Atemu wasn’t aware of how long he sat there, stroking Hikari’s fur gently. It might have been seconds, minutes, hours when the door slammed shut and he heard a body thump. Jumping up in surprise, Atemu headed for the door. Hikari followed irritably, having been shaken awake.

Of all the things he thought might be there, he didn’t think an unconscious Yuugi would be one of them. Blood pooled around his middle and his arm. Atemu felt sick just looking at the crimson liquid seeping from his light’s body.

Hikari meowed loudly, breaking through Atemu’s hazed mind. Carefully, he shifted Yuugi’s body to see where all the blood was coming from. He recoiled in horror as he surveyed the damage. A large gash, obviously made by a knife, was still bleeding on his stomach. His jeans were torn and bloodied, as was his shirt. Yuugi’s arm was bleeding too, from what, Atemu did not know.

Gingerly, Atemu lifted his light and carried him to the bathroom. He needed to get the blood off of him and clean his wounds. He could come back later to clean the blood off the floor.

Ignoring the fact that this was not his Yuugi, Atemu removed all of the teen’s clothing. He tried to restrain himself from reacting to the sight of a naked Yuugi. Slowly, Atemu began to wash Yuugi as gently as possible.

Once he was clean, Atemu began bandaging his wounds with the First Aid kit in the bathroom. His mind kept flashing back to the time where Yuugi had taken a blow from Zorc for him. It had been even worse then. Yuugi had been bleeding heavily and the overdose of Shadows in his system nearly killed him. Atemu had spent many a night beside his aibou, watching for any signs of hurt. Yuugi had been strong enough then, he would survive this.

Still, the waiting was horrendous. It made him doubt himself and his usual pessimism didn’t think that Yuugi would make it. Thankfully, the dawn of the seventh day marked Yuugi’s awakening. The first thing Atemu had done was cry in relief and kiss Yuugi.

He wouldn’t be able to do so now. Still, his touches were loving and gentle. This wasn’t his Yuugi yet he treated him the same. Potential problems could arise from this. But at the moment, Atemu didn’t give a damn. His Yuugi or not, he didn’t want Yuugi bleeding to death from Ra-knows-what.

Having finished cleaning and bandaging Yuugi, Atemu carried him to his room. He searched Yuugi drawers for pajamas. Unabashed at searching through his hikari’s clothing, he found a simple blue outfit. Once Atemu dressed him, he began to lay his hikari on the bed. Unconsciously, Yuugi’s fingers gripped Atemu’s shirt. A small sigh escaped his lips. Reminded too much of his Yuugi to be safe, Atemu closed his eyes. Yet he still let Yuugi pull him closer.

Leaning over Yuugi, Atemu was painfully reminded of what was his and what was not. This wasn’t his Yuugi. This was a vindictive, harsher side of the one he loved with all his heart. But his warmth, his scent didn’t change with his personality. He still felt like the Yuugi, Atemu once knew and loved. It wasn’t fair, not in the least. Forcefully, Atemu restrained himself from claiming Yuugi’s lips. He couldn’t break what little trust Yuugi had in him.

Looking at Yuugi’s sleeping face was yet another reminder of what he couldn’t have. He looked the same as his Yuugi. He still sensed an underlying layer of wariness and mistrust permeating Yuugi’s relaxed aura. In the last years of Bakura’s war, Yuugi had gained a new level of wariness. Atemu felt it sometimes while they slept. Yuugi worried what was to come, the outcome of the war, and ultimately, whether or not they would live.

Yuugi’s soft breaths ghosted over Atemu’s face. He suppressed a shiver, not wanting Yuugi to awaken. He tried his best not to react to Yuugi’s warm breaths. He gritted his teeth, holding back any sound that threatened to escape his throat. Hikari watched impassively although ready to spring at any sign of danger.

Yuugi’s even breathing lulled Atemu into a trance. He wanted nothing more than lying down beside Yuugi and reveling in his warmth. If it weren’t for Hikari watching him, Atemu would have lost his self-control already. He was itching to lean down and kiss those tempting lips. He was so close too!

But finally, Yuugi’s grip loosened and Atemu moved away quickly before he did something foolish. His heart beat sounded so loud that he was sure Yuugi could hear it too. Again, he realized a problem. Should he stay or should he go?

On one hand, Atemu didn’t want to leave Yuugi in case something happened to him. On the other hand, Yuugi might not want him here. He decided to stay. Yuugi screaming at him was better than inadvertently causing him more harm.

Atemu sat on the ground, leaning on Yuugi’s dresser. Hikari jumped into his lap. Placing her paws on Atemu’s chest, she licked his chin to pull his attention to her. Turning his head, Atemu stared into warm, amethyst eyes. Immediately, he felt a strong pulling sensation on his soul.

(Yami…)

Choking back a cry of pain, Atemu convulsed slightly. Hikari continued holding Atemu’s wavering gaze. The connection fell through when Atemu’s eyes suddenly rolled back. He slumped over, unconscious.

He awoke again in the arms of the angel from before. He seemed surprised to see him again. But the surprise soon melted into warmth.

“Hello again, Atemu. I didn’t think you’d be back so soon.” The angel paused for a second, as if contemplating the reason why he was here. “I tried to reach you again. Hikari’s link with you is weak but the Gods did grant her a few more powers. The link with establish itself soon. You will not feel so alone then, Atemu.”

“Who…” He tried again, not remembering how to form words. It felt strange. “Who are you?”

For a moment the angel looked hurt. He thought if the angel had not been holding him, he would have recoiled as if slapped. Tears welled in the angel’s eyes and he instantly felt bad for being the cause of the angel’s pain.

“You… you don’t remember me?” His voice sounded strangled, as if he was holding back tears. In fact, the angel was withholding tears. He clung to the angel, fearing that he would leave. It would be dark if he left! The icy chains would come back for him and leech away the angel’s warmth! No!

“Don’t leave!” He pleaded desperately. His words seemed to flow from his mouth now. “Don’t let me go back to the dark! It’s cold! I don’t like the dark!” He clung to the angel, arms wrapping around his waist. He buried his face in the angel’s stomach, whimpering pitifully.

“Atemu, Atemu, darling, I won’t leave you. Please don’t ever think that. I was just… startled that you didn’t remember me. Are you sure you’ve forgotten my name?”

“I—”

Atemu opened his eyes slightly to see Hikari’s amethyst-flecked silver eyes. He blinked a few times, wondering how the hell he’d blacked out. She stared back silently, having no mind to weaken her master again. It took great effort to try and connect with Atemu. Each time she had gotten only his name before he blacked out.

He sat up again and watched Yuugi, holding Hikari in his arms. Still, the exhaustion remained with him. Forgetting the fact he still needed to clean the blood from the floors, Atemu stretched out on the floor of Yuugi’s room and slept. He did not dream.

Yuugi groaned softly, eyes cracking open. He didn’t remember passing out on the bed, much less falling asleep. His wounds hurt like hell. How did he get here anyway? The last thing he remembered was entering the dormitory. He thought he could die of blood loss here instead of the streets. Turning to the side, he saw Atemu stretched out on the floor, holding the freaky cat. Her eyes bore into his, eyes calculating.

Atemu. He did this. He treated and dressed his wounds, even going so far as to carry him to bed! Why did he care so much? Yuugi knew exhaustion when he saw it and Atemu carried years of stress and exhaustion on his shoulders. Why did he fucking care so much?

Limping over to where Atemu lay, Yuugi kneeled next to the prone teen. Hikari tensed, ready to defend her master if need be. Yuugi shook his head.

“I won’t hurt him.” He felt ridiculous, talking to the cat. Somehow, he knew she understood when she relaxed again. She looked away, uninterested. Turning his attention back to Atemu, Yuugi reached out and touched his cheek. Normally, Atemu was a light sleeper but he had given in to the exhaustion. Atemu did not even twitch when Yuugi stroked his cheek. Yuugi’s hand moved to Atemu’s hair, so much like his own.

“Why do you care so much about someone so worthless?” Yuugi combed through Atemu’s hair, enjoying how soft it was. “I owe you my life now. I’m indebted to you. I wish I knew more about you. I hate being in debt, especially to someone I know nothing about.”

Yuugi scoffed at his own words, taking his hand back. He turned the cat that was watching him with her eerily piercing gaze.

“I’m not letting him sleep on my bed. But I’ll get a blanket for him.” He paused. Looking down at himself, he noticed that he wasn’t wearing the clothes he’d gone out in. Rage built in his heart for the sleeping teen. No doubt Atemu had seen each and every scar on his body, his naked body.

He had half a desire to kick Atemu, hopefully breaking a rib or two. Three things prevented that. Atemu had saved him from his own stupidity twice now. Hikari was watching his every move, greatly resembling a hawk stalking its prey. And Yuugi never hit an opponent that was already down. His sense of honor still had not died after so many years on the streets.

Cursing himself softly, Yuugi unwillingly wrapped a blanket around Atemu’s still form. He watched Atemu sleep for a few minutes, surprised that someone with such varying moods seemed so calm in his sleep. But Yuugi knew better. Street-honed skills showed him that Atemu was a sleeping dragon. Shaking his head, Yuugi left the room.

His eyes immediately fell upon the blood lingering in the doorway. He grimaced, knowing it would have dried by now. Still, he set to work removing all traces of spilled blood from the flooring. If the others had spilled so much blood to make him pass out, he knew he was getting careless. Carelessness got people killed. The Knife-Dancers would appreciate a dead Yuugi very much. He would have to be wary of the leader. It was she that almost killed him.

After laboring for almost an hour, Yuugi had gotten rid of all traces of blood. A twinge of pain went through his stomach. Wincing slightly, he limped over to the bathroom to change his bandages.

There, he noticed, yet again, that Atemu had bandaged him with expertise. Either Atemu himself had been injured seriously, repeatedly, or someone he knew was getting hurt continuously. With both possibilities, Yuugi had to be wary. Who knew where this dangerous teen came from? He could be a deadly enemy or a potential ally.

One way or another, Yuugi would find out the truth. He hated secrets.

At least one secret could now be unraveled. Yuugi thought as he heard his bedroom door open and Atemu shuffling toward the kitchen. He waited until he heard Atemu fixing something to eat before stepping out of the bathroom. Feeling rather lazy, he decided not to put a shirt on. Besides, if his stomach wound started bleeding, at least it wouldn’t stay his shirt.

Atemu was making another one of his favorites. Chicken teriyaki. Yuugi considered trying to pry information from him but decided against. Despite his nap, Atemu still looked like he’d climbed out of a pit in hell. Or he’d gotten out of the clutches of the Knife-Dancers’ leader.

Yuugi stepped into view of Atemu silently. He saw Atemu’s eyes wander then snap back to meet his gaze. Only his withering self-control held Atemu back from jumping Yuugi. Hikari lay on the kitchen table, tailing twitching.

Atemu cleared his throat, motioning to the other to have a seat. He sat and Atemu placed a plate of food in front of him, grabbing a plate for himself. They ate in relative silence, wondering what to say to each other.

I have no apologies to offer... nor excuse. I know my updates will be few and far between. I'm sorry.