much Yugi had made him change. He was the same person, of course, but he felt so much more complete with Yugi there beside him. He wanted Yugi to be there beside him always.

But that's so selfish of me...

Yami knew that no matter ho much he loved Yugi, the boy was unlikely to love him back; at least, not in the way Yami wanted him to. Yugi trusted him, sure, but...

...does he love me?

Yami sat down heavily on the bed, causing Yugi to stir and open his eyes a little.

"Mmmmm... Yami? Yami, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Little One."

Yami looked away, but felt a small hand grasp his arm.

"Please tell me."

Yami wandered over to the balcony again, looking at the moon as he spoke.

"Yugi.... have you given any thought to where you will stay?"

"Not... not really."

Yugi's blush was proof of his real feelings, but he was too embarrassed to say anything – what if the pharaoh didn't feel about him in that way?

"I see. You know that... you do not have to stay here, if you do not wish to. I would not keep you here against your wishes."

It hurt to say that. Yami wanted, more than anything, for Yugi to be happy. But if Yugi would not be happy with him, then...

...then I cannot make him stay, no matter how much I want him to.

Yugi was silent.

"If you wish to leave", continued Yami, "then I will not stop you. You are no longer a slave; no man's property anymore – you are free to live where you like."

"Yami! Please look at me!" begged the smaller boy.

And Yami turned, looking right into those eyes he adored so much.

"I want... I want to stay with you! I want to.. be with you. But only if you want to be with me... do you?"

Yami gaped. Had he heard correctly? Did Yugi really want to be with him?

But that means...

Yugi, hearing no reply, blushed deeply and stared miserably at the bed.

That means...

Yami approached him, just wanting to be near him to give his answer.

He... loves me..

The Egyptian reached the bed, crimson eyes taking in the small, now very embarrassed form.

And I love him...

He took Yugi's hand into his own larger, richly tanned one and took a deep breath.

... I love him!

"Yugi...

Just say it....

Yugi, I...

Just say the words!

"I love you."

Yugi looked up, transfixed by Yami's gaze.

"I want you to be happy. Always. If you are happy, then I will be. And if you are happy with me... then stay with me."

Yami plunged on, wanting somehow to explain his deep feelings and put them into words.

"Before you came, I did not understand what people meant when they talked of love. I did not understand it. But now I do. And I want you to be with me, if you do. Because I love you."

"Yami..."

Yugi whispered the word, treasuring it.

"...don't ever leave me."

"I won't. Not ever. Promise."

And with Yugi's pale hand still in his own, Yami turned the hand palm up, and softly kissed it – a gesture of such passion that it made Yugi's eyes water. Feeling the tear fall upon his skin, Yami looked up, concerned.

"What is the matter?"

Yugi shook his head, smiling.

"Nothing... there is nothing the matter. I just... thank you, Yami. For everything. For what you have done for me. For letting me trust you."

"No. Thank you. For trusting me. For loving me. For making me complete, even when I thought my heart would never understand love. For... knowing my heart. A Pharaoh's Heart."

Yugi let himself relax against the taller boy, his head resting lightly against the warmth of Yami's bare chest.

"Yami... be with me tonight?"

"Of course."

----------------------

From the doorway lurked a shadow – a shadow who was dressed still in her white robe, and who smiled as she heard the exchange between a once-slave and a pharaoh.

"Well", murmured Isis. "It seems Atemu does see, after all."

She turned and moved soundlessly down the hall towards her own chambers, a gentle smile tugging at her lips the whole way.

Fin