Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to the creators of Yu-Gi-Oh.

Song lyrics in italics belong to the band The Tea Party.

Warning: Slash! JouxSeto. Don't like, don't read.

Release

My hand still stings from the blow on his tender face. Playing the scene over in my mind. The way my hand connected with his cheek. The loud sound echoing through the empty halls. His head jerking away as I reached towards him. The short gasp that escaped his slightly parted lips. That one lonely tear, trickling down his tinted red cheek...

How many times had I hit him? Seen that hurt expression in his amber colored eyes?

"What have I done...?"

I want the world to wake
I want to give you peace
I want to vindicate
You need to be released
Don't want to hurt you
I need to make you see...
If I desert you
Its just to make you see.

Ill make it right. I have to fix things. What must I do to be forgiven?

The only thoughts that crossed my spinning mind were those of correcting my wrongs and harms done to him. How do you ask forgiveness after doing what I've done to the only one you have ever loved? Would he ever forgive me?

Memories of holding his naked form in my arms, stroking his golden blonde hair, whispers of sweet I-Love-Yous escaping his lips ever time I did something he liked...but the good was outweighed by the bad.
All the nights of accusing him of cheating, trying to run away from the fact that I truly loved him. Afraid to face what I was. All the hateful words screamed at one another .The exchange of cold glares that would stop you dead in your tracks. And then he would go too far, and my short tempter would get the better of me. My hand would strike his face. All those nights fighting, all ending in his bruised face, tear stained and hurt, looking into my ice blue eyes. He would fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. But not anymore...

I'm a man that's weak
And I'm a man that's lost
I gave it all away
To complicate the cost
Don't want to hurt you
I need to make you see
If I desert you
Its just to make you see
Not gonna hurt you now

My outstretched finger hesitated, reaching for his buzzer number.
Would he reject me?
There was no time. It was now or never. My finger pressed the button and I could feel myself twitch at the one word my love spoke. His voice broken, the hesitation and choked way the word was uttered was enough to tear me apart.

"...Seto?"

My heart sunk. How many tears had he shed since last night?

"Yes, Jou, it's me. May I come up?" The silence made me panic. Would he turn me away? Yell? Cry? My thoughts were halted at the sound of the door opening and shutting, my head turned and a small smile graced his lips. I could take it no longer, and I fell to my knees at his feet. Like so many times he had done to me, I fell to his beauty, to his love...

"I'm sorry..." It was all I could say, before I found myself in pieces at his feet. My hands grasped his pants and I allowed my head to rest just above his pelvis, my tears falling to the ground.

His stiffened body told me that he was shocked. But then his hand came to rest upon my head and he stroked my hair, caressing my face with the other.

The time passed and I soaked in his warmth, knowing that this would be the last time I could ever hold him. I knew my time would be cut short. I would change my mind if I didn't do it then.

I stood, startling him. I outstretched my hand towards his bruised cheek and he flinched at my touch. That alone told me that I needed to do exactly what I had traveled here to do.

"Jou, I've been cruel to you. Hurt you physically and...emotionally." I sighed, dropping my hand. The hurt in his eyes made me look away. There was no gentle way to say it. "I'm leaving and I'm not coming back. Don't wait for me...I love you, Jou, and you were everything to me. But I abused you...took you for granted. I was stupid, and I apologise." I could feel hot tears streaming down my cold face. "...and I destroyed you. I don't deserve you." I turned to leave, and felt his hand grasp my arm.

I need to make you see.
If I desrt you now.
Its just to make you see
I want you to be free
I want you to be free from me.

"Please...don't. Don't leave me." His choked words told me he was already crying. But this was what needed to be. The poison in his air would eventually be lifted. If I left, he would soon be happy...without me.

I continued walking and his hand fell. It took every ounce of energy not to run back to him and hold him and kiss him. To run my fingers through his hair. Tell him everything would be alright. He uttered the last words Ill ever hear him speak, the way I heard him scream those last few words.

"Seto! I love you, please! Seto!"

I want you to be free
I want you to be free from me..

(A.N: Eh. Its crappy. But I tried. Please, constructive criticism, not flames.)