Guys, I'm so bad! I've had this idea for a three-shot story in my head for a long time. I couldn't resist writing it out. Loosely based on the song "Goodnight and Go" by Imogen Heap.

Thanks to The Water Drinker and Riri-kun for their beta work! :)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own!

~*~ One of These Days ~*~

Tonight was the night. He would be here in less than an hour. Yugi cleaned his apartment vigorously as he glanced at his watch again. Yami Sennen, his best friend since high school, would be on his way here by now. He would be on time, as he was each time he visited Yugi in Domino. On the last Friday of every month, he would take the train from Tokyo to Domino for business meetings in regards to his cousin's multi-million dollar company. Then, after a day of meetings, conferences, and paperwork, he would arrive at Yugi's apartment promptly at 6 o'clock. He would stay for an hour and a half – long enough to catch up with Yugi.

They would talk about little things, how they had been since their last monthly meeting, and reminisce fondly on their high school days. Yugi would always offer to cook dinner for them, but Yami always declined the invitation, saying he needed to leave with enough time to make it to the Domino train station for the 8 o'clock train back to Tokyo. Then Yami would walk out of the front door again, leaving Yugi alone in his apartment until the next month.

Yugi sighed, looking around his tidy apartment, at the only time it was ever this clean. The dishes in the kitchen were washed and put away. The carpet was vacuumed. The couch pillows were fluffed and set out decoratively. A couple of candles were lit, filling his house with the sweet aroma of fresh-cut flowers. Even he looked neater – his usual wrinkled t-shirt and old jeans were swapped for a slick lavender button-up shirt and a pair of fresh, dark jeans. Yugi sat gingerly on his couch, careful not to upset the pillows. He sighed again, breathing in the beautiful scent of the candles.

These monthly meetings were getting harder for him to bear. His old feelings for Yami were creeping up on him again, after he had tried to forget about them for so long. He had the biggest crush on the man since they first met as high school freshmen. Everything about him – his fiery crimson eyes, his teasing smirk, his sultry voice… it all left him breathless as a fifteen year old. While Yugi had been caught in an awkward stage of shyness and acne, Yami had been the handsome, smooth person that all of the girls, and some boys, had practically drooled over. His regal stance, with his jutting hip and crossed arms, had been enough to set some students' pants on fire. Including Yugi's.

Alas, as the fates would have it, Yugi was nearly positive his feelings were unrequited. Yami never showed anything other than protectiveness and care when he was around Yugi. Both his words and actions screamed that they were just friends. And during their four years at Domino University, Yugi was sure he saw Yami making out with Téa Gardner in the school auditorium. But sometimes, when they were alone, and Yami gave him his signature, heart-stopping stare, Yugi couldn't help but wonder what the other man was thinking. Could Yami feel the same way about him? Yugi pondered but shook his head. Yami couldn't possibly return his feelings; he would have made a move by now. The man practically radiated confidence and sexiness, for god's sake! Besides, he could have any girl he wanted; why would he ever go for Yugi? But something deep inside of him still wondered…

Maybe…What if…

"It wouldn't work anyway," Yugi said aloud to his clean apartment, as if to appease his inner turmoil. "He lives in Tokyo and I live in Domino. We live in two different cities and that's the end of that."

But it wasn't the end; it was only the beginning. His doorbell rang and his heart skipped a beat. It could only be one person.

Burning scarlet eyes greeted him as he opened the door. "Hello Yugi," said the familiar deep voice. Yami was dressed in a charcoal grey suit, tailored to his slender frame. His hair was a wild mass of ebony and blonde streaks, outlined with crimson tips. Blonde tendrils framed his sharp eyes. His lips curled slightly in their usual smirk.

"Yami, you're here!" Yugi jumped on his friend, who met him with a bear hug.

"Of course I am. I would never skip out on seeing you." Yami pulled away and held Yugi by the shoulders. "You look taller," he joked with a wink.

Yugi had always been vertically challenged and was sensitive about his height in high school. But now it was a running joke between the two best friends, as Yami was only taller by a few inches. Yugi laughed at the familiar joke.

"Come on in," he said, leading the other through the door frame. "You want anything? I can grab you a beer if you'd like."

"Ah, a beer would be nice. As always." Yami smiled and took off his jacket, hanging it on the coat rack near the door. He collapsed onto the couch, outstretching his arms and putting up his legs on the coffee table. He didn't need to be told to make himself at home here.

Yugi went to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles from the fridge, twisting the tops off on his way to the living room. He handed Yami his bottle but waited to drink from his own. It was their tradition to toast to something whenever they drank together, but it had to be something positive – a new job, a fond old memory, a heads-up penny picked up on the sidewalk for good luck.

"To what?" Yugi asked, waiting with his bottle in the air as Yami pondered for a moment.

"To you," Yami replied, holding his beer in front of him. "My best friend. And that snazzy dress shirt you're wearing." He looked Yugi up and down. "Why are you so dressed up anyways? You got a hot date tonight, or what?"

"Um, no. No reason behind the clothes. Just didn't want to look a mess when you came here. Cheers." Yugi fought a blush as the two clinked their bottles together and drank deeply. Yami looked thoroughly refreshed.

"Ah, that hits the spot after a long day." He closed his eyes for a moment, just relaxing with his head back against the couch. "So," he began, opening his eyes and focusing on Yugi. "What's new?"

"Not a whole heck of a lot," Yugi replied, sinking his back into the couch as well. "The game shop's doing very well. We're actually expanding soon."

"No kidding," Yami raised his eyebrows and smiled. "That's awesome. Are you guys moving to a bigger location?"

"Nah, grandpa was a bit too stubborn to move. Especially since he's been in the same building since nineteen-dickity-do. So we're just building an extension onto the existing shop."

Yami laughed heartily. "Oh Grandpa Solomon. He's too feisty for his own good. How is the old man doing anyways?"

"Agile as ever. I swear, the man could outrun a horse with all of his energy." The two men shared a laugh. Yugi's grandfather had raised him after his parents died and Yami was at their house so often throughout their teen years, he practically adopted the crimson-eyed boy as well.

"How's everything else? Any luck in the relationship department?" Yami raised an eyebrow and took another swig of his beer.

Yugi bit his lip and hesitated. His grip tightened on his beer bottle. Without fail, Yami always asked him about his potential relationships and Yugi always replied the same way.

"Nothing new to report. I'm a lost cause." Yugi glanced at Yami, his expression mulled with sadness.

Yami rolled his eyes. "Yugi, please. Any guy would be lucky as hell to have you. You know that right?"

"Yeah…" Yugi trailed off, staring down at his beer. The condensation on the glass bottle was starting to make his hands wet. Or were his clammy palms just unnaturally sweaty during this conversation?

"I'm serious," Yami said, turning towards his friend. "You're smart and kind and you have a great sense of humor. Even if you aren't much to look at." He lightly punched Yugi in the arm to show that he was joking. "Just remember that I have to approve of any guy you date. There are a lot of assholes out there and I can't have them around my best friend, you know." He winked a crimson eye.

Yugi looked up and managed a tight smile. Why was Yami always pushing him to date other people? Why couldn't he understand that the only person Yugi wanted was sitting next to him on this very couch?

"Thanks," he croaked finally. His heart pounded in his chest so loudly, he swore Yami could hear it. He wanted to change the subject; he was always curious about Yami's affairs, even if he'd regret asking later. "How's everything in your love life? Still breaking women's hearts left and right?"

Yugi's heart broke at Yami's response. "Oh, you know it. Tokyo ladies can't seem to get enough of me."

Yugi remained silent, feeling like someone stabbed him in the heart. Why did he torture himself by asking such questions? "Cool…" Couldn't Yami see the pain on Yugi's face right now? Now he really wanted to change the subject. "How's…everything else? I heard Kaiba Corporation is doing really well."

Yugi listened as Yami launched into stories of his cousin's company and the work it was involved in right now. Apparently, the company was trying to acquire a new game called Dungeon Dice Monsters. Duke Devlin, its creator, was located in Domino.

"That's why I've had to travel here from Tokyo so often." Yami tipped his glass to the ceiling and finished off the last of his beer. He let out a small burp. "Actually, I hear they're going to increase our business meetings to twice a month."

That caught Yugi's attention. He snapped his head around to face Yami. "Really?"

Yami nodded. "Yeah, I'll be here every two weeks now – the second and last Friday of every month until the deal is done."

Excitement ran through Yugi's body, but he tried to contain himself. "Wow, how long do you think that will take?"

"Who knows. Duke Devlin is very precise in his deals and Kaiba has some things he wants the company to do before they close the deal officially. Could take six months, could take a year. Nothing is set in stone."

"But at least I'll get to see you more often, right?" Yugi asked, hopefully.

Yami smiled. "That's right. And that's probably the only good thing I'll get out of it. Kaiba is working me to the bone and Duke Devlin can be a horse's ass. Plus, he always has his fan girls following him and he always stands like this, like he's trying to eye-fuck whoever he's talking to."

Yami stood up to imitate Duke Devlin, standing like a playboy model on the cover of a smutty magazine. Yugi giggled at his friend's antics; Yami did the best impressions of people. For a moment, he felt like they were still in high school or college, laughing together on another one of their late nights.

"Do Seto Kaiba!" Yugi requested. It was one of his favorite impressions.

Yami crossed his arms and retained a stoic expression. He scowled slightly and looked down at Yugi, who was now howling with laughter.

"Yugi," Yami began, making his voice raspy like his cousin's. "There is nothing funny about the subject of Duel Monsters. You're laughing because you're a loser. You can barely pick up a playing card. But I am the greatest duelist in the world!"

Yugi was now holding his stomach, which ached from laughing so hard. His eyes welled with tears and he couldn't stop himself from falling off the couch and rolling onto the floor.

"HA! Oh my God, that's hilarious. You do the best impression of Kaiba, Yami."

Yami however maintained his impersonation. "I am Seto Kaiba, you fool! I knew you were a loser but I didn't know you were an idiot as well!"

Yugi continued laughing, but was worried that he might pee his pants if he laughed any longer. It wouldn't be the first time his friend made him laugh that hard. "HAHA, okay. Stop! STOP!"

"The Great Seto Kaiba does not 'stop.' But he does – TICKLE!" Yami suddenly pounced onto Yugi's laughing form, brushing his sides with his fingers. The two boys rolled around on the floor in a tickle fight. As always, Yugi was losing.

"HAHAHAHA, YAMI!" Yugi cried between laughs. "STOOOOOP!" His face was tomato-red from laughing continuously.

Yami's fingers stopped moving as he let Yugi catch his breath. Both boys stayed on the floor and Yami maintained his dominant position over his smaller friend, his hands pinning the boy against the carpet. Yugi looked up into Yami's soft wine eyes and his face remained its deep red color, but for a different reason. Yami was so close to him now, looking down on him with an unreadable expression on his face. Was the beer clouding his mind or was Yami leaning forward?

He could do it; could kiss him right now if he wanted to. All he had to do was just raise his lips to Yami's and wrap his arms around his neck to pull him down to the floor and –

"I should probably get going, Yugi." Yami glanced at his watch.

Leaving so soon? But you just got here…

"Do you want another beer or anything? I could make us dinner," Yugi offered. Even to himself, he sounded desperate for Yami to stay. "You should have something to eat before the train ride back."

Yami shook his head. "Sorry to decline your offer, but I wouldn't have enough time. Besides, they have snacks on the train. I'll be okay."

He got up and dusted off his suit, which was now slightly wrinkled from their little romp on the floor. Yugi slowly pulled himself up and took the two empty beer bottles to the kitchen. After rinsing them both and setting them on the side of the sink, he returned to the living room. Yami had already donned his jacket and was standing near the door. He outstretched his arms for a goodbye hug.

Yugi held back tears as he sank into his friend's arms. He held on tightly to Yami, breathing in the familiar scent of his exotically spicy cologne. He missed this. He missed having Yami near him and making him cry from laughter.

Too quickly, Yami pulled away from the hug and held Yugi by the shoulders, apprehension written on his face. Yugi couldn't look him in the eyes, focusing down at Yami's chest instead.

Yami tilted Yugi's head up, not giving him the choice to look away. "I'll let you know when I'll be back in town. Goodnight, Yugi."

Yugi's throat tightened. His breath hitched. Yami, every time you leave, you take another piece of me with you. I can't do this anymore…

"Goodnight, Yami."

Yami disappeared through the doorway with a final wave. The door slammed with finality, echoing through Yugi's mind. He sank against its wooden frame, defeated. His apartment felt noticeably less homey now that he was alone. No laughter rang off the walls. No one kicked their feet up on the coffee table. The apartment felt empty and hollow.

"You always say goodnight and go," Yugi whispered to the door. "One of these days, you'll miss your train, and come stay with me." Tears fell silently down his cheeks, pooling on the wooden floor.

Please review! :)