I edited the original version of this chapter because I like this one better. Thank you for the reviews =) Enjoy!


Chapter 3


It was the perfect day for this.

The sun was bright and the clouds were scarce, located at random intervals in the aqua blue sky. The wind was light but constant, keeping his skin cool, and his mind at ease. Yuugi placed a hand over his eyes, providing little shade to his pupils as they scanned the surroundings.

For as far as he could see, there were fields and hills, all covered in fresh-cut grass, soft to the touch. Trees lined the very corners of his view, and he momentarily thought about how good of a place Anna's vineyard would be to go sledding during the winter.

The past weekend had not been different from most; go to the arcade, help around the house, spend a night at Jou's. What was different was the fact that Yuugi had been anxious for it to be over. He didn't realize it at first, but Yami was slowly intertwining himself into his every thought, his every heartbeat, and his every breath. When he had entered homeroom on Monday only to have Yami greet him at the door and flash him one of his breathtaking smiles, Yuugi had never felt so content in his life.

He couldn't understand how someone could make him feel so special, so warm, with nothing more than a glance, a smile, a touch. All of these things were so simple, but Yuugi would never trade any of them—not a brush of hands, or a fleeting glance—for anything in the world. It should have been complex, what he felt for Yami, these feelings surging through him, unfamiliar and new. But after hours and days and weeks of arguing with himself, Yuugi realized that it wasn't. It didn't matter what happened now, or what didn't happen, because, in the end, it didn't change anything. And for his own happiness and sanity and nothing more, Yuugi let go of all the expectations that his friends and family had instilled in him. He didn't think about the morality of these feelings, the sanctity. He didn't care about what was right, what was wrong, what was okay. And he didn't admonish himself for something that could not be helped.

For the time being, Yuugi decided that he would just throw caution to the wind because it really wasn't that hard to figure out what was going on with him. Why should he make everything complicated when it was so very simple?

So here he was, standing in the middle of a wide, spacious field, on a beautiful Tuesday morning. Monday had come and gone before his eyes, probably because he—along with a decent amount of other juniors—had been running around school all day to retrieve his teacher's signatures. It was especially hectic since Yami had sent out the permission slips to his students only the day before during homeroom.

But, like Yami had explained, it was the only day that the headmaster would allow him to take his students out, for finals were right around the corner. Yuugi raked his fingers through his hair, shifting his weight onto one leg as he continued to watch Honda and Jou, who were prancing around him, wide grins stretched out across their faces. Yami, on the other hand, was standing a little farther away, taking attendance, and due to the fact that he had taken all three of his English classes, it was taking a little longer than usual. Anzu was, unfortunately, home with a cold though Yuugi had promised to give her a call and tell her all about the trip.

"This is awesome!" Honda cheered. "No classes all day!"

Jou stretched his arms, peering at Yuugi with a wicked grin. "Isn't this great, Yuug?"

Turning his head from the two, Yuugi nodded distractedly, his eyes trained to Yami's form. He melted when Yami met his gaze and smiled at him. "Yeah, Jou…great."

Yuugi growled when Jou caught him in a headlock and ruffled his hair. "What's wrong, Yuug? You seem all distant."

"Jou, let me go!" Yuugi complained, blushing when he heard Yami chuckle behind him. He pulled himself away from the blond, and shot Jou a small glare. "I'm fine. I was just thinking."

"Whateva' you say," Jou mused, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Before Yuugi could reply, Yami clapped his hands together, gaining the attention of his students. "Okay, listen up," he started. "So, the purpose of this outdoor trip is to not only relieve some of that stress from exams and tests but also to your creative juices flowing. After we wrap up the projects next week, I'm going to be assigning another individual project that you will be given a few days or so in class to work on." Yami held up his hands in front of him. "Now before you all bite my head off, it's a very simple project. Now as you all know, we've been reading a lot of poems lately in the anthology books. What I want you all to do for me is write a poem about something important to you. And where else to find inspiration than nature?" he finished, gesturing to the trees and hills behind him.

"Eh, does it have to rhyme or somethin'?" Jou asked.

"No, it does not have to rhyme, though you do get extra credit if it does."

"How long does it have to be?" Honda questioned.

"Not long. A few stanzas will do." Yami scanned the group of students. "Any other questions?"

When he was answered with silence and a few head shakes, he continued: "So, this field stretches out about a mile from here. At the very end is a large garden, with a gazebo in the middle; you can't miss it. That's where I want everyone to meet up. We have all day so there's no rush, but I doubt it will take more than an hour for everyone to get there. And though we all don't have to stay together, you do have to choose a partner, who you must stay with at all times. I don't want anyone wandering around alone." Yami mentally counted the number of students in front of him. He bit his lip when he wound up with an odd number. "Hmm, it looks like one of you will have to be my partner," he said more to himself than his students.

Immediately, several hands shot up towards the sky; all girls. Yami sighed. "How about you all just try to find a partner first," he suggested. "If everyone else is taken then just let me know."

Honda and Jou, who always partnered up with each other no matter what the activity or project, high-fived, effectively sealing the deal. Yuugi rolled his eyes at his friends, turning his neck to survey the rest of the students. He could pair up with Otogi...oh, never mind, Jani beat him to it. There was always Miho...who just paired up with Jasper. Well, he could pair up with Rex...on second thought, maybe not. The kid was sort of teetering on the creepy side. Hmm...he was running out of choices.

"Looking for someone?"

Yuugi suppressed a shudder and exhaled, trying not to drown in the deep, baritone voice. He turned and lifted his eyes to Yami's smiling face, and just like that, he was warm, content, and so, so happy. Oh, how do you do this to me, Yami?

"I was just looking for a partner." Yuugi scratched the back of his neck. "I usually partner up with Anzu."

Yami nodded and looked up. He let his eyes shift back to Yuugi after confirming that all the other students were already partnered up. "Well, you could always accompany me, Yuugi." Yami smiled. "I would certainly enjoy your company."

Yuugi officially had a new mission in life; to try and not blush at every word that exited Yami's lips. Yeah, like that'd happen. "I would like that," Yuugi murmured, returning the smile.

"Good," Yami said, then he walked back to stand in front of everyone. "Now, I hope that I can trust a group of juniors to behave themselves." His eyes momentarily flickered to Jou. "Stay with your partner and try not to hurt yourselves." Once again, he glanced at Jou, who merely laughed and walked over to him as the students started to disperse. He slung his arm over Yami's shoulders, the grin never leaving his face.

"Oh come on, Yams, you know we'll behave, don't ya?"

Yami chuckled. "Well, I'm certainly counting on it."

"Don't worry," Jou whispered while covering his mouth with his hand. He glanced at Honda out of the corner of his eye. "I'll make sure he doesn't get us into any trouble."

"Yes, Katsuya," Yami said, his lips curving into a smirk. "Because Honda's the one that I'm worried about."

Jou nodded. "You don't have to tell me twice, Yams. I'll keep my eyes on him like a hawk, I tell ya." He patted Yami on the back, before he ran up to Honda and shouted a loud "See ya!" over his shoulder.

As the two set off, Yami turned his eyes towards the sky and sighed. Yuugi, who was watching him a little bit away, burst out into a fit of laughter. When he recovered, he noticed that Yami's eyes were glued to him, the ruby irises shining with mirth. "Sorry," Yuugi giggled, walking up beside the other. "Jou just doesn't get it sometimes."

Yami waved it off, and smiled. "All set to go, Yuugi?"

"Ready when you are," Yuugi said. He turned and looked across the field and past the hills, towards the baby blue sky and over the trees, but he still couldn't find what he was searching for. And, for one moment, he couldn't help but wonder if maybe his inspiration was standing right next to him.


--


An hour had come and gone, but the two were more focused on their conversation about a new video game than the time. Yuugi was ecstatic when he learned that Yami himself was an addict to his playstation, and his happiness only grew with each passing minute, with each new fact he learned about the handsome man beside him, with each new thing that he found they had in common. It was only when Yuugi paused to stretch that Yami looked down at his watch.

"It looks like I underestimated how long it would take us to get there," Yami thought aloud.

Yuugi shrugged. "Well, to be fair, we were walking extremely slow. I think everyone already passed us."

"Huh." Yami shifted on his feet, and looked ahead. "We can't be too far. I would probably say another fifteen minutes." He turned back to look at Yuugi. "Let's take like a five minute break," he said. "Just so we can rest for a moment."

Yuugi nodded, glad for the opportunity since his legs were already cramping. He wasn't one for physical activity. "Alright," Yuugi assented. He giggled when Yami lightly shoved him in the direction of a lone group of trees, immediately understanding that the other wanted to be in the shade. The coolness of the shadows--provided so graciously by the leaves littering the branches above them--was comforting; a pleasant change to the blazing sun. If they were lucky then the breeze would pick back up soon.

Sitting down against a tree, Yami urged Yuugi to do the same. He eyed the boy as he settled himself on the grass a few feet away from him, smiling lightly when Yuugi tucked his legs underneath himself.

"Here." Yami pulled a bottle of water out of his bag, and tossed it to Yuugi. "You should drink something."

Yuugi caught the bottle in his hands, taking a moment to stare at it before glancing at Yami. "Thanks," he murmured.

"You're welcome." The elder stretched a little, and brought up his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them lazily. "So, how was your weekend, Yuugi?" he asked.

"It was okay," Yuugi replied, grateful for the light conversation. "Nothing special." He looked at him. "Yours?"

"Same," Yami practically hummed, thoroughly enjoying the weather, but more importantly, the company. He had learned over the past two weeks that Yuugi's presence was slowly becoming a necessity. Whenever the boy was around him, his spirits lifted and he found it damn-near impossible to stop smiling at the youth. Yuugi's sparkling personality was infectious, and his laugh was addictive. He felt relaxed; comfortable whenever Yuugi was next to him, looking at him with that small blush that Yami had categorized under adorable; the pink hue on those pale, tender cheeks beautiful, resting right underneath the breathtaking pair of amethyst eyes.

With a small sigh, Yami laid his head back against the tree, his eyes observing Yuugi at a downward angle. "So tell me something about yourself, Yuugi. Besides from what I know already."

Yuugi raised a curious eyebrow, setting the bottle in his hand down beside his hip. "That depends," he said. "What do you know already?"

Yami grinned and lifted his hand up, counting his fingers. "I know that you love games. I know that your friends and family mean everything to you. I know that you are a charming, young man who's kind and intelligent." Yami pursed his lips, thinking. "I know that you love to laugh," he added with a chuckle.

Yuugi's smile rivaled the intensity of the sun, so bright and wide, his cheeks stung. "Well, I love the rain, too." Yuugi laughed. "I used to dance in it when I was little."

As he spoke, there was a spark, like lightening, that flickered through Yami's eyes before it vanished into the air. Yuugi watched as the other man stood to his feet, and he felt his heart thud in his chest and the butterflies dance in his stomach when Yami offered him a smile warmer than a million cotton blankets on a cold winter night. "I'm not as much of a fan," Yami remarked. "I hate being wet." He laughed a little, motioning with his hand for Yuugi to get up. When the younger complied, the two continued their walk, chatting about nothing in particular. Every now and then, Yuugi flashed the other a fleeting glance, blushing slightly whenever Yami caught his eye.

Damnit.


To Be Continued...


Reviews are appreciated, as always.