Crimson Ice Flame: Hey there my lovelies! If any of you have read my last one-shot of Yami and Seto, well then, you're in luck! I hope you like Puzzleshipping because today is a new story with Yami Atem and Yugi Moto! Hope you guys enjoy and this was inspired by chrino's story "Scars." Please favorite and review! Oh, and I should warn you guys, Tea is not so nice in this one. That's all for now!

Chapter 1: Distant

He sat there in that bar - yes, a bar. Yugi Moto, barely eighteen years old, had faked an ID just so he could get a drink or two, though it didn't help he didn't look his age. Yes, Yugi had grown taller, just a bit shorter than his other half, Yami now, unless you count his outrageous hair, and he had gained a little muscle to up his size a bit, but it didn't do him much good either way... Yugi always looked childish, always with his big, adorable eyes, innocent face, and small stature. Always looked younger than he really was... Now, Yami, at least he looked nineteen, sometimes even Yugi's age, and his deep, baritone voice with serious eyes always added to his looks. Yugi was just never able to live up to Yami. No, he didn't resent him because they were human, they were who they were and there was nothing to change it. Instead, he adored Yami, always had. Yami had a sort of courage Yugi never did, but there was something the Moto boy had the Pharaoh didn't: kindness and compassion. Yami never really had this trait, which is why he was so grateful when he learned it from Yugi, and vise versa. The smaller boy had gained confidence, though it all seemed in vain when he was so distant lately. You see, Yugi carried something - a burden - a very heavy one at that he had kept in for oh so many years. He didn't want to tell anyone because he never had that courage to. And when the two doubles had finally separated, Yami free to roam with his own body, Yugi felt so lonely. Yes, they lived together in their own apartment now, going to Domino City University, but even so, it was lonely without Yami's spirit behind him, supporting him through and through. However, he kept it hidden, never let it show; always keeping up that smile, even if it hurt to wear... With each smile and every laugh he would show, it only hurt him more knowing it was all just a show if it meant no one would ask him why he was hurting so... He would often cry himself to sleep at times, silently, as not to let Yami hear him. He would bury his face in the blankets and pillows and let his tears fall, his friends ever unknowing to his rouses all because he hid his true feeling, hid them well...

Yugi reached over and grasped the wide glass in his small hand, downing another round of vodka. He drank it quickly, a burning sensation in the back of his throat, but he didn't care, he somehow enjoyed the pain, yet another thing he did in secret. Yugi always wore long sleeve shirts or jackets, never letting his marks and scars show. How distant had he grown from Yami... They used to sleep in the same bed together, not so much now due to Yugi's isolation he had made for himself. Yami was worried for his young Aibou, his small lover... He would try to get answers, coax him into speaking, but he would not, always changing the topic or simply avoiding it altogether. Why was he so isolated, so distant, so silent...? All Yami wanted was for his Hikari back, how he used to be, to know what was burdening him so much that he would keep silent and fake his smiles just to try and hide his pain. But Yami knew him well, and would usually be able to tell what Yugi was feeling, but not lately... Yugi had gotten so proficient in masking his true feelings, it was beginning to become much more difficult to read him. Yugi wouldn't even let his other half kiss him, much less hug him hardly anymore... He would come up with some excuse as to not let him do these small, loving gestures. More often then not though, it would most likely be "I'm tired," or "I'm not in the mood." After setting his now empty glass down, Yugi signaled for another round, but made it whiskey this time, a slightly less potent alcohol, but bitter and foul tasting nonetheless, as alcohol usually was. When his glass returned moments later, filled with a bronze liquid, he quickly drank it down, cringing slightly at the awful taste on his tongue. This was about his third or fourth drink that night, though it was better than most people in the club. They were either dancing on the floor, drunk and passed out, sucking faces with another person, or a combination of those. Yugi would normally find it appalling, though the alcohol was starting to get to him due to its strength, so he was beginning to feel a bit dizzy and honestly, could care less about those around him. When the liquid was gone, he asked for yet another round of that awful tasting bronze liquor. Though, each time he got his drink, it was only half full, so it wasn't like it was very much he was drinking, but enough for his size to make him feel a bit hazy, but again, it wasn't like he cared at the moment. All he wanted was to be alone, yet at the same time, he secretly wished to see him - his Yami, his other half. Meanwhile, someone walked into the club, looking rather determined. Yami Atem had enter The Pharaoh's Club, followed by Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Ryou Bakura, Marik Ishtar, Ishizu Ishtar - since she doesn't like to leave her brother by himself - Duke Devlin, and Tea Gardner, who looked like she was either uncomfortable or didn't want to be there. The former Pharaoh could easily recall when Yugi had left their apartment that night, now able to fully comprehend what had happened.

Yami was seated on the plush, black couch in the living room of their two bedroom apartment, one room being used as a game room. He had a book in his hand, flipping through the pages as he read them when Yugi came out of their room. He had put on a black, long sleeve shirt; grey vest that fanned out in the back; black jeans; a black and silver belt; black and silver shoes; and a black belt choker around his neck. He took his keys and phone and stuffed them in his pockets, heading for the door when he stopped by the couch, glancing over to see his other half reading his book. A sad look grimaced his face for a moment before he spoke up, trying to sound normal, which seemed hard when it looked like Yami was ignoring him.

"I'm going out." He said.

"Okay." Yami absentmindedly acknowledged, his thoughts still in the written world of his book.

The book the former Pharaoh had been reading was about a girl and her former lover. The two were a happy couple, everything seeming normal in their relationship. But soon enough, the male became distant from the girl, always getting so involved with his work and never spending any time with her. She would try to do any and everything to get his attention, even if only for a little bit, and it was working, for a short time anyway... After a while, the girl became lonely, isolating herself from everyone, but still trying to put on a brave face, acting as if nothing was wrong and always smiling, even if it hurt her to wear. Where had he seen this before, he thought. Yami knew he had seen this before, but where? For some reason, he couldn't place his finger on it from being so engulfed in his book that his thoughts were scattered, wandering. Where? He was brought away from his thoughts for another moment when Yugi spoke again, causing him to look up at his Aibou.

"I'll be back later, so don't wait up for me..." Yami saw something - hurt - flash on Yugi's face before it was replaced with a forced smile.

"Be careful." Said Yami, Yugi flashing a sense of hurt again when Yami returned to his book.

The boy then made his leave without saying goodbye, feeling like he was being ignored and like Yami wouldn't have paid attention anyway. After a few minutes though, Yami closed his book, unable to continue reading for his thoughts had kept distracting him. He set the object down on the coffee table before getting to his feet, heading for the kitchen to get a drink. As he drank his glass of water, Yami thought. The girl in his story began isolating herself, she spoke less, she put on a brave smile, faked her smiles, and would cry herself to sleep some nights. In that moment, it felt as if a train had suddenly hit Yami at full speed as he nearly choked on his water. He quickly set the glass down and went back into the living room, searching for his cellphone. He frantically searched the apartment, when he finally found his phone back in his bedroom on the charger. He quickly unplugged the device and dialed a number, one he new all too well from always seeing Yugi dial it before listening to the rings, waiting anxiously for an answer.

"'Ello?" A thick, Brooklyn accent answered.

"Joey, meet me at The Pharaoh's Club in fifteen minutes, and contact the others - bring them too."

"Whoa, settle down, pal! Somethin' up?"

"I think I've got an idea, but I need all of you to hurry and meet me there. It's about Yugi."

"Right, I'll get everyone and meet ya there."

"I will contact Tea and Duke, but will you get Tristan, Bakura, and Marik?"

"Sure thing, pal, but Ishizu might go with him."

"That's fine. The more, the better."

"Yeah. I'll see ya there, Yami."

"Thank you, Joey. See you soon." He then hung up before contacting Tea and Duke, who agreed to go, though Tea seemed reluctant as to agreeing.

When everyone arrived at the club, Yami looked around, wandering why Yugi wanted to come here of all places. Sure, it was a popular club to go to, but it was also one of the most notorious... It's had some bad times - some worse than others - which begged the question, why here? Deciding not to dwell on the thought, Yami opened the door and went inside, everyone else following with Tea coming in last. The taller double looked around, searching for that outrageous hair of his Hikari. Yes, Yugi was a little on the short side compared to Yami, but it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. It took a bit, but Yami was finally able to locate the boy seated at the bar, setting down a glass, indicating he had just finished his drink. Yami's eyes widened for a moment when he realized Yugi had been drinking, hopefully not for long, before walking over to him. The smaller boy looked over, his eyes widening slightly at seeing his other half standing next to him, worry and relief shining in his crimson eyes. The two just stared at each other for a long moment before Yami wrapped his Hikari up in his strong arms. Yugi seemed to relax for a moment at the feeling of being in his darker half's arms again, Yami seeming happy that Yugi finally accepted his gesture without a hassle until he was shrugged away moments later, the boy not wanting to lose his grip otherwise he might have just lost it right then and there. And it didn't help that the whole gang had shown up, not having seen the gesture Yami had given only moments ago.

"Aibou..." Yami spoke in his deep, velvety, baritone voice, a chill crawling up Yugi's spine. He hadn't called him that name in so long, it felt so different, especially the way Yami said it - filled with concern and a type of sadness he couldn't quite point out.

Yugi looked around at everyone, all having worried expression on their faces, all except Tea, who looked uneasy, like she wanted to leave as soon as possible. The boy felt his heart skipping a beat and his chest clenching. Seeing the brunette haired girl only worsened his mood. He did not wish to be around her... However, Yugi knew why they were there: They wanted to know the truth, why he had been acting so differently lately, or at least, different than normal when he wasn't going back to that thought buried deep in his mind. He didn't want to tell them, his fear and sadness rising in the pit of his stomach, but he knew what had to be done. He would have to tell them either now or never, otherwise he would just bury the thought in the deepest, darkest pits of his mind and never wish to revisit it again, carrying that burden even longer. And maybe it was because of his slightly drunken state that he felt the need to finally talk, to finally get this off his chest and clear his conscious of this heavy burden he had been carrying on his shoulders. He needed to tell them, but even after he did, he would want Yami's support, for Yami to comfort him like he always did, but he was afraid... He feared that even after he revealed this burden, that everyone would leave his side, including Yami, which is what he feared most, but he had to tell them whether he was ready or not. Though, he would've probably never been ready... Who knows? No one is ever ready to face the music and reveal something so big that had been weighing on his shoulders for so long... Either way, it had to be said, and he was finally going to tell them, even if he feared the outcome... Yugi stood up from his barstool he had been sitting on and walked over to a man, asking him something before he pointed. The boy nodded in thanks and head in that direction until he was on a stage. Everyone seemed confused for a moment until Yugi reached for the mic, asking someone to play the desired song he wished to convey. When the music began to play, he waited nervously, his head hung and his shaky hands gripping the microphone. He held it up to his lips and began to sing, pouring all his heart and soul into every single word.

All he wanted was for them to understand, even if only a little, so he sang. He sang with all the courage he could muster and gave his all, conveying his true feelings...

Crimson Ice Flame: Sorry to cut it short, but I'm trying to write a story here! Don't worry, I will try to make this as long as I possible can, but cut me some slack guys, recent high school graduate here... But I've got time, so hope you'll stick with me! Till next time my loves! Stay lovely!