Love eternal (book 5)

Chapter 20: now and forever

   My body feels so heavy that I can't even find the strength to open my eyes. My skin tingles as a warm breeze passes over my skin. A warm hand presses onto my forehead and I feel my mind begin to go blank, everything becoming as white as snow. A soft sigh escapes my lips as I feel my body suddenly become lighter than a feather. It feels like I could float away on a strong breeze if one were to occur. Ra places a strong hand on my chest and I gasp in surprise. Memories flash before my eyes before they vanish from sight and just as quickly as they appeared I could no longer recall them.
   I feel warm fingers curl around mine and I return the gesture out of reflex. My body suddenly grows warm and I feel myself begin to float slightly. All of the hairs on my body standing up straight as the air begins to crackle with electricity and magic. The warmth of the hand I am holding continues to advance towards me until there is no where else to go but within me. A startled gasp escapes me but Ra quietly hushes me comfortingly. He places a gentle hand on my forehead, silently soothing me.
   "Atem." I breathe.
   "I'm here." He says softly. "For now."
   "Thank you, for understanding. I know that you will never forgive me for the circumstance but-"
   "Just stop talking. You've talked enough for the both of us. And stop apologizing." He chuckles. "I'm not interested in your apologies. Because I don't need them nor do I want them."
   "And here I thought we were getting along." I mumble. "Looks like nothing's changed." The fingers on my hand tighten slightly and I can't help the smile that forms from the gentle and comforting touch.
   "I didn't mean that in an offending way."
   "I know. But it's so much more fun to tease you, and it seems that I'm running out of time to do that."
   "I wouldn't exactly consider it running out of time," Atem says with a laugh. "You and I are going to be spending the rest of our lives together. So you better get ready because I'm not going anywhere and you'll have to deal with all of my pride and my condescension."
   "Lucky me." I mutter as our bodies continue to gravitate together. His body beginning to meld with my own, his warmth becoming mine. "Though I must admit adding your intellect to my arsenal when I am in an argument will come in handy when I'm dealing with Seth."
   "Lucky me." Atem mumbles teasingly and I can't help but laugh. We both begin to laugh and our laughter echoes throughout the area, ringing in my ears like sweet music.
   "You truly are incredible."
   "Don't compliment yourself too much, it won't help with your oversized ego." Atem scolds lightly.
   "Just shut up and accept the fact that I'm complimenting you." I say seriously.
   "Thank you."
   "For the compliment? Well you are me so it's only natural that I should give you a proper compliment."
   "I meant thank you for not giving up on me. For not leaving me behind and letting me disappear just so you could stay and be with the one you love. Thank you for not allowing me to stand in your way and for allowing me to share in all the new memories you're going to form, thank you for saving me from the darkness that I've been living in for eighteen years."
   "You're welcome. I would never leave you behind, and I hope that you would do the same for me." I smile slightly as our shoulders press together. "No one deserves to be alone, especially when there's someone waiting for them."
   "I can't wait to see him again. To hold him in my arms again and to have all of my memories and not have to constantly worry about being forgotten." He sighs contently as our faces draw ever closer. "It will be a relief."
   "Then let's not keep him waiting." I murmur as the warmth spreading through my body begins to grow increasingly more intense and I feel my muscles begin to tremble.
   "Thank you." Atem murmurs before his voice fades away into silence.

   Something soft slides across my face and I can't help but twitch underneath its caress. My eyes twitch and slowly open meeting the deep, loving gaze of two amethyst orbs. Tears well up in my eyes as I gaze into those familiar depths for what feels like the first time. Yugi smiles at me sweetly as he brushes a stray strand of hair out and away from my face, his eyes never straying from my own.
   "It's good to see you again." He grins. "The whole you."
   "I remember everything." I smile as I bring a hand up to his face, cradling his cheek in my palm. "I remember the first time I laid eyes on you, when we met in Egypt and everything that happened, our second wedding, when I brought our children and all the wonderful years we had raising them. I remember it all, unfalteringly."
   "That's good." Yugi smiles brightly, a stray tear racing down his cheek. "I finally have my husband back, in one piece, no pun intended." I chuckle as I pull him down gently to me and kiss him slowly. His kiss truly is timeless. I have felt the press of his lips on mine in two lifetimes and it still takes my breath away. "A lot has happened since you left." Yugi murmurs.
   "What do you mean by that?" I ask skeptically. Yugi smiles and pulls me up to a sitting position and points in the direction opposite of us. I glance in the direction he is pointing at and I can't help but gape. Both of my children are in the arms of the younger Kaiba's and they look...genuinely happy.
   "Don't freak out." Yugi murmurs as Atemu nuzzles Kaiba's youngest.
   "Why would I freak out?" I ask curiously. "It would appear that my children have found love. It's good to know that I gave the right people a push in the proper direction."
   "You knew?" Yugi asks shocked.
   "You doubt me aibou." I tease, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him close. "You should know better than to doubt my abilities of perception."
   "So your ability to make an occasional lucky guess." He teases.
   "You wound me." I pout dramatically. Yugi grins and kisses me softly.
   "I'm glad that you're back."
   "I'm not going anywhere ever again." I murmur into his hair as I pull him close. "You are stuck with me now and forever, maybe even in another life." Yugi giggles into my chest and I have to bite my lip to fight back the laughter that is threatening to escape from the vibrations tickling through my system.
   "I think I can live with that."
   "Good to know." I murmur as I kiss him deeply. The sweet taste of my love, the contentment of my loved ones and the return of my memories has made something completely clear to me. I would give anything to always return to these people around me into the one I have the honor to call my one true love, now and forever.