Amethyst: First story on here! Might as well go with the traditional Ceremonial Duel after-story. Seems appropriate for Heartshipping.

Main Pairing: RyouxYugi (There is a side pairing of SetoxJou)

Enjoy the story! R&R please!

Prologue

Ryou's POV:

Darkness without its light, and light without its darkness; was that the best way for everything to end? I had my doubts, and I'm sure my fellow hikari had them too.

Hikaris, that's what we are. After all, our other halves were known as yamis. It seemed very appropriate.

Malik, Yugi, and I were separated from our darkness, and it left an unfilled gap in our beings. Or, at least it left a gap in mine and Yugi's. Malik, on the other hand, was glad to be rid of his psychotic yami, even though Malik was nearly as insane. Even though mine was rather insane, I couldn't help but miss him. He somehow planted himself a spot in my heart, and now that was gone too. But Yugi, he had the best reason to suffer from his loss. Yami called Yugi his aibou, his partner, and he was always there when Yugi needed him. Inseparable, even after the incident with the Seal of Oricalcos, those two were. I can't imagine how much the Ceremonial Duel's outcome must have affected him.

I couldn't help but feel jealous of their past relationship, although the true reason eluded me. Sure, it could've been because my yami didn't care too much for my wellbeing or my life while his cared about his everything, but for some reason it felt like there was some greater cause.

I shrugged it off, and let myself sink deeper into an old, dull blue couch. The apartment looked just as old, although I barely noticed. I'd hardly come here while Bakura had control over my body, which explained the layers of dust covering the unused furniture.

The room was a pale grey, it was depressing really. The wall could use some decorations, a small painting at the very least. It would give me something to look at.

I couldn't watch the television, for sure. The screen was shattered, probably a victim of one of Bakura's temper tantrums. I'd probably find that missing kitchen knife inside the abused device. Maybe later I would find that cheese grater…

My eyes wandered toward an old picture frame atop the TV, the photograph it held hidden by more dust. Well there was something to look at.

The couch creaked as I lifted myself off, raising my arms over my head for a quick stretch. How long have I been sitting there? Disregarding that matter, I curiously made my way towards the frame.

I rubbed away the dust with my thumb, holding the picture frame upright with my other hand to keep it from falling back. I coughed a little just thinking about how much dust must be on my thumb right now.

I uncovered part of the picture, to see a familiar pair of bright, amethyst eyes.

I paused in my work as my breath hitched. That unnatural eye color, the innocent and childlike radiance. These were…Yugi's, right?

After scolding myself for my hesitation, I quickly went to my phone. It was an underused, plastic phone. It wasn't like I had many people to talk to, and I don't remember the last time I ever did speak with someone. But now, I planned to.

'I should call Yugi,' I thought, my arms planted firmly at my sides, 'But he's probably busy. Maybe out dueling with his friends or something.' Something nagged in the back of my head to at least try, maybe leaving a voicemail as another option.

I let my hand reach out for the phone, only to fall back to my side.

'Maybe he's forgotten about me…is it even worth trying?'

That last thought was shot down by another. 'Yugi is worth it.'

I lunged for the phone, and quickly realized something vitally important.

I didn't have his phone number.

The phonebook wasn't my best friend in the whole world, but thankfully I doubted that there were many Yugi Motou's in Japan.

'He's definitely a special boy,' I thought.

It didn't take me long to locate some kind of house number under his grandfather's name. Thankfully, I took the time to remember it. I copied the number onto a note, writing Yugi's name on it, and slipped it by the phone for future reference. I wouldn't trust my memory with such an important phone number.

I dialed the number carefully, and put the receiver to my ear. The low background rings of the phone's connection filled the silence of the house.

Riiing

Riiing

Riiing

Riii- Click

I made a nervous squeak, although I meant for even a hint of a 'Hello.' That was a quite embarrassing moment for my voice to fail.

"Hello?"

Amethyst: I'll end it here! Sorry if this seems rushed, I'm an amateur after all. Please review!