Star: Ok, I have absolutely no excuse for not posting in a million years other than the fact that I was lazy and didn't feel like writing. So, I'm sorry for making you guys wait for so long. But I promise I'm going to try to get better at it.

On a happy note...I'M GOING TO SEE DIR EN GREY IN CONCERT IN HOUSTON THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!! (dies of happiness) I LOVE KAORU!!

Anyway, this chapter was supposed to be posted on the 11th, but I never finished. Then it was supposed to be posted on the 12th, but I was too late. And because I was late, I had to cut a chapter out. And that's annoying. So even though it is up on the 13th, it is the 12th in the chapter. Get it? No? Well hopefully you will. And hopefully I can manage another chapter today. (HOPEFULLY)

disclaimer: don't own, don't sue

"speech"

'thoughts'

-----Strike One!-----

It was the next day during homeroom, and Yugi was feeling depressed for some reason. No, he knew the reason for his sudden depression. Valentine's Day was now only three days away and he still had not figured out a way to reveal his feelings to his other half. Why, oh why couldn't he just get the courage to tell him something so simple? The answer was: because it wasn't simple. On no level was it a simple task. People might say things like, 'just do it', or 'what's there to be afraid of?' Well they could all go fuck themselves. It was hard enough admitting to himself that he had feelings for the other. And it had taken him a long time just to do that! How could he have possibly thought that he would be able to tell Yami in just three days? It was already the twelfth! Valentine's Day was in two days! He had today and tomorrow to try to get it done. And telling him on Valentine's Day itself was stretching it really close.

Sighing dejectedly, Yugi looked out the window of his classroom. Part of him just wanted to forget all about his stupid plan. It really was stupid! To just come out and say something like that to a person who Yugi had no idea if he even felt the same. Or even if his feelings were on the same level. What if Yami misunderstood? What if he took it as only friendly emotions? Or worse, what if he understood and rejected him? That would be the absolute worst thing that could ever happen! He'd end up driving the spirit away, and then what? Yami would leave for college and would never talk to him again. Yugi groaned and dropped his head on the desk. His life was becoming a real hell, no thanks to that stupid holiday. Why did he even bother?

"What's got you so down?" he heard Ryou ask from his right.

"Shoot me," Yugi replied. "Do me a favor and shoot me before I make a complete, utter fool of myself."

"Worrying about what to do for Valentine's Day?" the British teen asked, shifting his desk closer. "Why don't you just tell him?"

"You know damn well it's not as easy as that," Yugi mumbled. "If it were, I would have told him a long time ago. But as it stands, I'm never going to tell him."

"It's not like he's going to hate you, you know," Ryou replied, placing a hand on Yugi's hair and stroking it gently. "If he doesn't feel the same way, he'll let you down gently. But he's not going to push you away forever. Yami cares too much for you to do that."

"I know," the younger answered. "But I still don't want to do it. I don't want to be rejected by the person I love."

"No one does, but it's a part of life. You have to take the good with the bad. But it doesn't mean just give up."

Yugi looked up at his friend and sighed again, blowing a stray hair from his face. "I guess. But that still doesn't make it easier for me to tell him. I don't see why I have to tell him anyway."

Ryou rolled his eyes, and smacked Yugi lightly on his head. "Because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"I can live with that," said the young duelist. "Besides, it's not like I'm the only one who's after him," Yugi added irritably. Many, many, MANY people had already approached Yami with flowers, chocolates, cards, the whole nine yards. It seemed as if every minute the spirit was bombarded by groups of admirers. His locker overflowed with letters and notes so much so that every time he opened it, a mountain of paper rained down on him. It was times like this that Yugi realized how popular his other half truly was. But then again, why wouldn't he be? He was smart, kind, understanding, patient, friendly, funny, and not to mention extremely attractive. It was no wonder he had so many people after him.

"But do you think he really cares about any of those people?" Ryou asked gently. Yugi could only shrug. What did he know, really? He couldn't say no if it wasn't true, but he didn't want to say yes, incase that answer was true. "I'm sure he says something about all the attention he's been getting."

Yugi smiled softly as he answered. "Yea, he says it's slightly annoying to be stopped six times on his way to class. But other than that he doesn't complain. He doesn't even refuse their gifts! He smiles, says thank you, and takes the gift. So that's what he'll probably do with mine, if he doesn't reject me completely." Great, now he felt even worse.

"And what makes you think he'll reject you? You, out of the entire student body?" Ryou asked in annoyance.

"Because that is just my luck," Yugi replied, burying his face in his arms.

Ryou rolled his eyes again and looked away. Typical Yugi, always building obstacles in front of himself. He'd never get anywhere if he continued to believe that Yami would refuse him. Really, that thought was laughable! Why would he reject Yugi? The person that saved him from an eternity of darkness and torture. That alone deserved eternal gratitude, something that the Pharaoh displayed every day. Hell, even Bakura showed his gratitude! And Bakura was a hard ass, ungrateful bastard at times. Granted, they were already a couple, but that didn't matter. Why the hell would Yami reject Yugi? If he did, then the Pharaoh was a complete idiot and deserved to be shot.

"How long did you like Bakura before you told him?" Yugi asked softly.

"Hard to say when it started," Ryou replied, closing his chocolate brown eyes as he tried to think back. "I just started feeling more comfortable around him. Of course, this was after I realized that he wasn't going to kill me. Then one day I woke up, and I realized that he had become such a big part of my life. I absolutely loved being with him, and wanted to be with him always. Although, that was also the day I realized I had finally gone crazy from hanging around you people for so long."

"Well, sorry for making your life such a mess," replied Yugi sarcastically.

"Just tell him!" Ryou yelled. "I'll help you lure him out to an empty place."

"You make it seem like we're going to jump him."

"If that's what it takes to get you to admit that you like him, then that is what we'll do."

"I'm so going to kick you," Yugi threatened before his eyes caught a movement at the doorway. Glancing over, his eyes widened as he saw his yami standing in front of the classroom, talking to a female student. He felt immense jealously run through him when he saw his other half give the female a bright smile. Smiles like that should be saved for only him! But leave it to Yami to be nice to everyone. That jerk.

"Now's your chance to talk to him," Ryou said softly, leaning in close so no one could hear. "Just ask him to go somewhere private, and tell him."

"I…I just can't. I don't want to set myself up for rejection. I don't want to end up pushing him away. Especially since he's leaving in a few months anyway," the teen said. He didn't want to ruin their last few months together.

"Which is why you have to tell him now. You know you'll never get another chance. Look, he's coming!" Ryou responded, prodding Yugi in the side, hoping that the boy would just take the risk. But at the rate things were going, Ryou would probably end up screaming it to Yami in front of everyone, and that would be a huge mess.

"I can't! I just can't do it!," Yugi whispered fervently, wishing he could just disappear.

"Can't do what?" Yami asked as he sat down next to the two.

"Nothing!" Yugi said quickly, burying his head back in his arms to avoid looking at his yami.

"Yugi's just being a loser. So how's the daily haul?" Ryou asked with a smirk, glancing down at Yami school bag which seemed to be overflowing with gifts.

"I'm going to break my back carrying all these things, the spirit replied with a groan. "It weighs a ton, and I don't have room for any of my books either. And I have enough chocolates to last me for the next five Valentines."

"So why don't you just say no?" Yugi asked, sulking in his chair.

"Because if they went through the trouble of buying it for me, then I can't turn it down."

"Right, of course," Yugi replied curtly.

"Anyway," Ryou said quickly, hoping to avoid any unnecessary tension, "have you seen Bakura? He's not answering me at all."

"I'm happy when I don't see him," the Pharaoh responded, "but if you must know, he's with Marik and Malik out in the courtyard."

Ryou frowned as he tried to contact his yami again. "So why isn't he answering me?"

"They're probably plotting something. Probably for Valentine's Day."

"They don't always plot, you know, "Yugi commented. He was suddenly also feeling annoyed. He felt like stabbing something. Preferably something that moved. And screamed. And bled. Hello, insanity! But he was too depressed to move at the moment to find a pointy object. Maybe later.

"They sure looked like they were plotting," Yami replied, already suspicious of the other three. One was bad, two were worse, but when all three joined together, it was pure hell. Yugi just grunted, and shrugged his shoulders. Yami frowned, and leaned closer to his aibou. "Yugi, is something wrong?" he asked, placing a hand on Yugi's head.

Quick as lightning, Yugi smacked the hand away and sat up. A stunned silence fell over the three as they tried to register what had happened. Yami blinked as he stared at Yugi, wondering why in the world he had done that. Yugi just stared back, shock written all over his face. And Ryou stared at Yugi in disbelief, amazed by the sheer stupidity of that action. "Yugi…?" the Pharaoh started, reaching out once again, but Yugi leaned back quickly to avoid the touch.

"I…I have to go," the teen said, grabbing his bag and racing out the door, leaving the two in surprise.

Yami watched his other half race away from him, before turning to Ryou, "What just happened?"

"Something stupid," Ryou replied. Great, this was not what they needed! That idiot just made things so much harder for himself. What the hell did he expect to accomplish by avoiding Yami's touch? And why was he trying to avoid contact in the first place? Ryou needed to hunt that boy down and knock some sense into him.

"Did I do something bad?" the spirit asked sadly, looking back out to the hall as if he expected Yugi to come back.

"No, it's not you." How was Ryou supposed to answer that one? He obviously couldn't tell him the truth. So what could he say that could convince the other teen that nothing was wrong, and to not go chasing after Yugi. "Don't worry about him. He just needs some time alone right now."

"If you say so," Yami answered. "I should…probably go." Yami stood up, and grabbed his bag. "If you see him later, could you find out what's wrong and tell me?"

"Sure thing." Yami nodded in appreciation and walked out, going the opposite way of his hikari.

------

'I'm so stupid!' Yugi thought to himself for the millionth time as he paced back and forth in an empty classroom. What the hell was wrong with him? How could he do something as moronic as hit Yami's hand away? WHY did he do it was a more important question, one Yugi was desperately trying to figure out. It was just a comforting gesture, and Yugi had to go and ruin it by doing something like that! And then to avoid Yami's touch a second time! Why a second time? Why even a first time? 'How could I be so stupid?'

He could just imagine how angry Ryou was with him. The British teen would probably yell at him, and call him an idiot as well. But he deserved it. Not only had he completely embarrassed himself by that stunt, he also had just made it harder for him to tell Yami anything. 'I won't be able to even look him in the eye now!' He had never shied away from Yami's touch before. Not even in the beginning, when he was getting used to having a spirit inside him. Not even when the two argued. Not once, not ever. So why now? Why now of all times did that have to happen?

The bell rang, thankfully, and Yugi hurried to his next class. At least here he wouldn't have to deal with Yami or Ryou. But he did have class with Bakura, so there was the chance that Ryou would get Bakura to talk to him. Hopefully Bakura was uninterested in his love life. Not that there was much to be interested in. Sitting down at his desk, Yugi rested his head on his desk as he waited for the second bell to ring. Watching the doorway for Bakura, he stiffened lightly when the tomb robber walked through the door. Bakura glanced at him for a second before taking his seat to the left of Yugi.

"Ryou is pissed at you," he said simply.

Yugi groaned. Great, he knew it. "Is he on a rampage to bitch at me? Or did he tell you to do it?"

"I'm not particularly interested in your love life," Bakura responded cooly. "And the fact that you have a thing for that idiot sickens me. But seeing as how Ryou won't give up on this, I'm going to help you. But I'm only doing this so that he'll stop complaining about how much of an idiot you are."

"Your kindness never ceases to amaze me," Yugi said sarcastically, turning to face the teacher as the lesson started.

"Take it, or leave it. It's up to you if you bag him or not."

"He's not a prize, you know. Unless this is all just a game to you," Yugi answered, yet he wasn't offended.

"It is. As I said, I'm not really interested. Just be happy I like you enough to agree to help."

"Don't let Ryou hear. He might get jealous," Yugi teased lightly.

Bakura just smirked. "You're cute kid, but you look too much like that idiot for me to ever be interested."

"Aww, and here I thought you were going to tell me you secretly loved me." Yugi replied with his own smirk.

"Only in your dreams."

"Sorry, but you aren't a very important part of my dreams."

"What do you see in him anyway?" Bakura asked, making a disgusted face.

"I'd tell you, but you'd probably get sick," Yugi said with a chuckle, brushing back his bangs. "So, any ideas on how to help me?"

"Amazing that you're willing to listen to me and not Ryou."

"He's too bossy. Besides, just because I ask you, doesn't mean that I'll actually do it. I still believe that I'd be wasting my time trying to tell him. There is no way we could ever be together even if he did feel the same."

Bakura scowled at the younger teen. "You really think that he's not going to try everything to stay with you? Even now, he doesn't want to leave for that stupid college. But because you said it would be a 'wonderful opportunity', he's going. If you told him to stay, he'd stay. You know he'd turn them down in an instant."

"But I don't want him to stay here just because of me."

"Then what exactly do you want!" Bakura yelled, catching the attention of the whole class. He glared fiercely at them, and they quickly turned away. "If you tell him how you feel, of course he'll stay. And you know you don't want him to leave! Stop with the selfless act already, and make up your mind! Do you want him to stay or not?"

"I just can't take that opportunity away from him," Yugi responded softly. But he already knew what he really wanted. He wanted to be selfish and keep Yami with him forever.

"That doesn't answer the question. Do you want him to stay or not?" Bakura repeated.

"Yes…I do."

"And do you want him to know how you feel?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then why are you keeping it to yourself? Tell him how you feel. Tell him you don't want him going away. Tell him that you want him to stay here. Just tell him something, otherwise all your feelings will have been a waste! Is that what you want?" Bakura asked, as serious as he'd ever been.

"No! I don't want that," Yugi answered quickly. "I want him to stay, and I want to be with him, but…I don't want to feel guilty for taking this away from him."

"Do you really think he actually gives a damn about that school? Compared to you, do you think the school is that important? Or is it that you actually do want to get rid of him?"

"Never! I just don't want to feel guilty," Yugi said sadly, placing his head back down on his desk.

"If he doesn't regret it, then you shouldn't either," Bakura said. "So stop making excuses and tell him already."

"I'm scared to hear his answer."

"Everyone gets scared when it comes to things like this. Hell, even I was a bit worried about telling Ryou," Bakura said calmly. "I was worried that he wouldn't ever think of me that way. That he couldn't ever think of me that way because of my past. That moment was the only time I ever regretted all the bad things I'd ever done, because I thought they would be the reason Ryou pushed me away. But I got over that fear, and told him. And that's what you need to do."

"And you really think that'll work?" Yugi wasn't going to say anything unless he was absolutely sure that he wasn't going to be pushed away and hated for the rest of his life.

"Of course. Just get him to a place where there is no one around, and tell him. After school, meet him in your homeroom and tell him there."

Yugi was silent for a few minutes as he thought over the plan. It sounded fine, but there were so many things that could go wrong. So many things that probably would go wrong. But he had to do this. He had to tell Yami how he felt before it was too late. "If this doesn't work, I'm never listening to you or Ryou ever again."

"If this doesn't work, I'll kick the Pharaoh's ass for being an idiot."

"Deal."

------

Lunch could be such a boring time, Yami mused. Especially when the one person you want to talk to wasn't there. Yugi had taken his tray and left, saying he had to work on his project for chemistry. All without even glancing over to the spirit. Something that made said spirit depressed. Was Yugi avoiding him? Maybe he really did do something to offend his hikari. But Ryou said it was nothing. Or was he lying? Could the British hikari be keeping something from him? It was a possibility, since Yugi usually talked to Ryou about problems. Another thing that made him depressed; knowing that he wasn't the only problem solver anymore.

Sighing, the teen ruler got up and threw away his tray. He didn't much feel like listening to the others talk about what they would do over the weekend. Giving them a lame excuse, he walked out of the cafeteria. Maybe he would meet his hikari on the way. Maybe he could find out what was wrong. He hated to see Yugi like this. He knew something was troubling the other teen, but what it was remained a mystery.

He hadn't gotten far when he was stopped by a group of girls. They looked like sophomores. They didn't even have to say anything; he already knew why they had come to him. 'More Valentine's gifts,' he thought to himself with a sigh. Really, people were so obsessed with this holiday. They didn't have it back in his time, and people got along fine without it. But he put on a smile for them, might as well make their effort worth it. They shyly handed him a few cards and some more chocolates. Damn the chocolates to hell! He was pretty sure that if he sold all of his chocolates, he'd earn a lot of money.

"Do you have someone to be your Valentine?" one asked timidly. Her eyes showed her hope that his answer was no. Apparently, Yami was a prize this year, as everyone seemed to want to be his Valentine. Jou and Otogi had teasingly asked if he would be their Valentine, only to get glares from their boyfriends. Really, people needed to get a life if all that got them pumped up was fighting for his attention. And yet, the one person who he wanted to give all his attention to was currently avoiding him like the plague. A very depressing blow.

"No, not yet," Yami replied. He could feel the smile slipping. He had to get out of there and hunt down Yugi.

"Well…d-do you have someone in mind?" she asked, her eyes begging for him to pick her. Nice try, but only one person could make him succumb to anything by one pleading look.

"Actually…I do have someone," he said, giving the disappointed girls an apologetic smile. He could practically hear their hope shattering to pieces. "I have to go now. Thank you for the presents," he said, walking away quickly. He had to go find said person. Sadly, the bell rang before he could get to the science labs. He stood there in the hall for a minute, debating on whether or not he should just go see Yugi anyway. But the crowd of students weren't going to wait till he made a decision. So with a loud sigh, he turned and walked away to his next class.

Lucky for him it was an easy class. Unluckily, he had it with Seto, and Marik. The people who scheduled classes should be strangled for putting him with two of the five people he couldn't stand more than anything. Pegasus, Bakura, and telemarketers took the other three spots. Oh, if only Yugi would just contact him! The younger teen knew how much he despised going to this class, and would usually talk to him through the link. But today it was silent. As it had been all day. Even yesterday it was closed. Obviously, the hikari wasn't interested in talking to him. Which sent him even more into depression.

The last period went by quickly, and with little annoyance from the other two. Thank Ra. So now all he had to do was find his aibou and go home. Maybe he would talk to him there. Or maybe not. Maybe Yugi would ignore him as he had been doing since homeroom. 'How much more depressed can I get?' Yami thought as he wandered the halls, looking for his hikari's classroom. It was on the second floor, right? Or was it the third…wait…maybe they were in the labs.

As Yami turned to go back downstairs, he spotted Ryou racing towards him. He didn't have time to blink before the teen grabbed his arm and started dragging him up to the second floor. "There you are!" he said as they ran through the halls. "I've been looking for you forever. So he's being stupid and won't tell me what he'll say, but I've been trying as hard as I can to get him to spill, but he absolutely refused, so then I told him that he'd just have to come out with it, whether he liked it or not, and he tried to tell me no, but I won't listen anymore since that's what he's been saying for forever, but I'm not the one to needs to hear it, because I know what he should say, but he won't tell me exactly what he's going to say, so you're just gonna have to hear it for yourself first." Ryou said that all in the time it took him to drag Yami across the second floor all the way to their homeroom. Without stopping to take a breath, he opened the door and threw Yami in. The spirit landed ungracefully on the floor, face first. "So you have to deal with it now. See ya!"

"Wait! What the hell did you just say? What do I have do deal with!" the spirit asked, but Ryou had already disappeared. "Ryou!" Rubbing his probably bruised head, he glared at the door. "Crazy Brit," he mumbled, completely unaware that Yugi was standing by the window, and that he had watched the whole scene with wide eyes. He continued to rub his head, when suddenly he felt two soft hands caress his cheeks. He turned around quickly and was faced with his aibou. "Yugi?"

"Let me see," the boy said, pushing Yami's hands away so he could inspect the hurt area. "It's just a bit red," Yugi said after examining it, gently rubbing the sore spot. "Ryou's such a bully."

"Why did he drag me here?" the Pharaoh asked as he felt the pain slowly diminish. Yugi always made him feel better.

"Because…I told him to," Yugi responded, getting up and walking away. He walked over to a file cabinet and climbed on top of it, sitting down and leaning his head against the window pane. "Because, there is something I have to say. But…I don't know if I can. If I even should."

"What is it? You can tell me anything you know," answered Yami as he got up and walked towards the cabinet.

"That's just it! I don't know if I should tell anyone! If I say anything to the person that needs to hear this, our friendship might be over. And I don't want that to happen."

'So that's why he's been acting strangely,' the spirit thought, looking at the sad figure of his hikari. "Is it so important?"

"Of course! I have to tell them! I have to tell them before it's too late. Because I'll never get another chance."

"Is something going to happen if you don't tell that person?" Yami was more than a little confused. Who did Yugi have to talk to, and why was it so important?

"No, but something might if I do. I might ruin our friendship. That person might stop talking to me all together. Damnit, it's senior year! Shit like this shouldn't happen, but they are and I have to deal with it somehow. I just don't know what to do at all! It's a fucking mess!"

Yami raised an eyebrow at the curse words. If Yugi resorted to such language, then it was obviously a big deal. But what it was exactly, Yami still didn't know. "So you have something important to tell someone?" Yugi nodded. "But you are afraid to tell them?" Another nod. "Because you are afraid to ruin your relationship with that person?" A third nod. "So you are keeping it all to yourself and basically tormenting yourself."

"But I'm afraid it'll mess things up! I refuse to mess things up, if it can be avoided! I don't have to tell them, but I want to. And I'm so confused!"

"I think you should tell them. You just have to have faith that everything will turn out fine. I'm sure that person will understand."

"Easy for you to say! You don't have to deal with this. You don't know what I'm going through."

"The sooner you tell them, the sooner you can stop freaking out over what might happen. So tell them already." They continued to argue like that for ten minutes. Yugi saying he couldn't because he was afraid, and Yami countering by saying it will be easier if he went ahead and got it over with. "You have to decide what you want to do, and stop putting it off with lame excuses."

A sigh. "I don't know what I should do. I want to tell them. I have to tell them! But so many things could go wrong. I don't know what to do." Yugi turned to look at his other half, his eyes clouded over by sadness and confusion.

Yami frowned and reached a hand up, intending to clasp it around his hikari's to give comfort. But he remembered what had happened the last time he attempted that. And so he lowered his hand again. But Yugi quickly reached out and grabbed it, holding tightly as if he never intended to let go. "I think that if it is so important, you should tell that person," Yami answered as he gazed at their joined hands. "If the relationship is important to them as well, then you'll be fine. And if that person abandons you after you tell them, then obviously they didn't care as much about you. But you'll never know unless you take that risk."

Yugi was silent as he stared out the window, obviously contemplating what would be the best thing for him to do. He looked down at Yami, studying him carefully for what seemed like forever. He leaned down and, with his free hand, began to trace the outline of Yami's face, his fingers barely ghosting over the skin. It was now or never. He had to tell Yami. He had to tell him before it was too late, before he went away. Yugi scooted to the edge of the cabinet, placing his hands on Yami's shoulders to steady himself as he climbed off. The spirit's arms wrapped around his hikari's waist as he assisted him.

Yugi found himself in Yami's embrace, and for a while just let the other hold him. He was so nervous of what might happen, that he just stood there. He was pretty sure Yami could hear his pounding heart. He had to do it. He had to do it now before he lost his courage, or what little he had. Looking up into Yami's crimson eyes, he felt his heart start to beat even faster. 'Come on, you can do this. It's not that hard. I mean…yea it's pretty hard, but…I just have to go for it and hope that everything turns out ok. It will, won't it?' Yugi sighed once, closed his eyes then sighed again before pulling out of the hug. "Yami…there is something I have to say," Yugi started softly.

"Yes, aibou?" the spirit asked, gently running his fingers through Yugi's hair.

"I…I lo-"

Something slammed behind them, startling the two boys and causing them to jump in the air. Turning around, they saw the janitor standing in the doorway, a slightly annoyed look on his face. "What are you two still doing here?" he asked, tapping the broom handle against the door frame. "It's late and I have to clean up. So go on home already." The janitor then walked away, leaving the two in an semi awkward silence.

"Come on," Yugi said quietly, his head bent to avoid eye contact. "We should go." He bent down to pick up his bag, but before he could head out the door, Yami grabbed his arm.

"Wait. What were you going to say just now?"

"Nothing. It's not important anymore." And then Yugi walked out.

--------TBC------

Star: Horrible, isn't it? Meh, hate me if you want. I'm going to try really hard to get another chapter out before midnight tonight. And then the final chapter on Valentine's. Amazed that I actually started up on this story? Yea, so am I. But I will finish it this time! I promise!

By the way, Bright Shadows is having a bit of a problem, but I swear on pain of death that I will have the next chapter out by next week.

Later!