Finally another chapter!

I'm sorry to anyone who cares, I got writer's block right at the end of this so forgot about it for ages, then wrote some more, then forgot again, you get the picture :L

The annoying thing is that nothing even happens in this chapter! GARRR!

Well not really, decide when/if you read it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

...

It took a while for Yugi to break out of his trance and leave the bathroom, and when he did, he just couldn't concentrate on homework.

Instead he decided on the marginally easier task of making dinner for them.

He always cooked, whether the Pharaoh liked it or not, because A: He found it peacefully fun and B: Yami's cooking was abysmal.

The blush hadn't completely left his face as he crept to the kitchen, and he was glad that (for the moment) Atem was in his room, though he knew he could not avoid him for long.

He didn't understand why he was so embarrassed, but he was. It was as though the Pharaoh knew all his thoughts and feelings and just wanted to confuse him more, even though that wasn't possible.

The mind-link they shared only worked properly if one person freely opened their thoughts to the other -which Yugi would never allow in these circumstances- and besides, Yugi could not be more confused than he was now even if he tried!

Why didn't Yami say anything? Why didn't he kiss him? It made no sense! With a sigh, Yugi started preparing the food, though he was not feeling particularly hungry.

He hoped Atemu wouldn't mind just having noodles and sauce tonight; he couldn't be bothered with making an effort. Then again, the Pharaoh wasn't much of a fussy eater anyway.

Yugi smiled affectionately at this, then blinked, "Jeez." It was definitely a crush.

...

"Hey."

"Hey."

"What's for dinner?"

"Just some noodles, sorry, I didnt think you'd mind?"

"Oh no, that's fine."

Yugi carried on dishing up the thin pasta as Yami stood leaning in the doorway, watching.

He'd changed into some pajamas -a dark grey pair- almost black, but not quite.

Yugi pointedly ignored him, concentrating on the food, and Atem wandered towards the refrigerator, opening the door and absentmindedly scanning the shelves.

"What are you doing?"

"Do we have any snacks?"

Yugi frowned, "Dinner's done, Yami, you'll get fat if you eat anything else."

The Pharaoh rubbed his stomach apprehensively, drawing Yugi's attenion, "Really?"

The younger boy looked away, his cheeks heating up. "Okay, I guess not. For you anyway."

Atem chuckled and grabbed some Cola from the fridge instead, pouring out a glassful. "Do you want some?"

Yugi paused, "Uhm, no thanks. But could you get the sofa-trays please?"

"Sure."

The pair settled down to eat on the sofa (not having a dining room in the tiny flat) and switched the TV to some sort of drama show.

Yugi immediately found it uncomfortable, though he didn't know why.

They'd eaten like this thousands of times before, watching even worse TV programmes.

He glanced sideways at Yami, who looked the same as usual, lazily twirling his noodles with his fork. Or was that a slight smirk on his face?

Yugi thought, "Now you're being paranoid. Nothing's different!" He shook his head, thinking he should say something -it was weird eating in total silence- but the Pharaoh beat him to it.

"How was the rest of your day anyway?" asked Yami.

"I... Uh... Boring. You?"

"Mmm."

Yugi didn't really think that counted as an answer, but took it to mean something along the lines of "Same."

"What did you do after coming to my school?" Yugi asked, curious. He must have gone somewhere.

"Nothing much, just walked home... had a bath."

Hm. Yugi could have sworn it was ages until he came home. Atem must have been in the tub for hours! Still, he did say he'd fallen asleep. And if you're that tired...

"Did you go to your after-school thing in the end?"

"Huh? Oh, the club. No, I felt sick." lied Yugi quickly.

The Pharaoh looked at him, "But you're okay now?"

"Yeah, now I feel better."

"You sure?" asked Yami, scrutinizing him.

Yugi nodded, chewing on some food, then remembered something. "Yes, and by the way, do you know a boy called Malik?"

Atem frowned, "Ishtar?"

"I think that was it."

The Pharaoh raised his eyebrows, "Actually yes, I do. How on earth do you know him?"

"Well..." Yugi recounted his meeting with the blonde, causing Atemu to laugh so hard he nearly dropped his plate.

"Haahaha! I'll have to say something about that at work tomorrow."

"You work together?" asked Yugi, recalling how similar their jewellery was.

"Oh, yes, he's the museum owner's son. He sometimes helps me out with the tours."

"Is he your friend then?" Yugi couldn't help but ask.

Yami's brow furrowed, and Yugi wondered if he'd said something wrong. "I... suppose, yeah. It's not like we're close or anything though."

Yugi tried to hide his relief, feeling incredibly guilty at his own feelings. Seriously, he wanted the Pharaoh to have friends!

"Just not attractive, obviously gay, tanned co-worker ones... Argh, shut UP!" He had to stop thinking like this, it was driving him insane.

"I get it, I have friends like that too. You finished?"

"Yup, thanks Yugi. And, uh, really? I thought you and your friends seemed pretty close."

Yugi bit his lip, thinking.

"We are." he said softly -almost to himself- then, snapping out of it, said, "I'll take your stuff out. Want anything else?"

Atem supressed a yawn, then smiled sleepily, "No, but thank you, really. I think I'd better just have an early night."

Yugi returned the smile, saying "That's okay Yami." then stood up and went back to the kitchen.

He glanced sparingly at the sink, before crossing the room to the dishwasher, for once feeling grateful they had one.

He bent down to stack the plates in no particular order, then closed the door on them.

"Out of sight, out of mind." thought Yugi, albeit a little guiltily. "They can be done in the morning."

Turning round, he found Atem in the doorway, arms crossed and yet again watching him.

"What?"

"Just thought I'd say goodnight."

Yugi was confused.

"Uhm, well... Goodnight then?"

The Pharaoh chuckled, a sound deep in his throat, as he approached Yugi and then hugged him.

Taken by surprise, at first Yugi did not move, then he did the natural thing and gave in, wrapping his arms around Yami's waist and burying his face in his chest.

He felt oddly comforted by the contact; as if he had been missing something and had forgotten about it until now.

The effect was immediately calming, almost like how a sleeping blanket would affect a baby, and Yugi couldn't help but want the moment to go on forever, whatever it meant.

Atem rubbed small, soothing circles into his back and he sighed, totally relaxed. It wasn't until Yami's hands rubbed harder and went lower, that Yugi started to wonder what this really could mean.

His body stiffened at the thought and the Pharaoh finally released him, snickering at Yugi's expression.

"Goodnight, Yugi." he said, nearly whispering, and winking as he went out of the room.

Yugi stood frozen, his mouth agape, until he heard Atem's door creak shut.

He shook his head dazedly and went to his room, quickly getting ready for bed.

That was... Weird.

So so weird.

He didn't know why Yami was acting like this now, or what exactly he meant by it, but... Hell, Yugi had to admit, he really kind of liked it.

"Wait, you did not just think that! You did NOT just think it! For all you know, he could just be teasing - he must have seen the way you were looking at him at school."

Yugi pondered this for a second, his thoughts conflicting.

"But he was like it before too, even this morning, a little. I didn't realise..."

His mind traced back over everything they'd been through together, subtle meanings of conversations suddenly seeming clearer.

Oh.

"If I look at it that way, it's like the Pharaoh's been flirting with me, the whole time he's had his own body? But that can't be right. This is just my over-active imagination again."

Yugi groaned frustratedly as he climbed into bed; no matter what he told himself, today certainly hadn't been his imagination.

He had feelings for Atem that he couldn't ignore, but he could swear his Yami was just toying with him, unless he was being serious?

Deep in his heart, Yugi wanted the Pharaoh to feel the same way as he did, but it was just so unlikely!

Atem was the sort of person to always speak his mind in serious situations; to make his intentions known.

"This must just be some new game of his, to trick me into thinking he wants me..."

Subconsciously, Yugi's mind disagreed, knowing Yami wouldn't be so pointlessly manipulative; yet he still wondered what the prize would be in such a game, and how far Atem would go to get it...

"Tehehe. If it is a game, I think I want him to win..."

Ra, this was disturbing. He needed some sleep before he really did go crazy.

Rolling over on his pillow, he set his alarm for school, switched off his lamp, then stared into the darkness until his eyelids became heavy.

Eyes finally closing, he left all his worries behind, as he quickly drifted into a blissful slumber.

...

BEEP! BEEEP! BEEEEP! BEEEEEP! BEEP!

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh..."

There was only one thing Yugi hated about school, and that was the mornings.

It always started too early for him, no matter what time he went to bed, and he was sorry to say that were it not for Yami violently waking him up whenever he fell back to sleep, he would probably have more detentions for being late than he dared to think about.

For a moment he felt like giving in and pressing the snooze button, before thinking better of it and just turning the damned alarm off.

Rolling out of bed lazily, he started to get ready, pulling on his school uniform and making sure his hair was at it's usual level of amazing spikiness, before sneaking quietly from his room; in case Atem was still asleep.

Creeping across the hall, he had just slung his bag over his shoulders when the Pharaoh's bedroom door opened, revealing a tired-looking (but nevertheless, handsome) Yami.

The pair blinked at each other for a moment, surprised, then Atem spoke.

"Wow, you're actually awake!"

Yugi shrugged, "Aha, yeah!"

They paused awkwardly, evidently unsure of what to say.

"Uh... So why aren't you asleep?" asked Yugi after a few seconds, breaking the silence.

"I normally wake you up, don't I? Or at least check you're on time..."

Yugi frowned, "Really? Every day? I thought... Well, you don't have to, you know."

Yami chuckled, "What, don't you want my face to be the first thing you see in the morning? Besides, I couldn't just let you be late to school all the time; that would be... Hmmmmm..."

"Unfair?"

"Right."

Yugi smiled at Atem's obvious sleepiness, then headed for the door.

"By the way, Pharaoh, will you be making a repeat performance at my school today?"

Yami scratched his head thoughtfully, "So what if I did? It's for me to know, and you to find out, as the saying goes."

"But you won't, will you?" asked Yugi, sounding worried, "Will you?"

"Have a good day at school, Yugi." said Atem, grinning deviously as he retreated back into his room.

Yugi stared incredulously at Yami's closed door (half-contemplating smashing it open and demanding the truth) before finally coming to his senses and leaving through the front one, realizing that, at this rate, he would soon be late for school again, for no real reason.

Rushing along his normal route, Yugi was silently fuming.

Not only was he annoyed at himself for pointlessly worrying over things that didn't really matter, now he also felt strangely hopeful, though hoping for what...

He honestly did not know.

...

Kk, it may take a millenia, but I DO HAS PLAN! ;) Just wait...

Aha, that's if you want, no one's forcing you :P

So, uhm, RxR?

Tehe.

XxX