Intertwined fates (book 3)

Chapter 1: yami's realization

Solomon crashes through the door with tears in his eyes. Those deep purple eyes instantly finding Yugi. I smile slightly as I step aside from where Yugi lay on the bed, his eyes closed serenely. Solomon rushes to his bedside and takes Yugi's hand. My beloved Yugi opens his amethyst eyes and peers at his grandfather curiously.
"Hi grandpa."
"Yugi," he cries as he yanks the boy off of the bed and into his arms. "Don't ever scare me like that again!"
"I missed you too." Yugi whispers as he gently wraps his arms around Solomon. Yugi stares at me expectantly while his grandfather cradles him in his arms. Those beautiful eyes scorching into me.
  "Are you hungry? You must be...I'll go make you something to eat." Solomon says hurriedly as he places Yugi back on the bed.
"Grandpa I-"
"Don't worry about a thing, Yami will watch over you." Solomon says with a smile, before exiting the room. The door shutting with a click behind him.
"I know he will." Yugi whispers quietly as he closes his eyes once more. I can't help but smile as I take a seat on the bed beside him. His eyes remain closed as the bed dips beneath my weight. The mere vibrancy of Yugi is blinding to me as I lie next to him, yet I can't bring myself to look away.
"You're staring." He mumbles, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I have so many questions."
"As do I."
"You first." I reply as my fingers ghost across his skin.
"How do you have your own body?" I stare down at my new form for what feels like the hundredth time.
"I honestly don't know." I murmur in response as I struggle to restrain myself from pulling Yugi into me. "Do you not like it?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
I have to say that I love this new sense of confidence that Yugi has obtained. It should make things rather interesting in the future. "My turn?"
"Ask away." He says rolling into my arms. A content smile spreading on his lips as I wrap my arms around him.
"What was Egypt like?"
"Absolutely beautiful." He says with a broad smile. "But not as beautiful as its ruler."
"Former ruler." I say with a chuckle.
"Technicalities."
"Yugi...what happened to you there?"
"You broke the rules." He teases, tapping my nose gently with his finger. "Two questions in one turn. Shame on you."
"Yugi I'm serious." He sighs as he closes his eyes once more.
"Yami please just let it go."
"I can't do that!" I protest adamantly. "I can't bare not knowing what happened to you. You were gone for weeks Yugi! For all I knew you could have slipped even further away than before and I would never know until it was too late." Yugi looks up at me with sad, tear filled eyes. My heart hammers at the sight of his red puffy eyes. Yugi.
"Yami please," his voice cracks as he speaks. "I hope that you can understand that I don't know what to tell you...in all honesty, I am still grieving." He looks down at his hands, staring at a blemish that I can't see. "You died..." His voice wavers. "You died in my arms and I was helpless to stop you from being killed! I'm so sorry!" Silver streams of tears race down his cheeks and I pull him towards me harshly, my arms wrapping around him as tightly as I can, my muscles aching from the strain.
"You have done nothing wrong." I murmur into his ear as he continues to weep. "There was nothing that could have prevented it from happening, so don't blame yourself."
"A-Atem!" He sobs, clutching onto my shoulders desperately.
"I'm here." I whisper comfortingly, my hands rubbing his back soothingly. "I'm here."

Solomon sets a large plate of food before Yugi who gratefully begins eating. His eyes never stray from Yugi's youthful face as he eats. We are both relieved that he has returned to us. His small hands flying across the table as he shovels food into his mouth.
"Slow down Yugi! The food isn't going anywhere." Solomon teases. Yugi doesn't say a word but his feeling of annoyance at his grandfather's words pours into me. I flinch at the sensation but remain silent. The feeling was brief and fleeting, if I hadn't known any better I would have assumed that I had imagined it, but the concerned look that Yugi is giving me leads me to believe otherwise.
"Grandpa what day is it?" Yugi asks with a brief glance in my direction before completely turning towards his grandfather.
"It's Friday Yugi."
"I have school!" Yugi exclaims, leaping from his chair. Solomon sternly grabs him by the shoulders and shoves him back down in his seat.
"You are going nowhere." Solomon says with a stern expression that reminds me vaguely of my old tutor. "I forbid it!"
"But I-"
"You were in a coma for weeks Yugi. If you think I will simply let you go to school you are sorely mistaken."
"Yes grandpa." He says with a defeated shrug. Solomon smiles and leaves the room victorious. "Stubborn old man." Yugi breathes quietly.
"He is a stubborn, intelligent old man." I correct. "And for your information, I am no more inclined to send you to school than he is."
"But I'm fine."
"You're still not going." Yugi groans in aggravation.
"It seems that five thousand years hasn't dulled that over protectiveness of yours."
"Not in the slightest." I say with a smirk as I steal one of his chips. My eyes remain trained on Yugi's face as he continues to eat. His movements are so smooth that I almost struggle to believe that this is truly my Yugi. So much has changed, but I struggle to fathom to what extent.

Yugi cuddles on top of me, his beautiful face nuzzling into the crook of my neck. His warm breath sending shivers through me. Delicate fingers twirl my hair between their small fingertips continuously. Solomon had left for the store about an hour ago, leaving me completely alone with Yugi.
My fingers drift absently through Yugi's soft locks. He smiles and closes his eyes as I lean in and press our lips together. A thrum of happiness that isn't my own courses through my veins. Suspicioun claws at my mind as I continue to kiss my little love. Why can I suddenly feel his emotions? This doesn't make any sense.
"Yami?" He whispers against my lips. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing." I murmur, gently kissing his lips once more. A wave of disbelief floods my system as he stares intently into my eyes. "Now that you mention it there has been something bothering me."
"What it it? Yugi asks as he lays his head on my chest.
"Did you and I do a ceremony of sorts?"
"Why are you asking?" Yugi asks sweetly.
"Well," I struggle to find the words. "I can...feel emotions now that are aren't my own."
"And?" He says nonchalantly. Apparently this isn't new information to him. A slight feeling of forboding creeps through my veins. "Why is that worrying you?"
"Because that's not natural."
"Well because of the ceremony it is." He protests with a frown. "You have nothing to worry about."
"Yugi what ceremony was it?"
"You and Seth called it a bonding ceremony." He looks at me curiously. "Yami? Why are you blushing?"
"We bonded?" I choke out.
"Yes." He replies hesitantly, tilting his to the side as he peers at me. "Is there a problem?"
"I can't believe this." I whisper as I shrug Yugi off of me. My fingers frantically rake through my hair as this new information sinks in. "Did I explain to you what that means?"
"You said that we would be connected for eternity." He says with a happy note to his voice. "Why are you getting so upset? I wanted to do it."
"You're not understanding what a bonding ceremony is in your culture." I say sharply, my cheeks burning with my embarrassment.
"Then just tell me." He says with a smile, wrapping his arms around my shoulders so he can rest his face on the nape of my neck. The soft thud of his heartbeat echoing in my chest.
"Yugi to be bonded means that we are forever connected, it is like an oath to one another."
"I understand that." He murmurs into my neck.
"You're still not understanding."
"What am I not understanding?"
"That ceremony was more than a bond strengthening oath."
"Oh?"
"Yugi it was a marriage ceremony." The dull sensation of his shock resonates through me.
"We're married, Yugi."