Yami sighed as he watched Yugi do his homework and study at his desk. Yugi was frowning slightly, obviously trying to understand something complicated. Yami always thought Yugi was so cute when he was focusing on something. He looked so determined and powerful, even if it was regarding a task as small as homework. Yami studied Yugi's features, a small smile forming on his face as Yugi tapped a pencil against his bottom lip. All Yami wanted to do was throw that pencil away and suck that lip into his mouth. Yami shook his head, trying to will those thoughts away. He couldn't think about his hikari like that. Yugi was pure and innocent, a veritable ray of sunshine. He would not sully Yugi with his darker, more forbidden thoughts. But Gods, Yami wanted Yugi. In every way possible, in every way Yugi would allow. He wanted to touch him, hold him, feel every inch of him. Possess him in ways different than he already did.

But he couldn't.

Yami was just a disembodied spirit. He had nothing to offer Yugi. Besides his love, that is. Yami had nothing, was nothing, without Yugi. Yugi was his world, his other half, his soulmate. And yet, the spirit could never be with him, not truly. So Yami had resolved to keep his feelings from the younger boy. Yami would sooner die than hurt his hikari, and telling him his feelings would definitely create complications that would hurt Yugi in the end. So Yami would suffer in silence. He could deal with that burden, as long as he didn't have hope. If Yugi returned his affections, well. That would be the end of it. Yami would move heaven and earth to be able to be with Yugi forever.

Ever since Yugi had assembled the Millennium Puzzle, Yami had been there for him, whether the younger boy knew it or not. He had been protecting him, guiding him and supporting him. It had created a strong bond of friendship and trust. However, for Yami, it had always been more than that. He had fallen in love with Yugi the moment he had sensed his warm, gentle soul. Yugi was precious and must be protected at all costs. Yugi was the kind of person who only came around once every few centuries. There were never any others quite like him. No one as kind or pure hearted. Yami loved Yugi and would always love him, no matter where the future or the past took him.

For as much as Yami wanted Yugi, he also wanted to discover who he was. Because Yami felt if he knew who he was, his love for Yugi would be truer. Because he would know that his love for Yugi wouldn't be just due to the fact that Yugi was the one that completed the Puzzle. It would be that he, whoever he was, loved Yugi for Yugi. Not just for his body or out of gratitude, not that that was the only reason why Yami love his host, but it was one of them.

The only times Yami ever felt true fear since the Puzzle was solved was during the duel with Pegasus and Yami thought Yugi's spirit had died and when he had been separated from Yugi during the duel the younger boy had with the possessed Bandit Keith. Not to mention the time Yugi's spirit had been taken and Yami feared he wouldn't be able to go on without him.

But through all those trials and tribulations, Yugi had just come through them stronger and braver than ever before. His strength of character and purity of heart never ceased to amaze Yami. Sometimes he almost couldn't believe that Yugi actually existed, that Yami was lucky enough to be able to know him, let alone love him. Yami felt unworthy of Yugi sometimes, that nothing he could do would ever match up to the pure goodness of Yugi's own actions. Yami would always strive to be good enough for Yugi. To earn a forever with him.

This hope, though strong, was false. Yami knew that someday, Yugi would be taken from him or he would be taken from Yugi. He knew his time on this Earth would soon come to a close. His purpose for being here would no longer exist and Yami would be forced to move on, without his precious Yugi. That thought made Yami's head hurt and his heart throb. The idea of permanently being separated from Yugi was unthinkable and threw Yami's emotions into turmoil. Sometimes Yugi would notice Yami's brooding and ask him what was wrong. But Yami would just smile and say nothing when in reality, Yami felt like he was dying inside.

Then, it would be the same pattern all over again. Pining for Yugi, reminding himself why he couldn't have him, brood over the future, fear losing Yugi, then back around again. An endless cycle.

It was killing him and Yami knew that his resolve was slowly starting to crumble, that he would tell Yugi soon just how much the boy meant to him. But on the other hand, Yami had a tinge of fear as well. What if Yugi rejected him? What if Yugi hated him? Yami shook his head. Yugi would never hate him, especially when he was admitting something like love. But it could still mess everything up. Yugi might start avoiding him and their friendship would become strained and awkward. Yami didn't want that either, but he couldn't remain in this holding pattern forever. His love for Yugi was fierce and would not be contained, not when he had a slight hope that Yugi might love him back.

'Why does life have to be so complicated?' Yami grumbled to himself.

Yami glanced back over at Yugi and smiled. The boy was nearly finished with his work, his frown fading and a smile growing. Yami's heart clenched, taking in the sight of such an innocent, sweet person. The boy that had stolen his heart. Not that Yami minded. Not one bit.