#extraodinarypanacea

Crimson eyes traced thealmost invisible skyline in the dark. With every handful of secondsthat passed, a sharp burst of light flared through the sky,illuminating the horizon of Domino City and turning it into a mockeryof daylight.

The broiling rumblesoon followed, like a kettle drum that began with a gentle rumblethat ended with a cracking crescendo. With every flash of light andcrash of thunder, the young man sat on the bed, utterly soothed bywhat he watched.

Even as the rain poureddown against the window, a ravenous staccato against the glass, hesat upon the bed, arms folded neatly on the windowsill with his chinnestled against them.

How soothing it wouldbe to hear this every day, knowing what life-giving rains came fromthe sky...

He closed his eyes,enjoying the peace and comfort that came from the growing storm, andhe almost missed the sound of the door opening behind him. He didn'thowever, miss the soft chuckle that pricked at his ears, causing himto raise his head and glance over his shoulder.

“Are you stillwatching?” Yugi asked him quietly, as if he'd break the reverie thestorm held upon the young man.

Atem could only smilesoftly at him, extending an arm to him like a languid pantherstretching in the noonday sun. Without needing a reply, Yugicontinued over to him, joining him on the bed and curling in close tothe pharaoh's side. Crimson eyes closed as his cheek nestled againstwild hair. He could smell the rain on him.

Fingers reached up tobrush Atem's cheek gently, and he drew back a little to glance downat his partner.

“What is it?” hebreathed softly.

“How often did youwait for the rain to arrive like this?”

The question almostcaught him unawares. He knew Yugi was awfully perceptive about mostthings, but he'd plucked the reasoning behind his attraction tostorms as easily as reading a book. He leant into that featherlighttouch, reaching a hand up to cover his gently.

“Before the start ofevery flood season,” Atem told him quietly. “Days upon days ofwaiting. Of promises of 'soon.' Of scholars who finally saw thestars.”

He turned his gaze tothe window once more, enamoured briefly by the fierce weather oncemore.

“We never saw therains, only the effect that it had upon the land... The life that itgave to the people.”

Yugi watched him speakso gently, watching his gaze travel so far away from the little bedthey sat upon. To see what he had seen more than a thousand lifetimesago... he could only dream to be where those crimson eyes nowstrayed.

“To see the truepower of a storm,” Atem continued, pulling Yugi back from histhoughts. “Is an incredible thing... To know that thisis what brought about the cycle of prosperity for my people.”

Thewarm smile covered Yugi's expression, and he leant up to brush afaint press of lips to a cheek. Atem felt his own smile curl inresponse, and he turned back to his partner, feeling nothing but truecontentment as the ferocious storm raged outside.

Lipsbrushed his own and he felt the worry of ages slip from him, warmthsettling deep in his chest.