Aftermath

by Dark Rabbit

This is a puzzleshipping fic, which means that Yami is paired with Yuugi. It's also dark. It takes place a little after Duelist Kingdom Yuugi persuaded his Other Self to spare Pegasus' life although this is mangacanon he dies anyway, but at a price.

Yuugiou, all its characters, the stories, and everything that makes it interesting and fun to write about, belong solely and exclusively to Takahashi Kazuki -- The lucky bastard.

Yuugi doesn't like to talk about it, but he did it -- And if it would save somebody else's life, he'd do it again. ...All of it, the whole thing, even though it's really, really weird, and it hurts; girls' bodies are made for that, but his body, well it just isn't.It hurt... Even inside mou hitori no boku's Soul Room, it hurt, and it still feels like his body aches; that's impossible, but that's how it feels.

He's supposed to be doing homework now; he's got the books all open in front of him and everything, but all he can do is stare out over them ...and think about what his Other Self did to him.

"Aibou..." Yami's right there; he's been feeling him ever since he came up here, just the faint caress of the Other's soul touching his, "something is wrong."Like a cat brushing against him, soft and intimate, "what is wrong?" Yami's soul whispers to his, and all Yuugi can do is shake his head.

"It's Pegasus, isn't it?" Like a cat, yes, a cat that curls around him one way, then brushes close again purring, "you aren't saying that I should have waited and stopped Bakura?" A faint kingly irritation colors his voice, "those that live by the sword die by the sword, aibou; Pegasus got what he deserved."Yuugi can feel his Other looking at him, satisfied. He's supposed to look back now, and he's supposed to smile. His Other loves him, Yuugi knows that; everything he does is for him. Only he can't look back now. And he can't smile.One tear drops onto his notebook.

"This is my fault," Yami says, "I did something. ...Tell me what I did aibou."

"Nothing," Yuugi swallows, "nothing."

Yami's right there. Spirit-arms around Yuugi's spirit-neck. "Let me make you feel better," he says, "I know I did something."

Yuugi clears his throat. "Nothing," he says again, "you did nothing." He leans back, and the embrace is warm. It could make him feel better if this is all there is. He closes his eyes. "It's all right," and it is all right for now. ...And it will stay all right, here, close to his Other who loves him. This is all there is, and this is all there has to be. Unless he has to save someone else's life again, and then he'll do what he has to do.