Another day of tedium, going through the motions and wearing the mask to seem as if all was well. To seem as if he was living a normal life like everyone else. But now, finally to was almost time. Almost the time when he could let the mask slip off and away until tomorrow.
Now he was off the clock as he called it as he walked back to his grandfather's shop, having run an errand for his mom. She couldn't get away to go take advantage of the sell the local grocery store had on eggs. So that left it up to him.
He'd been happy to help of course, anything so he wasn't alone with his thoughts for too long. Besides, it helped to ease the feeling of weight of sadness and guilt when he was being useful in some way.
Now though, those thoughts were trying to crowd back in as he made the familiar walk back toward the game shop grandpa ran. He couldn't yet though. He still had to get back, put on the cheery smile and seem normal until he could get to his room so he could help in the shop the next day.
But at least for now, he allowed himself a moment to tilt his head downward and release a heavy sigh. Really though, was he fooling anyone? He'd only just found a new apartment for himself and started looking for work. The only true, new step he took was enrolling in college after high school. But even then he'd given himself a year to just live - whatever that meant - for a while.
Maybe he should have taken a little more time for himself first though. Or so he internally noted as he was rounding the corner that brought the shop into view. Maybe if he'd taken a little more time then he wouldn't be as-
The thought screeched to a halt same as the young man himself as he lifted his head. His fingers, suddenly numb lost the ability to hold what was in his hands as his already big eyes grew impossibly wider.
He opened his mouth, he knew he did, but no sound came out. His brain entirely stopped functioning. Except one thing kept repeating in his head. One name.
It was the sound of the plastic bag hitting the ground and eggs breaking as a result that gave him a start and jarred him back into reality.
Not entirely though it seemed. He still could hardly believe what - or rather, who - he was seeing.
Over a month of trying to find a way home after the afterlife had spat him out in the middle of a random city in Oklahoma, searching for a way to get back to the one person in his life that he cherished more than life itself.
After being adopted by a Japanese rock band, getting his papers, passport and ID card, and finally flying back to Japan while learning to play the guitar on top of it all, he had finally returned to the place he knew as home. Home was wherever Yugi was, and it felt great to be back again.
He knew the game shop was where Yugi had once spent all of his free time, so perhaps he would be able to find him there. And as he approached that familiar door, as if by magicโฆThere he was.
Yugi, staring at him like a deer in headlights. Those beautiful violet eyes heโd missed oh so much, and Atem couldnโt help but want to run right over and pull the man into his armsโฆbut he didnโt. Instead, he stood tall, walking right over to him but stopping within arms length to respect his space.
โHow Iโve longed to see you again, Aibou.โ He greeted warmly, arms opening in a silent offer, though of course Yugi was more than able to refuse if he so chose. Atemโs own eyes brimmed with tears at seeing his other half, his precious friend. A warm smile appeared on Atemโs face, knowing this would be quite the story to tell.
โIโve missed you, Yugi.โ
