(AN: It's me, Yami-no-Yugi. My account was hacked into by some loonies who
need a new hobby. Please be kind and review again. This is one of my newer
stories that's not complete yet. Have fun.)
Y-n-Y: Hey, everyone! Did you miss me? Yep, I've finally posted the new story... Took me long enough, eh? Anywho... This is the beginning to a whole new (hopefully) series. This is gonna be one fun rollercoaster fic, from dark to fluffiness in .1 of a second... o.o;;
Yuugi: Where'd that come from?
Kagi: From the deep corners of her mind.
Y-n-Y: Only you would think a mind has corners...
Kagi: Silence. -.-
Y-n-Y: .;; ...moving on... Who has heard Yami Malik's English voice? ::raises hand:: Here's my reaction: What the hell?!?! O.O;; I downloaded eppie 89 and skipped to the end to heard his voice... I thought I was going deaf! IT'S HORRIBLE~!!! ::plugs ears:: NUUU!!!
Yami: Are you done yet?
Y-n-Y: I guess...
Yami: Then get on with the story...
Y-n-Y: Fine, fine... slave driver... =P Here's me newest story. I hope you all enjoy it!
Six Weeks
Chapter 1 - What Do You Want?
~*~*~*~DAY 1~*~*~*~
Yuugi avoided his dark-half's eyes, which only upset the spirit more.
"Look at me!" he bellowed.
Yuugi refused the command and shut his eyes to stop the tears. He'd been caught, there was no way out of it as Yami cornered him in the bathroom.
All the evidence Yami needed was there. The gagging noises. Yuugi's sweaty face. And of course... Yuugi's lunch in the toilet. 'But I wished I would've figured it out sooner!' he berated himself. "Tell me why you're doing this!" he demanded. He wanted to understand what drove his aibou this far. What hateful words provoked him to take such actions? It wasn't until he saw the frightened look on Yuugi's face did his own face soften and pull the smaller one in his arms. "I'm sorry I yelled, mou hitori no ore."
Finally, he spoke "Let me go!" Tears poking at the amethyst eyes.
"No... I want... I NEED to know what happened? Why you've resorted to this?"
"I-" He shook his head, blond hair covering his eyes. He wanted to undo all the confusion his exposure created. He pulled sharply out of his dark's embrace. "There's nothing wrong with me!" he screamed as he broke past Yami and into his room, locking the door close.
Sighing, Yami flushed the toilet and went in search of Yuugi's grandpa. He found him in the Game Shop. "Mr. Motou," Yami began.
"Now, Yami, I told you before not to call me that. All of Yuugi's friends call me 'Grandpa,' you're no exception," the old man said with a friendly smile. Yami nodded, but didn't correct himself. "So, what seems to be the problem?"
"I think there's something wrong with Yuugi."
Sugoroku's smile vanished. "What do you mean?"
Yami explained what he saw and hung his head. "He won't even talk to me."
"I never would have guessed..." the old man whispered. "What could have happened?"
"I don't know."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi pounded his fist in the pillow. 'No one would understand!'
KNOCK KNOCK!
"Yuugi, are you in there?"
"G-Grandpa?" Yuugi dried his face and unlocked the door.
Yami stood behind his grandpa, looking sad and upset and angry. They both walked in, Yami staying guard at the door, leaving Yuugi's only escape the window, which was on the second story.
"Yuugi, you know we care about you. That's why I've come to a decision. This is mine alone, so don't blame Yami for this. The next month I'm going to be away, and I'm leaving you in Yami's care."
Yuugi looked down at the puzzle hanging on his chain. 'Me breaking this will have no effect. After Yami was able to separate into his won body, he's had his own puzzle. If I broke mine, only my thoughts to him would be cut off. So, I'm stuck.'
"I've already switched the lock on the door connecting the Game Shop to the house, so now the lock is in the Game Shop. Yami will have the key just in case."
Yuugi's eyes widened. "Why-?"
"Because," Yami spoke, "you don't realize you're hurting yourself. We care for you, and we don't want you to leave us."
The younger boy turned away from them. His grandpa sighed. "I will see you in a month then." He left the room.
Yuugi turned back and glared at Yami. Through clenched teeth he said, "I hate you."
Yami's eyes grew wide and tears started to build up. Not knowing what to say, he closed his eyes and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami leaned heavily on the wall, not wanting to believe what he heard. 'Hate me?' He shook his head. 'It doesn't matter, if I can get him to stop, I would gladly disappear forever.' With his absolute resolution made, he went downstairs to see Yuugi's grandfather off.
"Yami, take care of him."
"I will," he promised.
"I'll see you in a month." With the two suitcases, he walked out of the Game Shop.
Yami checked his pocket for the key and locked the door behind him as he made his way into the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/I hate him, I hate him, I HATE him!/ Yuugi chanted in his mind, not bothering to hide. /I hate Yami! Why'd I ever have to solve this stupid puzzle?!/ Yuugi clenched the puzzle in his hands, his tears bouncing and sliding off the polished surface. He threw himself on the bed and buried his head in the pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami held back his tears again at his aibou's words. It cut him deeper than any cut could. Even the once that ultimately ended his life. It was the only secret Yami would ever withhold from Yuugi.
He had a very unhappy childhood. Sure his parents were the rulers of all Egypt, but that held no comfort or love for the young Yami, Prince of Egypt. He knew his parents were aware of his unhappiness, the fifty times he ran away should have been enough to convince them.
Finally one day, he had enough. He and his father were always at odds, but this argument was far worse than any other. His mother tried to stop his departure, but his death threats stopped her when she feared for her life. Young Yami made his way to his room and picked up a dagger as long as his forearm.
He stood there, contemplating what he should do. But it didn't take much longer than a second to reach his decision. Finally, he said his last words: "Let me find happiness." First his slashed his wrists, blood dropping on his white tunic. Then with a dramatic swing, he plunged the blade through his heart.
The rest was a blur. He remembered the silhouette of his mother run to him. She was chanting a magic spell. The next thing he remembered was waking up in a black void. No light, no sound. Not until Yuugi solved the puzzle. His final wish had been granted, he found love. Deeper than anything he could remember.
But in the end, it seemed, he would be denied that after all.
Yami found himself in front of his aibou's door, not sure what he was doing there, but he was sure of one thing: Yuugi's happiness is above his own.
//I'm sorry... but I will find out what's been hurting you.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi cried until what may have been evening. His drapes were shut, so there was no way to really tell. He got up and smelly something unusual... but good. He had not known what is was like to actually want to eat something for the longest time.
He went downstairs to the kitchen where the heavenly smell was coming from. He looked in and saw Yami stirring something in a pot. He smelled the familiar scent of basil.
//It's tomato soup, Yuugi.//
Yuugi jumped at the sound of Yami's voice in his head. He fully entered the kitchen and stood watching Yami cook.
//You'll eat.//
Yuugi frowned. "You can't make me."
Yami turned away from the stove to look at the younger boy. "If I have to, Yuugi, I will force you to eat it." He turned off the stove and took down two bowls, placing one in front of Yuugi.
Yuugi rolled his eyes and attempted to leave the kitchen, but ran straight into nothing. He glared as Yami filled his bowl with the soup and watched to see if he would eat it. Yuugi looked at the bowl then glared at Yami.
Yami sighed and walked back to fill his bowl. He grabbed a spoon and took some soup into his mouth. Yuugi watched him cautiously as his yami walked back over to him. The hikari felt two hands cup his face and he force. It was too late. Yami leaned down and captured his lips. Yuugi felt his mouth forced open by Yami. The soup in Yami's mouth poured into his own. Yami then pinched Yuugi's nose, forcing him to swallow. After the red soup was swallowed, Yami backed away. "If you make this difficult, that's how you'll be fed."
Yuugi nodded and went to get himself a spoon. The soup tasted as good as it smelled, but there was something different then when Yami fed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Maybe I shouldn't have done that.' Yami felt uneasiness within their connection and he knew it centered around his feeding tactics. He had to admit, Yuugi had a nice taste. 'No, no more of this!' Yami finished off his serving and placed his bowl in the sink.
Yuugi followed after him and made a beeline for his room.
Yami watched Yuugi's hurried exit. He followed silently after to make sure he was going to his room. He heard Yuugi's door slam shut and he sighed. 'At least he didn't lock it.' He went to the bathroom and stood by the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi sat on his bed and started to feel the gagging sensation in his throat. 'I need to go to the bathroom.' He flew out of his room and ran towards the bathroom where Yami stood at the door. Fighting the urge to throw up, he whispered, "I need to use the bathroom."
Yami's eyes narrowed. "No."
Yuugi blinked as he felt two arms around him. "Let me go!" He began to struggle, which didn't help his stomach much.
"I can't." Yami's right hand began to slowly rub Yuugi's stomach.
"Why?" the hikari choked out.
"I want you to live."
Yuugi fell limp against his yami and cried.
~*~*~*~Day 2~*~*~*~
Yuugi's eyes popped open. He felt strong arms around him and he sighed. /I must've fallen asleep./ The previous night came to his mind. Yuugi shook his head and quietly got up with little disturbance to Yami. That feeling was back. He stood up and let the dizziness pass before he tried to walk. He didn't even take a step when a hand clamped onto his arm. He stopped, knowing Yami could outmaneuver him any day.
"I hate... you..." he mumbled. The strength in his voice weakened. /I wish he... would just... leave me alone!/ He felt the hand drop and turned to see his Yami. The red irises were hidden by his eyelids. Pain skewed his face. Wordlessly, he walked past Yuugi and into his room.
Yuugi stood there. 'I didn't really mean it.' He looked at his clear path to the bathroom, but, suddenly, the urge to rid his body of foor disappeared. He sat back on the bed and stared into space.
He soon found himself in his soul room.
He gasped, looking at the condition of his room. It was distorted. The toys on the floor were ripped and broken, barely hanging onto life. 'Is that how I am?' Yuugi didn't want to be there, but he had no clue on how to end it. 'Yami knows... but... does he even want to talk to me? Well, it's not like I have any other options.' He left his room and stood in front of Yami's door.
//Hold on a second... I'll be right there.//
Yuugi was surprised Yami would still talk to him. 'I said a lot of bad stuff. How could Yami forgive me so easily?'
//I care about you, Yuugi.//
Yuugi's eyes widened a bit. /But how-?/
Yami opened the door. "Our soul rooms show our true selves. We can't hide anything here."
"I see." 'Maybe I am dying.'
"What do you mean, Yuugi?" Yami's eyes darted past Yuugi and into his soul room. Yami's shock became evident.
'Why can't I help what I'm thinking? I don't want to be here.'
Yami, passing over his surprise at the condition of Yuugi's room, turned to look at his hikari. "You used to not mind. Because, then, you didn't hide anything from me."
"So, you can read my mind?"
Yami shrugged. "If I wanted to."
"Are you reading my mind?"
Yami looked hurt. "I would never pry anything from you. When you want to tell me what's troubling you so, I would be glad to listen."
Yuugi bowed his head. "I just want to leave this place."
"Why? What has changed you, Yuugi? I hardly ever see you truly happy. In fact, the only time I see you is at home."
The hikari's fight came back in full swing. "People change, you learn new things... meet new people, find other interests."
Yami turned his back and stood in the door way of his room. "No, that's not it. Don't take me for a fool. That's just a cover. But... I will wait. Until then, I will help you in any way possible." He shut the door.
Yuugi blinked and he found himself back in his room at the Game Shop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami sighed, accomplishing nothing. 'I need to remain strong so I can be there for Yuugi.' Yami closed his eyes and leaned down on his own bed. 'What has happened, my aibu? Do you detest life? Your life?"
An hour later he heard his aibou's door open and footsteps walked down the stairs. He wanted to follow, but figured Yuugi might want some space. Ten minutes later, the same footsteps walked back up. Peaking through a crack, Yami watched as Yuugi made his way to the bathroom. The spirit darted out and blocked Yuugi's entrance.
"Damn, Yami, I have to go to the bathroom and you're NOT watching."
Yami matched Yuugi's glare. "I will turn my back, but the door will remain open."
Yuugi nodded and entered the bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami didn't know how it happened. He knelt next to his heaving aibou, gently rubbing circles on his back. After the bathroom incident earlier, Yami and Yuugi managed to avoid each other at all costs.
Then dinner came. Yuugi ate half of the cup of instant ramen and asked to be excused to go to the bathroom...
~*~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~*~
"Yami, trust me."
"I do. I don't trust what your body is doing," Yami argued.
Yuugi sighed. "Please, Yami. Just trust me... all of me."
Yami watched him for any signs of deception. There was none. "Yuugi, I trust you, like I always do. Please don't break that trust."
Yuugi bowed his head and ran for the downstairs bathroom. About a minute later, Yami felt those weird sensations through their connection. //Yuugi!//
~*~*~*~END OF FLASHBACK~*~*~*~
Yami shook his head to clear his thoughts and concentrated on the boy with him. When Yuugi finally finished, Yami stood and impassively filled a cup of water, handing it to Yuugi. Warily, the younger boy swallowed the liquid. Yami was about to leave when Yuugi stood and hugged Yami. "I'm sorry!" Fresh tears started to build. "I-I betrayed your trust- I'm sorry! Forgive me! I'm so sorry!" The new tears began to trickle down.
The spirit relaxed a bit and wrapped his arms around Yuugi. "Shh..." Yami rocked them back and forth. 'I accept your apology, aibou. But forgiveness- my trust was the only thing you'd let me give you. You turned on our friendship. You've stopped acknowledging I was a part of you and silently demanded I'd do that same.' Yami heard Yuugi's breathing even out and was asleep. "Aibou," he said, letting the word roll of his tongue, having been unspoken for so long, "you're always forgiven."
~*~*~*~Day 3~*~*~*~
Yuugi yawned. His throat hurt. He rolled on his other side and saw Yami. 'He's so close...' His eyes darted to Yami's mouth, reminding him of Yami feeding him. His lips were slightly opened and looked... kissable? The word ran through Yuugi's body like fire. 'Maybe, he wouldn't notice... he's still asleep...' He tilted his head up and pressed his lips against Yami's. 'Yes, very kissable...'
What shocked Yuugi was that Yami was responding to his kiss. He pulled back and saw Yami uncover his crimson eyes. "Y-you're awake?"
Yami nodded.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"Why did you kiss me?"
Yuugi paused. "I-I'm sorry." The blood rushed to his checks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami smiled inwardly as his light's face darkened to a red color. "Yuugi..."
"I'm so sorry, Yami!" He turned away.
Sighing, the spirit put his arms around the boy. 'No matter how much he has changed, Yuugi is still very innocent. He doesn't even know my response was a positive sign.' "It's okay, mou hitori no ore." Yami's closed his mouth and hoped Yuugi wouldn't notice the slip.
He did notice.
Yuugi's eyes widened. "You said..."
Before his light could finish, Yami placed his lips over Yuugi's. He pulled away a second later and whispered, "I'm sorry, I won't mention it again."
"What... do you mean?"
"You never think of me as a part of you anymore. And when I used to mention it, you'd give me an angry look. So, I stopped referring to you as such."
Yuugi was slightly confused. "When did I ever say that?"
"It's not what you said, it's what you didn't say." Yami sighed and stood out of bed. "Don't worry about it."
"What? So you get to butt into my problems but I can't but into yours?"
Yami was shocked at Yuugi's changed tone. "My problems are important." He turned to face his now, wide-awake partner.
"We're not equals. No wonder why I stopped referring to you as being a part of myself."
Yami couldn't stop them this time. In front of his aibou, he let two tears drip from his crimson eyes. He wiped them away. "Be that as it may, my proplems don't threaten my life," Yami spoke loudly. "If it costs me every chance and my own happiness, I will see to it that you live."
Yuugi stood to face his Yami. "I don't need nor want your help!"
"You may not want it or think you don't need it, but I'm going to help you!"
"Yami, go away. Go back into the puzzle. I never want you around. You've just been an extra baggage for me!"
Yami kept his glare to match Yuugi's own.
"You don't know the first thing about my problems!"
By this time, Yuugi was so close to him, that Yami felt his aibou's breath on him.
"You want to know what my real problem is? It's YOU! It's always been YOU! YOU'VE been a problem since day one and until recently, I was too blind to notice. So you want to help me? Then leave. Take our dueling deck, take both of our puzzles. Just leave and don't come-"
Yami grabbed Yuugi's hand and harshly brought their lips together. He pushed Yuugi back into the bed and pressed against his lips even harder.
/Yami, stop!/
The spirit ignored the boy's plea. He felt Yuugi's hands push against his shoulders, but he grabbed them and pinned them over Yuugi's head with one hand.
/You're scaring me, Yami!/
Yami ignored him once again and trailed small kisses down Yuugi's face. He unbuckled Yuugi's neck collar and gently sucked on the tender skin.
/I don't want this!/
//Then tell me why you kissed me.//
/I thought you were asleep./
Yami smiled. //Why'd I have to be asleep for you to kiss me?// The Pharaoh began to pull the shirt off Yuugi. //Why?//
/I didn't want you to know./
//Know what? That you loved me? Wanted me?// Yami closed his eyes and released Yuugi's hands. //Kiss me.//
/What?/
//I know you want to. I won't even kiss back,// Yami offered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi began to cry. Yami found out, and now he was completely exposed.
And he found his head raising to kiss Yami. He felt a jolt when their lips touched, just like before. And, indeed, Yami didn't kiss back. Yuugi parted his dark's lips and brushed his tongue against Yami's. Yuugi lost himself inside Yami. He let every single one of his emotions into their kiss: anger, sadness, love, happiness... everything he ever felt. Even guilt. Guilt for lying about what has been happening. When Yuugi pulled away, he found Yami smiling. "Yami... I..."
The spirit shook his head. "You don't need to say anything, aibou. One problem at a time."
Yuugi nodded, glad Yami said that. He wasn't even sure what to do. "Thanks."
Yami nodded and began to pull Yuugi to sit up. "Breakfast time."
Yuugi nodded, still in his daze.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The remainder of the first week passed. By the eighth day, Yuugi was able to eat a full meal and manage to stop his reflexes with very little help from Yami. The two other meals were a different story. Yuugi and Yami would spend at least thirty minutes in the bathroom just to make sure nothing would happen. Little did they know what the second week would bring...
Y-n-Y: This looks like a good beginning to a long story ^_^
Yuugi: Urg... the torture you put me through...
Y-n-Y: Eh, you know you like it ^.^
Yami: I say she's delusional.
Y-n-Y: ~.~
Y-n-Y: Hey, everyone! Did you miss me? Yep, I've finally posted the new story... Took me long enough, eh? Anywho... This is the beginning to a whole new (hopefully) series. This is gonna be one fun rollercoaster fic, from dark to fluffiness in .1 of a second... o.o;;
Yuugi: Where'd that come from?
Kagi: From the deep corners of her mind.
Y-n-Y: Only you would think a mind has corners...
Kagi: Silence. -.-
Y-n-Y: .;; ...moving on... Who has heard Yami Malik's English voice? ::raises hand:: Here's my reaction: What the hell?!?! O.O;; I downloaded eppie 89 and skipped to the end to heard his voice... I thought I was going deaf! IT'S HORRIBLE~!!! ::plugs ears:: NUUU!!!
Yami: Are you done yet?
Y-n-Y: I guess...
Yami: Then get on with the story...
Y-n-Y: Fine, fine... slave driver... =P Here's me newest story. I hope you all enjoy it!
Six Weeks
Chapter 1 - What Do You Want?
~*~*~*~DAY 1~*~*~*~
Yuugi avoided his dark-half's eyes, which only upset the spirit more.
"Look at me!" he bellowed.
Yuugi refused the command and shut his eyes to stop the tears. He'd been caught, there was no way out of it as Yami cornered him in the bathroom.
All the evidence Yami needed was there. The gagging noises. Yuugi's sweaty face. And of course... Yuugi's lunch in the toilet. 'But I wished I would've figured it out sooner!' he berated himself. "Tell me why you're doing this!" he demanded. He wanted to understand what drove his aibou this far. What hateful words provoked him to take such actions? It wasn't until he saw the frightened look on Yuugi's face did his own face soften and pull the smaller one in his arms. "I'm sorry I yelled, mou hitori no ore."
Finally, he spoke "Let me go!" Tears poking at the amethyst eyes.
"No... I want... I NEED to know what happened? Why you've resorted to this?"
"I-" He shook his head, blond hair covering his eyes. He wanted to undo all the confusion his exposure created. He pulled sharply out of his dark's embrace. "There's nothing wrong with me!" he screamed as he broke past Yami and into his room, locking the door close.
Sighing, Yami flushed the toilet and went in search of Yuugi's grandpa. He found him in the Game Shop. "Mr. Motou," Yami began.
"Now, Yami, I told you before not to call me that. All of Yuugi's friends call me 'Grandpa,' you're no exception," the old man said with a friendly smile. Yami nodded, but didn't correct himself. "So, what seems to be the problem?"
"I think there's something wrong with Yuugi."
Sugoroku's smile vanished. "What do you mean?"
Yami explained what he saw and hung his head. "He won't even talk to me."
"I never would have guessed..." the old man whispered. "What could have happened?"
"I don't know."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi pounded his fist in the pillow. 'No one would understand!'
KNOCK KNOCK!
"Yuugi, are you in there?"
"G-Grandpa?" Yuugi dried his face and unlocked the door.
Yami stood behind his grandpa, looking sad and upset and angry. They both walked in, Yami staying guard at the door, leaving Yuugi's only escape the window, which was on the second story.
"Yuugi, you know we care about you. That's why I've come to a decision. This is mine alone, so don't blame Yami for this. The next month I'm going to be away, and I'm leaving you in Yami's care."
Yuugi looked down at the puzzle hanging on his chain. 'Me breaking this will have no effect. After Yami was able to separate into his won body, he's had his own puzzle. If I broke mine, only my thoughts to him would be cut off. So, I'm stuck.'
"I've already switched the lock on the door connecting the Game Shop to the house, so now the lock is in the Game Shop. Yami will have the key just in case."
Yuugi's eyes widened. "Why-?"
"Because," Yami spoke, "you don't realize you're hurting yourself. We care for you, and we don't want you to leave us."
The younger boy turned away from them. His grandpa sighed. "I will see you in a month then." He left the room.
Yuugi turned back and glared at Yami. Through clenched teeth he said, "I hate you."
Yami's eyes grew wide and tears started to build up. Not knowing what to say, he closed his eyes and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami leaned heavily on the wall, not wanting to believe what he heard. 'Hate me?' He shook his head. 'It doesn't matter, if I can get him to stop, I would gladly disappear forever.' With his absolute resolution made, he went downstairs to see Yuugi's grandfather off.
"Yami, take care of him."
"I will," he promised.
"I'll see you in a month." With the two suitcases, he walked out of the Game Shop.
Yami checked his pocket for the key and locked the door behind him as he made his way into the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/I hate him, I hate him, I HATE him!/ Yuugi chanted in his mind, not bothering to hide. /I hate Yami! Why'd I ever have to solve this stupid puzzle?!/ Yuugi clenched the puzzle in his hands, his tears bouncing and sliding off the polished surface. He threw himself on the bed and buried his head in the pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami held back his tears again at his aibou's words. It cut him deeper than any cut could. Even the once that ultimately ended his life. It was the only secret Yami would ever withhold from Yuugi.
He had a very unhappy childhood. Sure his parents were the rulers of all Egypt, but that held no comfort or love for the young Yami, Prince of Egypt. He knew his parents were aware of his unhappiness, the fifty times he ran away should have been enough to convince them.
Finally one day, he had enough. He and his father were always at odds, but this argument was far worse than any other. His mother tried to stop his departure, but his death threats stopped her when she feared for her life. Young Yami made his way to his room and picked up a dagger as long as his forearm.
He stood there, contemplating what he should do. But it didn't take much longer than a second to reach his decision. Finally, he said his last words: "Let me find happiness." First his slashed his wrists, blood dropping on his white tunic. Then with a dramatic swing, he plunged the blade through his heart.
The rest was a blur. He remembered the silhouette of his mother run to him. She was chanting a magic spell. The next thing he remembered was waking up in a black void. No light, no sound. Not until Yuugi solved the puzzle. His final wish had been granted, he found love. Deeper than anything he could remember.
But in the end, it seemed, he would be denied that after all.
Yami found himself in front of his aibou's door, not sure what he was doing there, but he was sure of one thing: Yuugi's happiness is above his own.
//I'm sorry... but I will find out what's been hurting you.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi cried until what may have been evening. His drapes were shut, so there was no way to really tell. He got up and smelly something unusual... but good. He had not known what is was like to actually want to eat something for the longest time.
He went downstairs to the kitchen where the heavenly smell was coming from. He looked in and saw Yami stirring something in a pot. He smelled the familiar scent of basil.
//It's tomato soup, Yuugi.//
Yuugi jumped at the sound of Yami's voice in his head. He fully entered the kitchen and stood watching Yami cook.
//You'll eat.//
Yuugi frowned. "You can't make me."
Yami turned away from the stove to look at the younger boy. "If I have to, Yuugi, I will force you to eat it." He turned off the stove and took down two bowls, placing one in front of Yuugi.
Yuugi rolled his eyes and attempted to leave the kitchen, but ran straight into nothing. He glared as Yami filled his bowl with the soup and watched to see if he would eat it. Yuugi looked at the bowl then glared at Yami.
Yami sighed and walked back to fill his bowl. He grabbed a spoon and took some soup into his mouth. Yuugi watched him cautiously as his yami walked back over to him. The hikari felt two hands cup his face and he force. It was too late. Yami leaned down and captured his lips. Yuugi felt his mouth forced open by Yami. The soup in Yami's mouth poured into his own. Yami then pinched Yuugi's nose, forcing him to swallow. After the red soup was swallowed, Yami backed away. "If you make this difficult, that's how you'll be fed."
Yuugi nodded and went to get himself a spoon. The soup tasted as good as it smelled, but there was something different then when Yami fed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Maybe I shouldn't have done that.' Yami felt uneasiness within their connection and he knew it centered around his feeding tactics. He had to admit, Yuugi had a nice taste. 'No, no more of this!' Yami finished off his serving and placed his bowl in the sink.
Yuugi followed after him and made a beeline for his room.
Yami watched Yuugi's hurried exit. He followed silently after to make sure he was going to his room. He heard Yuugi's door slam shut and he sighed. 'At least he didn't lock it.' He went to the bathroom and stood by the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi sat on his bed and started to feel the gagging sensation in his throat. 'I need to go to the bathroom.' He flew out of his room and ran towards the bathroom where Yami stood at the door. Fighting the urge to throw up, he whispered, "I need to use the bathroom."
Yami's eyes narrowed. "No."
Yuugi blinked as he felt two arms around him. "Let me go!" He began to struggle, which didn't help his stomach much.
"I can't." Yami's right hand began to slowly rub Yuugi's stomach.
"Why?" the hikari choked out.
"I want you to live."
Yuugi fell limp against his yami and cried.
~*~*~*~Day 2~*~*~*~
Yuugi's eyes popped open. He felt strong arms around him and he sighed. /I must've fallen asleep./ The previous night came to his mind. Yuugi shook his head and quietly got up with little disturbance to Yami. That feeling was back. He stood up and let the dizziness pass before he tried to walk. He didn't even take a step when a hand clamped onto his arm. He stopped, knowing Yami could outmaneuver him any day.
"I hate... you..." he mumbled. The strength in his voice weakened. /I wish he... would just... leave me alone!/ He felt the hand drop and turned to see his Yami. The red irises were hidden by his eyelids. Pain skewed his face. Wordlessly, he walked past Yuugi and into his room.
Yuugi stood there. 'I didn't really mean it.' He looked at his clear path to the bathroom, but, suddenly, the urge to rid his body of foor disappeared. He sat back on the bed and stared into space.
He soon found himself in his soul room.
He gasped, looking at the condition of his room. It was distorted. The toys on the floor were ripped and broken, barely hanging onto life. 'Is that how I am?' Yuugi didn't want to be there, but he had no clue on how to end it. 'Yami knows... but... does he even want to talk to me? Well, it's not like I have any other options.' He left his room and stood in front of Yami's door.
//Hold on a second... I'll be right there.//
Yuugi was surprised Yami would still talk to him. 'I said a lot of bad stuff. How could Yami forgive me so easily?'
//I care about you, Yuugi.//
Yuugi's eyes widened a bit. /But how-?/
Yami opened the door. "Our soul rooms show our true selves. We can't hide anything here."
"I see." 'Maybe I am dying.'
"What do you mean, Yuugi?" Yami's eyes darted past Yuugi and into his soul room. Yami's shock became evident.
'Why can't I help what I'm thinking? I don't want to be here.'
Yami, passing over his surprise at the condition of Yuugi's room, turned to look at his hikari. "You used to not mind. Because, then, you didn't hide anything from me."
"So, you can read my mind?"
Yami shrugged. "If I wanted to."
"Are you reading my mind?"
Yami looked hurt. "I would never pry anything from you. When you want to tell me what's troubling you so, I would be glad to listen."
Yuugi bowed his head. "I just want to leave this place."
"Why? What has changed you, Yuugi? I hardly ever see you truly happy. In fact, the only time I see you is at home."
The hikari's fight came back in full swing. "People change, you learn new things... meet new people, find other interests."
Yami turned his back and stood in the door way of his room. "No, that's not it. Don't take me for a fool. That's just a cover. But... I will wait. Until then, I will help you in any way possible." He shut the door.
Yuugi blinked and he found himself back in his room at the Game Shop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami sighed, accomplishing nothing. 'I need to remain strong so I can be there for Yuugi.' Yami closed his eyes and leaned down on his own bed. 'What has happened, my aibu? Do you detest life? Your life?"
An hour later he heard his aibou's door open and footsteps walked down the stairs. He wanted to follow, but figured Yuugi might want some space. Ten minutes later, the same footsteps walked back up. Peaking through a crack, Yami watched as Yuugi made his way to the bathroom. The spirit darted out and blocked Yuugi's entrance.
"Damn, Yami, I have to go to the bathroom and you're NOT watching."
Yami matched Yuugi's glare. "I will turn my back, but the door will remain open."
Yuugi nodded and entered the bathroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami didn't know how it happened. He knelt next to his heaving aibou, gently rubbing circles on his back. After the bathroom incident earlier, Yami and Yuugi managed to avoid each other at all costs.
Then dinner came. Yuugi ate half of the cup of instant ramen and asked to be excused to go to the bathroom...
~*~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~*~
"Yami, trust me."
"I do. I don't trust what your body is doing," Yami argued.
Yuugi sighed. "Please, Yami. Just trust me... all of me."
Yami watched him for any signs of deception. There was none. "Yuugi, I trust you, like I always do. Please don't break that trust."
Yuugi bowed his head and ran for the downstairs bathroom. About a minute later, Yami felt those weird sensations through their connection. //Yuugi!//
~*~*~*~END OF FLASHBACK~*~*~*~
Yami shook his head to clear his thoughts and concentrated on the boy with him. When Yuugi finally finished, Yami stood and impassively filled a cup of water, handing it to Yuugi. Warily, the younger boy swallowed the liquid. Yami was about to leave when Yuugi stood and hugged Yami. "I'm sorry!" Fresh tears started to build. "I-I betrayed your trust- I'm sorry! Forgive me! I'm so sorry!" The new tears began to trickle down.
The spirit relaxed a bit and wrapped his arms around Yuugi. "Shh..." Yami rocked them back and forth. 'I accept your apology, aibou. But forgiveness- my trust was the only thing you'd let me give you. You turned on our friendship. You've stopped acknowledging I was a part of you and silently demanded I'd do that same.' Yami heard Yuugi's breathing even out and was asleep. "Aibou," he said, letting the word roll of his tongue, having been unspoken for so long, "you're always forgiven."
~*~*~*~Day 3~*~*~*~
Yuugi yawned. His throat hurt. He rolled on his other side and saw Yami. 'He's so close...' His eyes darted to Yami's mouth, reminding him of Yami feeding him. His lips were slightly opened and looked... kissable? The word ran through Yuugi's body like fire. 'Maybe, he wouldn't notice... he's still asleep...' He tilted his head up and pressed his lips against Yami's. 'Yes, very kissable...'
What shocked Yuugi was that Yami was responding to his kiss. He pulled back and saw Yami uncover his crimson eyes. "Y-you're awake?"
Yami nodded.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"Why did you kiss me?"
Yuugi paused. "I-I'm sorry." The blood rushed to his checks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami smiled inwardly as his light's face darkened to a red color. "Yuugi..."
"I'm so sorry, Yami!" He turned away.
Sighing, the spirit put his arms around the boy. 'No matter how much he has changed, Yuugi is still very innocent. He doesn't even know my response was a positive sign.' "It's okay, mou hitori no ore." Yami's closed his mouth and hoped Yuugi wouldn't notice the slip.
He did notice.
Yuugi's eyes widened. "You said..."
Before his light could finish, Yami placed his lips over Yuugi's. He pulled away a second later and whispered, "I'm sorry, I won't mention it again."
"What... do you mean?"
"You never think of me as a part of you anymore. And when I used to mention it, you'd give me an angry look. So, I stopped referring to you as such."
Yuugi was slightly confused. "When did I ever say that?"
"It's not what you said, it's what you didn't say." Yami sighed and stood out of bed. "Don't worry about it."
"What? So you get to butt into my problems but I can't but into yours?"
Yami was shocked at Yuugi's changed tone. "My problems are important." He turned to face his now, wide-awake partner.
"We're not equals. No wonder why I stopped referring to you as being a part of myself."
Yami couldn't stop them this time. In front of his aibou, he let two tears drip from his crimson eyes. He wiped them away. "Be that as it may, my proplems don't threaten my life," Yami spoke loudly. "If it costs me every chance and my own happiness, I will see to it that you live."
Yuugi stood to face his Yami. "I don't need nor want your help!"
"You may not want it or think you don't need it, but I'm going to help you!"
"Yami, go away. Go back into the puzzle. I never want you around. You've just been an extra baggage for me!"
Yami kept his glare to match Yuugi's own.
"You don't know the first thing about my problems!"
By this time, Yuugi was so close to him, that Yami felt his aibou's breath on him.
"You want to know what my real problem is? It's YOU! It's always been YOU! YOU'VE been a problem since day one and until recently, I was too blind to notice. So you want to help me? Then leave. Take our dueling deck, take both of our puzzles. Just leave and don't come-"
Yami grabbed Yuugi's hand and harshly brought their lips together. He pushed Yuugi back into the bed and pressed against his lips even harder.
/Yami, stop!/
The spirit ignored the boy's plea. He felt Yuugi's hands push against his shoulders, but he grabbed them and pinned them over Yuugi's head with one hand.
/You're scaring me, Yami!/
Yami ignored him once again and trailed small kisses down Yuugi's face. He unbuckled Yuugi's neck collar and gently sucked on the tender skin.
/I don't want this!/
//Then tell me why you kissed me.//
/I thought you were asleep./
Yami smiled. //Why'd I have to be asleep for you to kiss me?// The Pharaoh began to pull the shirt off Yuugi. //Why?//
/I didn't want you to know./
//Know what? That you loved me? Wanted me?// Yami closed his eyes and released Yuugi's hands. //Kiss me.//
/What?/
//I know you want to. I won't even kiss back,// Yami offered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi began to cry. Yami found out, and now he was completely exposed.
And he found his head raising to kiss Yami. He felt a jolt when their lips touched, just like before. And, indeed, Yami didn't kiss back. Yuugi parted his dark's lips and brushed his tongue against Yami's. Yuugi lost himself inside Yami. He let every single one of his emotions into their kiss: anger, sadness, love, happiness... everything he ever felt. Even guilt. Guilt for lying about what has been happening. When Yuugi pulled away, he found Yami smiling. "Yami... I..."
The spirit shook his head. "You don't need to say anything, aibou. One problem at a time."
Yuugi nodded, glad Yami said that. He wasn't even sure what to do. "Thanks."
Yami nodded and began to pull Yuugi to sit up. "Breakfast time."
Yuugi nodded, still in his daze.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The remainder of the first week passed. By the eighth day, Yuugi was able to eat a full meal and manage to stop his reflexes with very little help from Yami. The two other meals were a different story. Yuugi and Yami would spend at least thirty minutes in the bathroom just to make sure nothing would happen. Little did they know what the second week would bring...
Y-n-Y: This looks like a good beginning to a long story ^_^
Yuugi: Urg... the torture you put me through...
Y-n-Y: Eh, you know you like it ^.^
Yami: I say she's delusional.
Y-n-Y: ~.~