It has been a very long time since I last uploaded anything. I'm truly sorry! My goal is to try and finish up the stories I have here one at a time. So here is the next chapter for this one. It's a bit longer than normal. Hoping it will make up for being away for so long. Enjoy!

As usual, I don't own anything except the story idea. Characters, setting, and the rest belong to their respective owners.

Love of the Dark

Chapter 4

"Who was I to make you wait…?" Far Away – Nickleback

Yugi stared at the screen with a shocked look on his face. Ishizu was dead… murdered in her office, the very office that Yami had threatened to take her life. Yami… he couldn't have done this. He knew that Yami wanted her to stay away from them. Had threatened to kill her if she tried to take him away, but that didn't mean he actually went through with it. But Ishizu was dead. The news wasn't lying.

He bolted from his spot and ran as fast as he could out the door. His grandpa yelled after him, asking him where he was going, but he didn't bother answering. His grandpa would figure it out on his own. He rushed through the streets as a light rain started to mist down from the sky. By the time he made it to the museum, he was rather damp and looked like a wet poodle. He went to go up the steps to the museum, but a uniformed officer stepped in his way and held him back as he said, "Now hold on there, son. You can't go in there."

"I'm a friend of Ishizu's… was a friend. Please, you have to tell me what happened to her," Yugi pleaded with him as he tried to get past him. He had to see for himself if she was really dead… He needed to see if Yami was really the one to kill her. If he did… he wasn't sure he could trust him if he did kill her…

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, son," the officer said as he wrapped an around Yugi's shoulders and led him away from the building. The young boy had such a distraught look on his face that he didn't have the heart to not tell him. Yugi went with him reluctantly, knowing that despite his best efforts, he probably wouldn't be let in. The officer looked down at him, sympathy and sadness in his eyes as he spoke, "Miss Ishtar was shot to death. Killed by a single gunshot to the forehead."

"Shot… to death…?" he murmured softly, shock ringing throughout his body. The officer continued talking, believing Yugi couldn't believe she was shot to death. While he was shocked that she died, he was even more shocked that it was from a bullet. Yami wouldn't have shot her to death. He would've let the shadows tear her soul to pieces. Leaving nothing except an empty, but still alive, husk. Relief filled him and mixed with the sadness. He was sad she was dead, but relieved that the one that mattered a lot to him wasn't the one to do it.

That thought stopped him in his tracks and a tug on his arm from the officer had him moving again even as his brain focused on that one thought. Yami was… important to him? Of course he was, his heart argued. Even though Yami insisted he wasn't Atem, he was a part of him. They weren't the same, he wouldn't make that mistake again, but they were part of the same being. He was herded off of the museum grounds and vaguely nodded his head when the officer told him to go home. He wandered away from the museum, ignoring the misting rain as he wandered through the streets. Eventually he found himself in the park leaning against a tree as the rain started to come down harder. It wasn't until he noticed that not a single drop was touching him did he snap out of the trance his thoughts had him in.

He lifted his head, wondering why the rain wasn't falling on him when he met a pair of worried crimson eyes gazing down at him. He looked up and noticed the wavering shadows forming an umbrella over his head. He should've found that unnerving, really he should, but he couldn't muster the urge to care. He dropped his gaze to Yami's and tears started to fill his eyes, "Yami…"

Yami simply opened his arms and Yugi all but launched himself into them as he began to sob. The other said nothing and simply folded him into his arms. The shadow umbrella hovered next to them, keeping them both dry from the pouring rain. Yugi stayed there, wrapped his counterpart's arms until he finally cried all of the tears he could out. Lifting his head, he gave a small sniffle as he said, "It wasn't you… you didn't kill her."

"No," Yami's soft baritone voice flowed over him like warm silk and he relaxed further into his arms. He shook his head as he gazed down at Yugi, his eyes soft as he said, "No, I didn't kill her… someone else did, but I'm not quite sure who it was. I didn't recognize the voice when I was there last night."

"You were there?" Yugi asked in confusion, his face scrunching up into a frown. Yami was there when Ishizu was killed? His eyes snapped to Yami's accusingly as he demanded, "Why didn't you save her?! If you were there, you could've stopped her from being killed and…"

"And did you forget that she threatened my own life?" he didn't release Yugi, but his crimson eyes flashed with anger as he spoke, "You would have me save the woman who said she was going to find a way to get rid of me? Again with the betrayal, Aibou."

"Yes, no, I don't know! I don't want you to die, but I don't want anyone else to die either!" Yugi exclaimed as he shook his head fiercely. He gripped the front of Yami's shirt and dropped his head down onto his chest as he murmured, "Why does it have to be this way, Yami?"

"I wish I had the answer for you, Aibou," Yami said as he dropped his own head, nuzzling his nose into Yugi's hair. He sighed softly as he considered something for a brief moment before he whispered into the multi-colored locks, "You haven't changed, have you?"

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked as he pulled his head back and looked up into thoughtful crimson. He liked to think he changed after meeting Atem. He wasn't the innocent carefree young boy he once was. In fact, he was going to be graduating soon and moving on to college. If that didn't show he changed, then he didn't know what would.

Yami brushed a hand over Yugi's cheek and tilted his head as he gazed down into his eyes. He searched the confused amethyst for a moment before answering, "When you first solved the puzzle, I remember how upset you were when you realized just who was hurting everyone around you and why. You really haven't changed in that aspect, have you?"

"No, I guess not…" Yugi said after thinking about that for a few seconds. That was true, he thought. Even when Atem was around, he hated seeing others be hurt. Especially if they were people he cared the most about. As much as he didn't want anyone to be hurt, he knew that the world wasn't quite a happy go lucky place and that it happened.

"If… if I promise to try and not hurt anyone unless they hurt you or myself, would you be more willing to accept me?" Yami said hesitantly, a pleading in his eyes. It was uncharacteristic of him to plead, but this was Yugi. Yugi was his everything. The sole reason why he was still in this world instead of disappearing when Atem left. Yugi was literally the light to his darkness and he would do anything to make Yugi happy.

Yugi looked into Yami's eyes and searched. For what, he wasn't sure. This man, this creature in front of him… he was the epitome of darkness. Even then he could see the shadows circling around them in a way that wasn't threatening, but he could easily tell that they were just as much a part of Yami as the light was a part of him. If he didn't know better, he could've sworn the shadows were pleading just as much as their master himself was. Yami… he was willing to change himself just to gain Yugi's acceptance? Yugi… Yugi couldn't do that. He shook his head as he broke the eye contact and said, "I can't… I can't ask you to change for me, Yami. To change you like that would be more than I could ask of you. I realized something after I talked with Joey. I need you just as much as you need me. I can't accept the things you do, but I already accept you, Yami."

Yami didn't move for several heartbeats, disbelief coursing through him. When Yugi first started speaking, he thought for sure he was going to reject him. He even started to pull away and close his heart to what Yugi was saying until he said those words. He accepted him… Yami tightened his arms around Yugi as her buried his face into his hair and murmured, "That's more than I could hope for, Yugi. Thank you…"

A gust of wind and rain cut off what Yugi was about to say next and he blinked when the shadows came around them to cut the freezing wetness off. They formed a wall next to them and kept the rain from hitting the both of them and Yami lifted his head as he murmured, "The storm is getting worse… we should return home."

"Probably," Yugi agreed as he slowly started to pull himself away from Yami. He thought they were going to walk home, but was surprised when Yami grasped his hand and kept him from going anywhere. The shadows liquefied from the wall they created and turned into what Yugi could only describe as a portal. The swirling vortex flashed with streaks of red and purple and he gave Yami a wary look as he said, "The last time I was surrounded by the shadows, I was in the shadow realm and about to end up a meal for them."

A series of high pitched tizzies sounded around him and he looked around in confusion at the voices. He blinked when the tizzies came to center on one spot, the portal in front of them, and he asked in awe, "Are they… speaking?"

"In a sense," Yami replied as he tilted his head and listened carefully to the shadows. He held his hand up to Yugi, whom was about to ask what they were saying. After several long seconds of high pitched squeaks from the shadows, he said, "They said that they weren't meaning to hurt you, but they weren't under the control of their true master. They had no choice but to obey Zorc at that time because he threatened to destroy their light. Now that we're both here, they promise not to hurt you."

"Really?" Yugi said as he turned to the shadows. A single tendril appeared and floated over to him, lightly caressing his cheek and he felt that same icy feeling from before. He turned to look at Yami as he nodded his head and said, "Alright… I'll go with you and them. I trust you."

Yami smiled and kissed the back of Yugi's hand, chuckling when a light blush stole over his cheeks. He tugged him into the portal and the darkness flowed over them like an icy shower. The shadows dissipated and that corner of the park grew considerably brighter. Had either one of them been paying attention, they would've noticed a set of eyes watching them from across the way. A set of eyes that disappeared shortly after the shadows disappeared with them.

The interior of the portal was much like what Yugi remembered the shadow realm to feel like. Draining and confusing. He grasped onto Yami's hand and let him lead him through the shadows. Yami tugged him close and the feelings slowly diminished. They didn't go away completely, but the heavy atmosphere seemed to lighten as they traveled through the shadow realm. It seemed like it took several minutes, but in reality, they were stepping out within a matter of seconds. Yami tugged him out of the shadows and into the rain that was falling steadily. They sprinted around the side of the shop and in through the door. Yugi leaned against it as the two of them panted and laughed softly, dripping water all over the place. They looked like drowned rats and he reached out with a giggle and pushed some of Yami's hair from his forehead where it plastered itself during their little jog through the downpour. A soft cough caught their attention and he looked over at his grandpa who stood there with a raised eyebrow at the two of them and said, "I think someone has some explaining to do, Yugi. Last I knew Atem had gone to the afterlife."

"This might be easier if we sit down," Yami suggested as he wrapped an arm around Yugi and the two started to move to the stairs leading up to the apartment above the game shop. It was a long story…

"You can explain after you boys dry yourselves off and get changed," Grandpa said as he shooed them up the stairs, "I'm not going to have either of you catching a cold, so get. Change and then we'll sit around the kitchen table and talk about this."

"Yes, Grandpa," Yugi said as he and Yami padded up the stairs. Yugi led the darker being to his room and muttered shyly, "Ummm… I should have something to fit you… you can change in the bathroom after I find you clothes."

He could practically hear the pout in Yami's voice as he headed into his room to search for clothes. The darker of the two followed after him and asked, "What, you don't want to see me change, Aibou?"

Yugi blushed bright red and floundered with the clothes he was grabbing. He dropped the pair of jeans he grabbed and quickly bent down to grab them and a t-shirt. Turning around, he was unable to look at Yami as he stuttered and held out the clothes, "H-Here."

Yami chuckled and ignored the clothes for a fraction of a second. He brushed his fingers over Yugi's cheek, enjoying both the feel of his skin and the dazed look that entered Yugi's eyes as he said, "I'm joking, little light… for now."

He took the clothes and left, leaving Yugi there with a dazed and unsure look on his face. That… he had no idea how to respond to that. Yami was flirting with him. Yami was… flirting with him. Yami was flirting… with him. Nope, no matter how he said it or how many times he said that to himself, he couldn't bring himself to understand it. He remembered several things in the span of the few minutes it took Yami to get changed. Everything from how he felt around Atem to the way Yami held him in Ishizu's office…

"Yugi? Are you going to change?" Yami asked as he stepped into the room and looked at his light in confusion. Yugi stood there where he left him, still in the wet sopping clothes, looking for all the world like he stumbled upon a puzzle he couldn't solve.

His words jerked Yugi out of his thoughts and he lifted his head to gaze at Yami for a moment before remembering just what he was supposed to be doing. He gave a sheepish laugh and nodded his head as he said, "Y-Yeah… I'll meet you downstairs."

"Be quick," Yami said as he gave Yugi a soft, tender smile. The smile looked good on his face, Yugi realized and blinked when his heart skipped a beat. He almost missed what Yami said next as he got lost in that realization, "Now that you've agreed to let me be near you, I don't want to waste a minute apart."

The words melted Yugi's heart and he gave his dark half a sweet smile. He backed up to his dresser and said quietly before turning around and grabbing his clothes, "I'll be down soon, Yami, I promise."

Yami gave him one last long look before nodding his head and disappearing through the doorway. Yugi changed quickly, stripping out of his wet clothes and sticking them in the bathroom with Yami's to dry. He slipped into a pair of comfy draw string pants and a t-shirt with Dark Magician on the front before running a towel through his hair. He padded down the stairs and into the living room. He didn't hear any voices and wondered where his Grandpa was. Walking into the room, he stopped in his tracks at the sight before him. Yami was sitting in one of the chairs in the room, looking exactly like the Pharaoh he claimed not to be like. One leg was crossed over the other and his hands rested on the arm rests as he looked off out the window. It was such a domestic scene, and yet there was an air of magic and mystery that could only come from him.

Like a magnet, Yugi was drawn to him. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he stopped in front of Yami, gaining the darker being's attention. Yami uncrossed his legs and tilted his head at Yugi, a silent question. Slowly Yugi kneeled down onto the floor and rested his head on Yami's knee. He closed his eyes and let himself take in how absolutely natural it felt for them to be like this. He sighed inaudibly when Yami tangled his fingers into his hair, stroking softly. If it were anyone else, Yugi wouldn't do this for them, but it was Yami and it just felt so very right.

Yami, for his part, was thinking about Yugi and how much his light meant to him when the very person walked into the room. He watched as the lighter one slowly made his way over to him and he tilted his head, a wordless question asking if he were okay. He was surprised when Yugi kneeled in front of him and rested his head on his knee. The action registered in his mind and he reached out, lightly tangling his fingers into Yugi's hair. The move was of such trust and he felt very grateful that after everything that happened so far, Yugi was willing to trust him. The love he felt for his light at that moment grew and he opened his mouth to speak when a soft cough caught both of their attention. Biting back a growl at the interruption, he turned to glare at the source. He felt a distinct loss when Yugi pulled away and stood up quickly as he said, "Grandpa…"

"I think it's about time to explain just what's going on," Grandpa said with a firm nod of his head. He wasn't bothered at all by the scene he walked in on or by the glare being sent to him by Yami. The darker one could glare all he wanted, but there were questions to be asked and answers to be given. Their cuddling, or whatever that was, he thought could wait. He wanted to know what Yami was doing back in this world and just what was going on. He turned and led the way to the kitchen table, figuring that was the easiest place to have this discussion.

Yugi winced a little at the words his grandfather said, but nonetheless waited for Yami to stand. He gave a shy look to his darker half before slowly leading the way out of the living room. Yami, for his part, held his head high as he followed Yugi. Despite his claims otherwise, he still acted just like the Pharaoh he had been in any millenniums ago. He had nothing to apologize for and he wasn't about to start. Before Yugi could even sit down, he sat in a chair and pulled him into his lap. The look on his face was one of satisfaction as he heard the shy squeak come from the younger one and he looked at Yugi's grandpa unabashedly.

Yugi squirmed a little before finally getting comfortable as he rested his head on Yami's shoulder. He gave his grandpa tiny smile as he said, "I'm not sure where to begin, Grandpa… Everything happened so quickly and got so complicated."

"The best place to start is at the beginning," Grandpa said with a wise nod of his head. He couldn't help but feel a little strange seeing the possessive actions of the darker of the two, but he wasn't sure what to do. It was clear that Yugi didn't mind, and as long as he wasn't protesting, there wasn't much he was going to do about it. Yami made Yugi come alive in a way he hadn't seen since Atem left. How could he argue against that? Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Like why he's here and how?"

"I can answer that, Aibou," Yami said before Yugi could answer. He looked directly at his grandfather as he spoke, a fierce look of protection in his eyes, "The how of it is a little complicated, but the why is easy. I exist to protect and love Yugi."

Grandpa looked at him for a moment before nodding his head. He switched his gaze to Yugi and noticed the other was looking at Yami with wide eyes filled with hope. Apparently Yugi didn't realize that… He frowned a little as he said, "And is that what you want, Yugi?"

"You won't be able to make me leave him," Yami said quietly, not letting Yugi answer right away. Everything that happened with Ishizu came back to them both and he tightened his arms around Yugi even as the shadows in the room became slightly darker. He blinked when a gentle hand cupped his cheek and he turned to look at Yugi, relaxing a little at the gentle smile on his light's face.

"I can't lose him, Grandpa," Yugi said as he touched Yami gently. He saw his darker half relax and he turned to look at his grandfather. His words were just as protective as Yami's were as he said, "I can't go back to being without him now. I need him. I love him."

He felt Yami's body stiffen and his head was turned around by gentle fingers. A blush stole across his face at the intense look Yami was giving him. He said the words without really thinking about them. Yami… he was different from Atem, but he still cared and wanted Yugi. It was strange knowing what Yami was capable of and still feel safe in his arms, but it was true. He felt safe, wanted, loved. He didn't want to give that up.

Yami searched Yugi's eyes, looking for any sign that he was lying. When he found none, he breathed out shakily as he asked, "Do you mean that, or are you just saying that because I was once a part of him?"

"Weren't you the one to insist that you weren't him?" Yugi asked in reply as he wrapped his arms around Yami's neck. He did spare a few seconds to give Yami's question a serious thought. Was he starting to love Yami because he was so much like Atem? He knew immediately in his heart that that wasn't true. He was starting to love Yami because of whom he was now, not who he once was. Resting his forehead against Yami's, he murmured, "You aren't him. You are different from him and I'm starting to realize that. I'm falling for you for who you are now, not for who you were."

"Not to interrupt the sappy moment," Grandpa said with a slight note of impatience. If they wanted to get all romantic and mushy, that was fine. But there were other matters to discuss at the moment. Mainly how Yami was there and he just knew there was some sort of connection to what happened to Ishizu here. If only they'd stop falling into their own little world and answer his questions…

"Sorry, Grandpa," Yugi said with a sheepish look on his face. He turned back around to face the older man and asked, "What else would you like to know, Grandpa?"

"Did he have anything to do with Ishizu's death?" he asked as he looked back and forth between the two of them. As much as he knew Yugi loved Yami, this dark creature before him was most certainly capable of murder. He could see that plain as day, but could his grandson…

"While I did have good reason to see Ishizu dead," Yami said with a softness that made the hairs on Yugi's neck stand up. He turned his head to look at his darkness and saw the anger and pain still lingering in his eyes. Reaching up he gently cupped Yami's cheek and crimson eyes flickered to his. The emotions slowly faded as the other continued softly, "I was not the one to murder Ishizu. It was someone else, someone whose voice I didn't recognize."

"Wait, you were there when she died?" Grandpa asked with a sudden sharpness and Yami slowly turned her head to look at him. The coldness in those crimson eyes made him jerk back a little and he shot Yugi a wary look, "Yugi…"

"Don't, Grandpa," Yugi said as he slid off of Yami's lap, his hair covering his face. Yami slowly stood up behind him and rested a single hand on his lights hip as Yugi continued to talk, "I already almost lost Yami because I let someone become between us. I don't want to be put in that position again. Yami didn't kill Ishizu. Someone else did and I hope they are caught, but right now I want to go upstairs and spend time with the one person I never thought I would have a chance with after what I did. Good night, Grandpa."

"Good night…" his grandfather murmured as he watched Yugi take Yami's and tug him upstairs, his mind whirling at what just occurred… Was that really his grandson just now? He seemed so strong and determined… just what was it about Yami that brought that out in him? What was his grandson turning into?

Yugi tugged his darker part up the stairs and into his room. He let Yami shut the door behind them as he tossed himself onto the bed and sighed into his pillow and murmured something into it. Yami sat on the edge of the bed and chuckled softly as he asked, "I didn't quite catch that, little one. What did you say?"

Yugi turned his head and gazed at his darker counterpart. Curiosity and amusement was clear on his face and it caused Yugi to smile as he murmured softly, "Why is it that we always seem to encounter interrogations when we're together?"

Yami carefully maneuvered himself so he was lying on his side facing him. He thought about it for a moment. They did seem to get that a lot. Even when Atem was around, it seemed to happen quite frequently. He shrugged a single shoulder as he replied, "You have to admit, Yugi… Our relationship isn't exactly normal."

"Do we have a relationship?" Yugi asked quietly as he turned on his side and gazed at Yami. Now that they were starting to dry, bits of his hair was sticking up. The red, when wet, matched the ebony of Yami's hair and was only now starting to return to its original color. That being said, the blond bits were still stuck mixed into the rest of his hair and he reached out.

Soft fingers threaded into his hair, gently tugging it back into its original shape and style. Distracted by the feeling, Yami let his eyes fall close. He momentarily gave into the feeling, sighing and relaxing as Yugi fixed his hair. It felt so good to have his little one touch him… His eyes opened half way as he answered a few moments later, "You did say you love me… and I did say I wouldn't leave you. I think that counts as a relationship. Or the start of one anyway."

Yugi blinked and refocused on Yami's face. He was so distracted by playing with the other's hair that he hadn't really realized that his question was being answered. Smiling a little, he replied, "I like the sound of that. The start of a relationship."

"Me too," Yami murmured as he slipped an arm around Yugi and drew him close to him. He rested his forehead against the other's and sighed. Yugi snuggled into him, curling up into him as small noise escaped him. Yami opened his eyes and laughed a little as he said, "Did you just purr?"

Yugi promptly blushed and buried his face into his chest. His muffled denial came through just barely and it only served to make Yami laugh even harder. He lightly hit him in the chest and replied firmly, "Boyfriend rule number one. No laughing at the shorter one in the group. A sigh is not a purr."

"My apologies," Yami said even as he continued to chuckle. "It was just so cute that I couldn't help myself. You are adorable sometimes. Boyfriend, huh?"

Yugi pulled back, a soft shy smile on his face even as he tried to fight away the blush. He shrugged a little as he said, "Well, I don't think there's anything else to call you… I mean, we are best friends, but I think this goes beyond that, don't you?"

Yami hummed his agreement and, to Yugi's amazement, yawned. He giggled at the confused look on Yami's face and leaned forward, kissing his nose lightly before snuggling down and whispering, "Good night, Yami."

"Good night…" Yami whispered in awe. His mind was still trying to comprehend that kiss. It was innocent, sure. It was just on his nose, but… it was Yugi… and a kiss! He stared down at the little one wrapped securely in his arms. Yugi was either really exhausted or oblivious to the shock Yami was in because he fell asleep quickly. Yami tried to stay up and watch him sleep , but his own exhaustion pulled him into the realm of dreams shortly after. And so they slept… unaware of the events stirring around them.

I had to put some kind of drama in there...

And I don't like Ishizu. Sorry, she just annoys me. Sometimes more than Anzu. Until the next chapter!

Jaa!