Distance

Confused

Thank you so much everyone for reading. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

XXXXX

Yugi had no trouble sleeping that night. When he woke in the morning, he got ready for his day and texted Yami for the first time in years. When he opened the chat, Yami's last 'I'm sorry' text was still on the screen. As Yugi texted the Pharaoh to let him know he was welcome to come over, he wondered what exactly the other had meant by the things he had said last night.

'What I did was for you... If I had stayed I wouldn't have been able to keep away from you.'

Yugi's cheeks felt hot. He didn't know if Yami really understood how those words sounded to Yugi. Sometimes, in Yugi's mind, Yami was the same spirit of the puzzle who was confident and mysterious and just a tad out of touch with modern day life. But, Yugi had to remind himself that that wasn't entirely true any more. After all, Yami had changed immensely just from the time he and Yugi had first 'met' each other. After Yugi found out about the spirit of the puzzle he had felt less afraid. It was better to know the reason for Yugi's random lapses in memories. After the two had reached their initial understanding and Yami allowed Yugi to be a part of his interactions with the world while Yami was in control and visa versa, more of Yami's true personality came out.

Since then, Yami had changed, and Yugi knew it. Every time there was some sort of change in Yami, Yugi had felt it. During Duelist Kingdom when Yugi stopped Yami from potentially killing Kaiba. Yugi felt a shift in the Pharaoh's heart after that. There was another when Yugi wouldn't leave the puzzle behind in the burning Black Clown game shop. Or like the time they had been separated briefly while fighting Dartz. When they had been reunited, Yugi had felt another change during that time. He knew Yami had been remorseful for putting Yugi in danger. Yugi had pounded on the door of the Pharaoh's soul room for what felt like an hour to get him to come out. It took a while, but Yugi convinced him he wasn't angry. And he wasn't, he was thankful. But there was that change.

Yugi could feel those times that Yami had emotionally grown through his time in the puzzle. But now, 5 years had gone by. How much had Yami changed and what new kinds of experiences had the Pharaoh gone through without Yugi there?

Yugi's phone dinged and he looked down at the text.

'I'll be there in ten minutes.' Read the response from Yami.

Yugi felt suddenly very self conscious but tried to shake any thoughts from his head. Ramses was sitting comfortably on his window perch. The apartment was already as clean as it was going to get. It wasn't perfect but it certainly wasn't messy. Yugi sighed and decided to check his emails quickly while he waited for Yami to get to his apartment. When the door buzzed, Yugi jumped up so quickly that a started Ramses went flying out of his window perch and ran to hide in the bedroom. Yugi hit the button to unlock the door for Yami and waited for a few minutes until his other self appeared at the stairwell door. Yugi waved from his apartment and Yami walked over.

"Hey! Did you walk? Is it cold out?"

Yami smiled and nodded as they entered the apartment, "It's not so bad out right now. I guess it's supposed to rain again tomorrow afternoon."

"Bummer."

Yugi watched Yami remove his shoes and stand up to take in the apartment. Yugi felt self conscious again.

"I can give you a little tour?"
"I'd like that," Yami said with a smile looking around, "It's nice here. It fits you."

Yugi grinned, "Thanks, I like it. Oh, and uh, Ramses will probably come out in a minute. I kind of startled him when I got up to get the door for you."