Title: Never to Part

Author: ani

Disclaimer: its Takahashi's universe, I'm only playing in it.

Warnings/Spoilers: only if you haven't seen the end. Someone has a brush with death.

Authors Note: Please, for the sake of everyone's innocence forget there's such a thing as Puzzleshipping. Please.

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Who knew Grandpa's stroke would be a good thing?

It'd been two years. He knew Yami wouldn't want him to give up Dueling in his memory, since it was so much a part of their life together. It hurt in the beginning, to stay the King of Games, but he finally got to play for fun, not to save the world. Now he keeps playing in honor of his mou hitori no boku. He even decided to skip college for a while, hit the Pro circuit. Grandpa couldn't have been prouder, not only of his skills and determination, but the publicity really increased business. Mom was another story, until he brought home the prize money from the first tournament.

It'd been two years on the circuit. He'd played his way through tournaments, been the final competitor for the winner, dealt with flat out challenges and Pegasus's exhibition duels; they were the only times he'd play the Gods. They were all good duels, some real challenges, but Kaiba still couldn't do it.

He'd gotten home late from another victory party to find Grandpa cold on the kitchen floor. He still doesn't remember how he got from kneeling in the kitchen to pacing in the hospital waiting room. He was too afraid to sit. Too worried to stay there.

He'd told everyone he needed to be alone and wondered off. It wasn't like he couldn't find the surgery rooms or the neurology wing. He didn't really watch where he was going, how many times he'd gotten on and off the elevators. But he'd jumped when he finally looked up.

There were four babies sound asleep on the other side of the glass. He couldn't help smiling at the sight, whispering "Hi" as he read each little name out loud. Until he got to the last one.

The card said 22 inches, 9 lb 4 oz, Blood type AB-. And 'Baby Boy'. No name, and more surprisingly, no parents.

His heart broke at the thought of never even having a family to begin with. He was terrified to loose Grandpa, but he has so many good memories that he'd never really loose him, never forget him.

Like Yami.

The thought of him tugged at his heart. He put his hand on the window as he felt that tug pull him closer. Looking closer his breath caught in his throat.

The little guy had been born with a full head of black hair with a reddish tint, four wavy blonde locks falling around his eyes. Long black lashes were closed above chubby cheeks; that round little chin moving as he suckled in his sleep.

He didn't need his baby pictures to see it.

With everything he'd been through in high school he didn't even question it.

"Atemu," he whispered. The baby stirred, opening wide bright eyes at him. He smiled at the thought of those sapphires turning into rubies, "Yami."

The next three days, as they waited for Grandpa to wake up, through all the tests and results, he'd slip off when he could just to see him. He'd left home extra early once so he could say "Good morning". He always made sure he was the last one to leave so he could say "Good night". Every time that heart tug was back. Every time he swore he'd turn and look right at him.

Three days. The other babies had all gone home.

Three days. And nothing changed. He was still 'Baby Boy'.

He'd snuck down to the nursery around lunchtime, when the others had to get back to their classes, just smiling down at him, one hand on the glass.

Three days. You'd think someone would have noticed sooner.

"Oh my god, they actually found someone," a woman's voice made him jump, turn to his right. She looked about his mother's age, wearing a pink uniform. Recognizing him, she smirked, "Well, I guess even the King of Games is still just a man."

He couldn't help blushing at the insinuation, "B-but ma'am, I-Im not-"

She smiled kindly as she waved him towards a door, "Don't you want to meet him?"

At the chance to do what he'd been wondering, dreaming about, he blindly followed her in. Her smile slipped a little as she ushered him into one of the rockers. "I know he's not yours. You would have been there through it all. He wouldn't have been abandoned here." she said softly as she picked the baby up. He gasped at the thought of just leaving your child, suddenly getting worried as her smile turned mischievous, "Besides, it would have been all over the news, or the tabloids at least. Now would you really like to say 'Hi'?"

He could only nod, holding his arms out. Once he was secure in his arms, the nurse turned to one of the counters, "Lucky you, its feeding time." she smiled as she offered the bottle.

He stared for a few moments, almost thinking he'd snap awake the instant he'd touch it, but the sudden crying snapped him out of it. He couldn't tear his eyes off him as he fed him his bottle, humming something the whole time, through the nurse showing him how to burp him, even as he fell asleep. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so happy, at peace.

Leave it to Jou to ruin it.

The banging on the window made him jump out of the chair; luckily he'd kept hold of the baby. Rocking his arms softly, he turned to glare at Jou, finding him waving down the hall, "I found him guys, he's over here." Jou turned back to the window, ignoring the glare as he started, "Yugi wha-YOWCH!!!"

The nurse that let him in had Jou by the ear as Honda, Anzu, Ryou and Otogi slid to a stop by the windows. "This is the maternity ward young man. If you can't keep quiet I'll drag you out myself." she turned to the nursery as he smiled and nodded, walking to the windows. "He just got him to sleep, so behave."

"Yes ma'am," he said as she released him.

Anzu stepped closer, putting both hands on the window, "What are you doing in there Yugi?"

"Yeah, who's the kid?" Honda added.

His grin just got bigger as he turned back to him, realized his little skullcap was hiding that hair. Taking hold of the front, he watched their faces as he slipped it off his head, trying to hold back the giggles.

It only took four days. Maiki-san, the maternity ward nurse, said it was a miracle.

It only took four days. But with his title, Kaiba's connections and the uncanny resemblance its no wonder he finally had a name.

Motou Yami.

It was odd, he knew. But Yami was his partner, his best friend, the one who was always by his side, through the duels and the doubts. Atemu was the one they'd helped in the game, the Pharaoh from thousands of years ago. He knew they were the same person, but it was like Grandpa and Sugoroku; you knew one so well, but the other was a completely different person.

He took him to see his great-grandpa each one of those days. Somehow, even with the partial memory loss, even Grandpa knew who he really was.

He couldn't get the smile off his face the whole day. Even through the paparazzi, the screaming fans, even Pegasus's surprise visit; only one thing made it move. Yami's tears as he was put in Otogi's arms. The crying instantly stopped when he was back in Daddy's arms, and the smile came right back.

He smiled softly as he put him in his crib, gently stroking his hair. "So, it's my turn to take care of you, huh?" he chuckled softly.

"I'm glad you're back," he whispered with his goodnight kiss.