Violet eyes cracked open, blinking repeatedly to clear the sleep nestled comfortably within them. The first thing he noticed was a ceiling he didn’t recognize in a room that also was unfamiliar. The lights were dimmed though and for that he could be grateful for. Everything around him felt very calm and peaceful, a feeling that had been a stranger to him for so long and yet he knew it would always be there even without his awareness. He breathed deeply and closed his eyes again, swallowing as a new wave of memories swept through his brain and he smiled at the smiling faces of his two friends whom he could also sense just barely in the other room. Sitting up he groaned and immediately went to rub his stiff shoulders.

“You should be resting,” a soft voice told him from the doorway. Yugi felt a smile come to his face before he even looked up. Those sweet brown eyes, silver white hair that framed his angelic face that perfectly suited what he was. To Yugi’s memories it felt like only a day had passed since he’d last seen Ryou, but to his senses he knew it had been years.

He immediately felt tears prick his eyes and he hurried over to embrace his best friend. Ryou was gentle with his hands but he definitely heard the quick intake of breath from the reborn angel when he did lay his hands on his shoulders.

“Sorry.”

Yugi shook his head and pulled away. “A little pain is worth it,” he answered with a grin. “I’ve missed you so much, Ryou.”

“You didn’t even know that until now,” the white-haired angel joked, ruffling his hair.

With a pout Yugi pulled away and crossed his arms, sticking his bottom lip out. “Shut up.”

Tears pricked in Ryou’s eyes as well and he moved closer again, hugging Yugi around his head instead and rest his cheek in his soft fuzzy hair. “I’m missed you so much,” he cried. Kissing his forehead he refused to release the newly reborn angel for a good long while.

Neither heard the door creak open but they did hear the snort as Malik watched them from the entryway. “You’re lucky this room has been closed off from outside view, Ryou. Those wings would get you into trouble.”

With a blush the white-haired angel pulled away from Yugi, ruffling his feathers before he put them away.

“You always did let your emotions carry you away,” Malik smirked before opening his arms with his own smug pout. “I came for you too, you know. Why does munchkin get all the loving?”

Laughing Yugi bounced over to the violet eyed, sandy blonde angel and hugged him tightly enjoying his large hands as they swept through his hair. “I’m starving,” he announced as he pulled away giddily.

Rolling his eyes, Malik turned him around and told him to get dressed and they’d have some lunch ready for him soon. Yugi agreed, waving t his two friends as they left him alone, closing the door behind them. With a sigh Yugi released his smile and sauntered weakly over to the dressing, wincing as the skin on his back stretched. Sucking in another breath he stood up and turned around, grimacing at the two red angry bumps on his abused back where his wings had pushed their way through and took his mortal life. “Well,” he told himself, “the good news is the chances of going through something like that again are even better than slim.” Closing his eyes he felt both very new and yet very old extensions of himself lingering just beneath the skin in a spiritual essence. He gave them both just a very gentle push and he cried out painfully, dropping to his knees, holding the dresser tightly in his pale, sweaty hands, tightening his fingers when he felt now very solid extra weight of his wings settle down.

“Hey, guys,” he whispered, feeling the sweat bead up on his forehead as he clenched his eyes shut tightly. Using his free hand he shakily brought it up and let his fingers sift through the silky feathers and even through his fresh pain he found it in him to smile thinly. “I’ve missed you two as well.”

The door opened again and Ryou burst in after a second. “Yugi,” he cried, kneeling at his side and holding his hand tightly. “What are you doing, you idiot,” he scolded, holding him tightly. “You aren’t ready for that yet!”

“I’m sorry,” Yugi whispered, sitting back on his knees as Ryou helped push his wings back in. He held him tightly as the little breathed in and out harshly, shaking his head when he saw Malik step into the doorway with a frown. “I just that…I wanted too...”

Malik kneeled by his head, shushing him gently. “It’s okay now, Yugi.” He brushed back his hair and skimmed fingertips down one soft cheek with a small grin. “You just need to take it easy until you get your full strength back.”

Meeting his eyes, the younger (and yet in many ways older) angel nodded with a weary smile. “Sorry,” he said again. “It’s been so long. I can feel it. I just had to be sure even though I know they’re there.” The other nodded in understanding, helping him to his feet.

Ryou stayed with Yugi to help him dress and then helped him into the kitchen and sat him down on one of the chairs just as Malik placed a sandwich in front of him.

“Pretty good for not having cooked in over a hundred years,” Malik joked, wiping his hands and sitting down next to Yugi. The angel cracked a smile, nodding. “The good news is once you fully recover you’ll never have to worry about these simplicities again.”

Violet eyes glanced around the room, nodding as he took a bite and munched on the mustard covered ham sandwich. He must’ve been healing faster than even he thought he would because the taste already seemed rather dry to his tongue and it wasn’t because it was bland. He could tell from the senses that remained that it definitely wasn’t because of Malik’s lack of cooking skills.

His gaze landed on a couple of small bags sitting innocently by the front door. He knew the rules. He could remember that much, but he couldn’t help but also feel the breaking chasm in his chest at the thought of leaving so quickly. A picture of Yami came to his mind and he dropped his half eaten meal quickly, rubbing his temples. He knew his friends were worried about him since most angels that have to be reborn tend to be slightly crazed from the rush of memories, but he already knew he’d be fine. After all, if he wasn’t unstable now than he’d be fine, but he also knew that he was one of the strongest angels in heaven. He remembered that too. There were still several things that remained fuzzy though but he both wished they would hurry and never come at the same time.

If things continue this way I’ll never see him again Yugi mentally told himself, feeling his very unbeating heart break at the thought of never seeing Yami again, even if his mortal life would make him forget the longer Yugi remained an angel and got stronger. The moment all his memories and holy power returned the love of his life, both mortal and angelic, would forget about him.

“Yugi,” Malik whispered, pulling his friend from his thoughts. He startled him when he drifted his fingers underneath his eyes and pulled away the tears welling up there. “Are you feeling well?”

The angel nodded, pushing the fussing hands away as he stood. With such thoughts swimming around in his too full head at the moment he couldn’t focus on eating at the moment. “How long until we leave,” he questioned. He needed to know just how long he had. Even if Yami wouldn’t remember him, barely recognize him when he went to see him he still wanted desperately wanted to say goodbye. Even if that meant staring at Yami’s confused face just dying to ask who he was and why he was saying goodbye.

Wrinkles appeared on the currently oldest angel in the room and Malik stood to look down on Yugi. “You shouldn’t worry yourself about such things right now. Just focus on recovering.”

“I’m recovered enough to know when we’re leaving,” Yugi argued, meeting Malik’s gaze and using what little of his power he could find to prove that though Malik was currently older, Yugi was still the stronger one by far. Just because he was weak at the moment certainly didn’t give either of these two angels the right to try pushing their luck on how far they could control them.

Malik backed down quickly enough and Ryou gasped, holding his mouth with both of his hands as he lowered his eyes. Yugi knew the white-haired angel could feel it and even though he wasn’t nearly as strong as he should be at the moment he could have smiled at how he could make his two best friends act. He wasn’t necessarily after Ryou with the power play, but he was glad that at least one of his friends hadn’t forgotten who was the strongest.

“We’re leaving by the end of the weak,” the violet-eyed angel answered, finally lowering his eyes and sitting down once more.

Satisfied, Yugi backed down again and nearly collapsed back into his seat, breathing heavily and sweating at his brow and palms. “Sorry,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes roughly.

Ryou sat back up again, nervous and suddenly very shy around Yugi, wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulders and whispered in his ear, “You should get some more rest now.” Yugi nodded and allowed the white-haired angel to help him up and lead him back to the bedroom.

B R E A K

Yami sat on the stoop in front of his old apartment home, resting his face in his hands and wished that for once whenever he was around Yugi he wouldn’t feel such an easy calm. He couldn’t believe how easily he’d let those two so called angels take the one person he ever deemed more important than himself get away. He was somehow coerced into it, he knew it somehow. Now that he’d actually had the clear mind and the time to think it through the one with violet eyes just hadn’t seemed very truthful about letting him see Yugi again so he could say goodbye. Empty promises Yami sneered mentally I should be an expert at spotting them and I still let them get away…

He had yet to change out of his clothes having been in a daze through that whole night and most of the day now. The shirt he’d worn the day before still covered his shoulders, stained with Yugi’s blood and his pants were in very much the same state. It was then no surprise when the two people he’d been waiting to come out of the building stopped in the doorway, mouths gaping and unable to believe their eyes.

“Holy fuck, Yami,” Marik swore, jumping down the steps and looking him over.

Bakura came down a bit more calmly, but still very edgy and looked him over as well. After they’d made the blood wasn’t his Bakura sat by his side, lacing his fingers together. “Well….you look like shit.” Yami chuckled at that one and looked up, meeting his coffee brown gaze. “Don’t give me that look. You know it’s true.”

Yami nodded and looked back down. He would much rather shed the clothes to get the crusty feeling of dried blood off him, but that would mean getting rid of the only thing of Yugi’s he had left, even if the blood was connected to the reason he could no longer see him.

“By the way, where’s your other half?” Marik’s purplish grey eyes looked up and down the street, waiting for him to appear but no sign of the younger teen appeared. At his best pal’s shake of the head he sat down as well and rubbed his back. “What’s up with you? Did you get dumped or something?”

Bakura narrowed his eyes and leaned over to watch Yami’s face. “Was something going on between Yugi and you, Yami?”

The teen started to shake his head and then nod, but then shook his head again and let his head fall back into his palms as he let out a rather large sigh that immediately signaled to both teens something was seriously wrong. “I don’t know. I thought there was…”

“Was what, Yami,” Marik pushed.

“I mean….I felt it. I definitely felt something was going on between us though nothing really did. We were close and…I was pretty sure Yugi felt it too but…”

Marik peered a bit closer and with a smirk he knew both of his friends would identify as his ‘concerned’ smirk he continued questioning. “So…Yugi didn’t feel the same or what?”

“Where is he, Yami? Did something happen with him? Is this what this blood is?”

Yami hesitated, biting his lip and closing his eyes. He hid his face further in his lap and repressed the urge to cry. He’d never cried for anything and he certainly didn’t want to start now…at least not in front of his two best mates over a boy who’d hardly known for very long. He snapped out of it when Marik shook him back and he jumped up. “Sorry…what?”

“Yugi,” Bakura reminded him.

Red eyes squinted and he let another sigh. “Yeah he…um….he -.” And he stopped. There was something. A pressure. It was pushing down on his chest and even though he wanted to confide in his friends it was urging him to stay quiet about the truth. When he opened his mouth once more he paused.

Don’t…

It was an airy voice in his head without an actual voice or even a body to speak of. He looked around and only snapped out of it when Bakura snapped in front of his face loudly. “Sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “Um..he’s um…moving.”

“Moving,” Marik repeated with disbelief. “But why? I thought his gramps was doing good and all with that game shop.”

“No, he’s…well yeah,” Yami agreed. “It’s just Yugi who’s leaving. Going away with some other…relatives. To another school,” he lied. The annoying pressure that had smothered his chest and lightened and then completely gone at the lie. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he somehow knew only bad would happen if he’d said anything about Yugi having died and yet was still somehow alive and was going to be flying away to some horrible place where he’d never be able to see him.

Not a horrible place. Heaven. The voice told him again. Yami shook it off and faced Bakura and Marik once more.

Marik grinned and slapped his back. “Well, can’t you still call or write letters or whatever lovebirds do?” Yami shook his head.

“It’s not that simple,” he answered.

His white-haired friend sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Were you falling in love with him, Yami?”

The question startled the teen and he couldn’t help but stare at Bakura for a minute and then tears welled up again. “Kura,” he broke. “I…I think I might’ve been. I never felt like this before but I…I love you mates too. But I never felt like. I can bear to be away from you guys a while, but like this? I don’t want him to leave me.”

All of his usually tense and angry features that told the rest of the world to fuck off immediately relaxed and Yami sucked in a breath at how amazingly alike Bakura reminded Yami of the white-haired angel who’d come for Yugi. Pulling his friend closer, the white-haired teen wrapped him in his arms and held him tightly, glaring at things that couldn’t be seen. He would definitely have to look into this on his own time. When he met Marik’s gaze he knew that he too felt the same way and they nodded simultaneously.