Previously in Chapter 2 (Just a recap)…

After trying unsuccessfully to sway Kaiba into changing his mind, Yami and Tea must stand by and watch helplessly as the first person in both their hearts is stripped of his core essence and spirit. Tea mourns for the loss of the boy who had just confessed feelings for her, but Yami's wrath is much more dangerous than hers. He has had his best friend taken from him, for the second time since they had bonded, and he has made two goals: save Yugi, and dismantle Seto Kaiba. And now we continue…


Figuring out how to get Yugi's body home was not easy. "I'll carry him by hand if I have to!" Yami insisted ferociously when Tea brought this up. She drew back, alarmed, and sighed. "Yami, I know that this is the least of our problems, and that we have much more to think about, but we need to get Yugi home. We can't exactly take him on Tristan's motorbike." She was speaking very calmly, but inside, it was as though someone had pressed a scream button. Yami didn't try to hide his emotions, like he usually did. He was still on his knees, still cradling Yugi's tiny body, and still had tears streaming down his face. After a few seconds of self comfort, Yami declared, "I'll transport his body into the Millennium Puzzle, and then you and I can ride home on the motorcycle." He did so, silently, and then gestured for Tea to follow him outside.

He got on first, and put on his helmet. (This was fairly difficult, considering his massive purple and black hair spikes). Tea put hers on as well, sat behind him, and held onto his waist tightly. "I suppose we should stop at home, so that then you can return Tristan's motorcycle and walk to your own home from there. And I forgot to thank you for coming along. If only Tristan and Joey weren't out of Domino City; it's a shame they couldn't say any last words to Yugi." His booming voice was steady now, but no matter what he did, he couldn't stop the flow of his tears. Tea merely nodded, afraid she would say the wrong things to him. This was just as well, since the pharaoh had no more to say. The ride home seemed to take less time than the ride away, but though they both noted this, they didn't discuss it. There didn't seem to be any need to.

Yami got off the motorbike, handing over his helmet, and nodded his thanks. Tea stared at the Millennium Puzzle around the pharaoh's neck, and blanked away tears. They boy who claimed to love her…his body lay there, practically dead, yet still breathing. She waved self-consciously, groping for something to say, and called it over her shoulder as she sped away. "Be at Domino Station tomorrow night at 8'o clock! Joey and Tristan will be home then, and we need to discuss this with them!" Yami nodded again, before retreating into what he now called home. Tea turned a corner and was gone, her heart pounding again. Oh, Yugi. If you can hear me now, then just know that I'll do whatever I can to save you, she vowed ominously as she stepped on the gas.

Yami entered the Game Shop, and then walked silently to where he, Yugi and Yugi's grandfather lived. He was not surprised to find the elder asleep on the living room couch. "Solomon," his voice boomed as he flicked on the light. Yugi's grandfather woke up immediately at the sound of his name, and sputtered with a yawn, "Well, good morning, pharaoh. Would you mind making sure Yugi has breakfast ready? I don't think I got enough sleep last night." Gently, Yami explained to Solomon what had happened between Kaiba and Yugi. After a stunned silence, he replied, "Well…well, when do you plan to get him back?" This was when Yami released Yugi's body from his Puzzle and answered, "I'm afraid it's not that simple." Solomon stared at his grandson in horror, and wiped a few tears from his eyes. "It's such a shame. I knew that Kaiba fellow had somewhat of a hatred towards my grandson, but…I didn't expect it to be so…" He trailed off, and stood up from the couch.

Without another word, he left for his bedroom. Yami didn't expect anymore than that; Solomon didn't fully understand what he and Yugi got themselves into. Gently, Yami picked Yugi up and carried them into the room they now shared. He couldn't return to his quarters in the Millennium Puzzle now; he needed to feel Yugi's presence physically, if not wholly. Yugi did not protest, obviously. But aside from his slow breathing, he did not much else. Gently, as though Yugi could break if he handled him too roughly, Yami set Yugi on his bed, shoes and all. He expected to be out of tears by now, and was surprised when a few found their way down his stern face. He couldn't bear the mocking tears; crying had been Yugi's thing. Besides, Yami despised showing his softer side, even if no one was around to see his softer side. He'd always needed to be the stronger one, to soothe Yugi's pain whenever things went rough. But now…

He shook the though away; he was going to bring Yugi back, no matter what the cost may be. Gently, he tucked Yugi into his bed, and still, Yugi's eyes remained open. Yami gently curled a lock of Yugi's blond hair around one of his fingers, and sat beside him through the darkest hours of the night, not feeling the slightest bit weary. It was quite early the next morning when he discovered he had conked out, still sitting on the edge of Yugi's bed. Although he had barely closed his eyes for a mere few hours, he awoke cleanly, instead of groggily, the way he usually did. Somehow, he had managed to forget what had happened, and so he was shocked to find himself next to Yugi's almost-dead body. It was too painful a sight, and he dashed outside, beating even the sun in its rise.

Yami had no idea why he had run; just that he needed to be away from what was left of Yugi for a while. He had never wanted to see Yugi anything expect cheerful, smiling, and full of joy, his eyes with that sparkle that could brighten even the most damaged of spirits. Where had all that gone? "To the clutches of Seto Kaiba," Yami answered out loud, his eyes flashing. He no longer wanted to cry for Yugi, only wanted to bring him back, and destroy the one who had taken him away in the first place. But he couldn't do it alone. He needed Yugi's friends, his friends, beside him, or else he wouldn't be able to find the strength to resurrect Yugi. He walked around some more, wrapping his arms around himself to conserve warmth. In the early hours, it could be quite chilling, but not even that could put out the fire in his eyes.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, he felt as though all the life had been drained out of him. He had never felt so overwhelmingly tired in his whole life. Luckily, he had not strayed far from home, so he simply turned around, found his way through the darkness, and was back in Yugi's room, which looked exactly like he had left it. He avoided returning to his spot on Yugi's bed, settling for the floor. Wrapping his jacket tightly around him, he allowed a few self-comforting tears stroll down his cheeks, before surrendering himself to the sweet silence of slumber.

And even in sleep, he could still feel the immense loneliness in his heart.


Not too far away, Tea could not sleep with the knowledge that Yugi was gone. How could she, after she had just stood back and watched as Yugi's was ripped from her delicate clutches into Kaiba's great, cruel hands? She hated herself then, but paused to think about what the pharaoh must have been going through. Tea had known Yugi practically her whole life, but Yami was closest to him at all. And why shouldn't they be, since most of the time they shared one body? She failed to smile at the thought, cried instead. And why did Yugi have to choose right then to confess his sentiments? Any other time in the world would have been better. Even before their own demise would have beaten the moment he chose to expose his emotions, because at last then they could have died, knowing they would meet each other through the gates of heaven.

There was no point in fighting it; she loved Yugi too. No. Love was an inferior word to describe her passion and care for Yugi Moto. She adored him, but even adoration seemed too flimsy. Thinking about love and Yugi only brought more tears, and she reached for a bed pillow, clutched it until her knuckles turned a painful white, and sobbed into it. All through her sleepless night, Yugi ran through her mind, tormenting her, his smiling face as happy as hers was sad. She wished to see the sparkle in his large, impish, violet eyes, the one that always made her face melt in smiles, but she did not expect that from him now. He was just a hollow shell with the spirit and heart gone. She swore to herself that she and her friends would bring Yugi back, even if they had to go through hell and back. And then she realized she had one last thing to worry about.

Breaking the news to Joey and Tristan.


And lo and behold, a third chapter has been introduced. I honestly didn't expect to get this far into the story. Chapter Four is in progress, of course, but I've hit a…a bit of a bump in the road. So this one might not be added quite as quickly as the previous chapters have. But please, just be patient. Gentle criticisms welcome, no flames, please. And now, my adoring public, I must bid you, adieu. (For now). Au Revoir!