[He's pulled into that hug, and the memories of last June fade back out, turn distant. The cool night air and hot blood, the stumbles and falls, the burning exhaustion and adrenaline in his undead limbs...all of that feels far away again, with Ryou here and warm in his arms.

From this close, Ryou will feel Atem relax, the tension of old, painful memories draining away. Atem nuzzles back with his big bat-head, breathing a sigh that might be a touch melancholy, but is not unhappy.]

Be careful making promises this place won't let you keep...I understand that getting help to me is difficult!

[It's why he picked the powers he did. Something he'll never be separated from...as long as the Fog exists, anyway.

Even though Ryou and Beat are both promising him they won't let it happen again...]

But I know you're here for me. I trust you...I know you'll do all that can be done.

[And that's the best Atem can ask for, the best he can hope for, in a horror setting that never lets up, not on him.]