WELCOME

I have decided to tinker away and build a bit of a collection, or anthology, if you will, of short Yu-Gi-Oh related tales. They will not necessarily be connected to the events or characters from my first two stories, Dark Thoughts and Not Always Smooth Sailing, but if they are, I will indicate at the start so that you know. They may contain inside jokes or references relevant to that 'universe' I created, or simply contain ships/pairings that I nominated in those stories.

If you want to see a short story based on a specific pairing/ship, please let me know and I'll try to accommodate J

Some of these WILL contain smut. Others won't. I'll specify at the top so that you know.

Key to stories:

**OU** = 'Original Universe'- this will relate to the timeline/people in my two larger stories.

**SC** = 'Smut Content'- turn the kiddies away.

I hope you enjoy. I will update periodically but perhaps not as often as I did with my larger stories; as inspiration hits, I will create :D

I dedicate this anthology to the two people who inspire and encourage me the most on this site- my friend InLoveWithMysteries (who has just posted the first chapter of their first fic- get over there and show them some love!) and Neko-May Resha, who is also a regular commentator and source of encouragement. Thanks guys for making fanfic that little bit more fun J Also, to JustCallMeLucie, I have finally done that Yami/Yugi one-shot you asked for. Only took me six months! Haha.

Enjoy!

~Jehbel

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

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Yugi reclined against his Partner, his legs hooked over the edge of the couch, swinging without rhythm as he flicked through the pages of his book. He was deeply immersed, his large purple eyes flicking quickly down the pages; Yami idly wondered how he could take in the words when his eyes moved so fast. Every now and then he gave a chuckle as the read a particularly amusing section, his cute little face scrunching with amusement; the movement bringing him ever-heavier against Yami's body.

Yami sighed, frustrated.

It wasn't that Yugi was enjoying the book, really it wasn't. It wasn't that Yugi found the words of some unknown person amusing, or sad, or compelling. It wasn't that he was immersed in something other than his Partner, who was sitting rather glumly beside him pretending to enjoy the gameshow on television.

But it was. It was all of those things.

I am a fool. Why am I feeling jealous of a BOOK for Ra's sake? Snap out of it!

But it could not be helped.

Yami huffed a little and shifted his position, being careful not to jostle Yugi, who was still leaning back against his right arm, his long hair occasionally tickling Yami's ear. He crossed his legs. He uncrossed them.

The television gameshow erupted into raucous laughter; Yami chuckled along mechanically, unsure of where the humour was; he had lost track about fifteen minutes ago. Yugi gave a little sigh.

His arm was warm with Yugi's weight.

His backside was sore from sitting in the same position.

I hate that book. And whoever wrote it.

Finally, Yami could take no more. With a small cough, he shifted his weight slightly, bringing Yugi's attention to himself. His aibou peered up and backward at him, his large purple eyes like owlish orbs. "Yami? I'm sorry, am I too heavy? I'll move so that you can enjoy your show." With a sweet smile, Yugi swung his legs around and off the couch, and standing with a small stretch. "Gahhh! My legs are numb! I didn't even feel that happening." With a stiff hobble, Yugi wandered over to the large squashy armchair in the corner of the room, the book swinging from his hand. With a sigh, he flomped himself into the soft upholstery, curling his legs up like a cat. With a final small smile at Yami, he opened the book and began to read in earnest again. His face quickly melted into studious seriousness again.

Yami stared. This was worse. Now his Hikari was happily ensconced on the armchair, reading this stranger's book, enjoying himself, and Yami could not even touch him in the process. What fresh hell was this?

With frustration, Yami leapt to his feet and began to stalk from the room. Perhaps if he found and handily beat Kaiba at a duel, it would take his mind off the frustration and irrational jealousy. His head was down, hands thrust deep into his jacket pocket as he walked.

With a sudden rustle of pages, Yugi called out, "Yami! Where are you going? I thought your show was still playing?"

Yami turned, taking in Yugi on his position in the big comfortable armchair, his large amethyst eyes peering at him. He was adorable. He was utterly innocent. He's mine.

Yami sighed. "Truth be told, Yugi, I have not been paying attention. I only turned it on as an excuse to be near you; an excuse to sit beside you and touch you and not feel embarrassed because it was a perfectly innocent situation. But now I am frustrated and annoyed at myself, because I am jealous of that book you are reading, because it is drawing you away from me. I am pathetic." Yami rubbed a long-fingered hand over his eyes wearily. He was sick of pretending; sick of seeking out excuses to be near his aibou. He was tired of hiding his overwhelming, aching love. "Listen, Yugi. I know you don't feel the same way, but I have to tell you that I-"

A small giggle cut his words short.

Yugi's hand flew to his mouth, and his eyes closed as the giggles escaped. He cracked an eye open; upon seeing Yami standing there, baffled, the giggles became guffaws, and finally all-out laughter. His Other looked on, utterly confused at this outburst. The laughter seemed to go on and on, high and sweet and pure, like a bell. Finally, with a few stray tears on his cheeks, Yugi's mirth died down into an occasional hiccupping chortle.

Yugi stood then, facing Yami, his eyes locked on his Partner's. With careful deliberation, he raised the book to eye level, before dropping it unceremoniously at his feet.

Yami blinked. "Yugi, what-"

Suddenly, Yugi was barrelling across the room toward him. Yami barely had time to cry out before he felt the impact of Yugi's small body against his own; the momentum carried him backward, and his feet failed him; the two collapsed into a pile onto the thickly carpeted floor.

"Ow! What the- what are you doing?" Yami gasped, a little short of breath from the impact and feeling a rather dull ache in one elbow. Yugi raised his head, grinning sunnily at Yami; the Pharaoh was suddenly hyper-aware of his Hikari's closeness, his warm little body against his own. Oh Gods, don't react, don't react, don't react. Think of unpleasant things. Bakura… think of Bakura…

"I have been flicking through that damned book for over an hour now, Yami. Do you know what I came to realise?" Yugi asked with mock severity, giving his Other a little squeeze.

Yami cocked his head, confused. "What did you realise, Yugi?"

The large purple eyes peering at him narrowed. "I realised that you are completely thick-headed and oblivious."

Yami's eyebrows rocketed up his head. "Wh-what?"

"How much closer did I have to get to you before you'd make a move? I thought I was going to have to actually climb onto your lap." Yugi rolled his eyes with humour. "I was just about ready to go insane."

Yami took a moment to absorb this information. "So…"

Yugi gave a little tinkling laugh. "So."

Yami quirked an eyebrow with humour at his aibou. "Should I take this to mean that we can move on to something more… enjoyable?"

Yugi peered back with a heated gaze. "Oh, Yami, you can take whatever you want."

As their lips met for the first time, Yami couldn't help but sneer to himself. Take that, stupid book.