A/N: *Smiles* thank you everyone. I no longer feel the need to hide. 1. Because you are all amazing and 2. Because you are all amazing *winks* and 3. Well... you'll just have to see what this chapter has in store. You... may want to grab a box of tissues. May... keyword. Just giving you a fair warning.
Peacelover26: I'm thinking of giving Jaden a little bit bigger of a part in this fic. I'm not sure yet. I really like his character. So if I can figure out a way to make him fit into the story and not have it seemed strained, I will do it. The answer to if Yami knew Pink Poison was in China is also in this chapter. *Winks* Thank you! I will sure try to!
Lexie H: *Smiles* Thank you. I would never go AWOL on an incomplete story. I may get bouts of horrible writers block where I can't write much if at all for months, but I would never fully give up on a story. I finish what I start. Oh and good question! You are right. Tristan hasn't made an appearance yet. I will need to remedy that somehow. As to if I will bring in other characters since I brought in Jaden... *smirks* very possible.
Now! Without further ado...wait...do you have your tissues for those who think they will need them? No? Okay I can wait... ... ... ... Okay ready? Good! Because here we GO!
"Mhm…he's here," I heard Mai mutter from somewhere behind me. Who is she talking to? I yawn and stretch my aching limbs. I'm not sure what time I ended up passing out. I really cried more than talked last night. Mai just sat silently; caressing my arms and throwing in a few "Shhhh it will be okay," phrases. I know it is a bit cliché, but coming from her, it was somewhat comforting.
"Just last night," Mai muttered even quieter. I turn to face her direction to see her looking out the window, her cell phone pressed closely to her ear.
"I…I…No! I don't know," now she sounded irritated. Heh. I've got a pretty good guess who she is talking to. I would stake my fame and reputation that she's talking to Seto. She turns and her large amethyst eyes locked on mine. She gave a small smile and waved at me. I returned her wave and shifted to rest my head on my entwined fingers.
She slowly walked over to me and held her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, "Do you want to talk to Kaiba?" I frowned and shook my head. "No, he's not awake. He's sleeping right now." I send a grateful smile her way. She shrugs and turns away from me.
"I don't know, Kaiba. I will ask him to call you when he wakes up," she sighed aggravated. "Uh huh. Talk to you later."
"Thank you," I smile at her again, "I just can't deal with him right now."
"No problem, Hun," she approached me and sat next to me on the bed, "So how did you know we were here?"
I chuckled, "You're tour schedule is not exactly secret. Also, we tend to stay in the same hotels when we travel. Plus, I bribed the bellhop."
She shook her head; a smile gracing her lips, "I should have known." She moved closer to me and shifted my head onto her lap, "So tell me what exactly happened between you and Yugi. You weren't making much sense last night. I thought I heard somewhere in between the tears that you mentioned Yugi said he didn't love you?" her slim and well defined eyebrow arched.
"Yup," I adverted my eyes; fighting back the tears that burned behind them.
"That just doesn't make sense. I've seen the way he looks at you. There is so much love and adoration in his eyes. He looks at you like his world revolves around you," she shakes her head. She's just as confused as I am.
"That's not what he said and his eyes were far from loving when he said he doesn't love me," I wiped a tear away.
"Hun, have you considered the possibility that he was acting? He is a performer… a damn good one at that."
I shrugged, "But why would he act this way? If he does care, why would he say he doesn't?"
"I don't know, Hun. That is something you will need to find out for yourself," she ran a soothing hand across my face. I grabbed a pillow and clutched it close to my chest. "You know what you have to do, don't you?" I raised my gaze to look her in the eyes. They were kind and gentle; displaying only her concern and her willingness to help. "I know you don't want to, but you have to talk to him. That is the only way to get to the bottom of this."
I shifted to look away from her, "No. I don't want to talk to him."
"Okay, so you don't want to, but you have to. You are both part of the same band. Are you really going to let this break the band apart?" she asks genuinely curious.
"It won't, they are strong enough without me. Yugi can hold his own with a guitar and every one of those fuckers can sing. They don't need me," I comment flatly.
"Bullshit, Yami," her eyes were stern now. Oh boy.. her comes the rarely seen maternal side of Mai.
"True, they all are very talented, but you are the headliner. You keep the band going and keep them together," she states her opinion.
"No," I growl, "Kaiba keeps them going and Ryou is the glue to hold them together."
"No, Yami. You are the glue. As much as you may think otherwise, the band cannot survive without you," she ran her long fingers through the mess of hair on top of my head. I sighed in content; her fingers providing a much needed soothing effect.
"I think you are wrong," I clutch the pillow closer to my chest.
"I don't think so, but there is only one way to find out. You have to go back," she tilted her head. "Please, Yami. Go back. Try to heal this rift between the two of you."
"I love him, Mai, but if he doesn't love me or want me. There is nothing I can do to change how he feels. And honestly, after how much pain I am in, I'm not sure I want to chance this pain again," I shake my head feeling determined to never feel this way...ever again.
"I can't believe you," she stands suddenly; my head falling from her lap and collapsing onto the bed where she was just seated.
"What the hell, Mai?" I growl.
"You say you love him but you are not willing to fight for him? That's not love, Yami!" her voice raising.
"How dare you say I don't love him," I stand; facing her head on.
"Well, you are not acting like it!" She snaps back.
"I love him with every fiber of my being! He is my world! My life meant nothing before Yugi came into it!" I feel my hand twitch. I want to throw something.. or I want a drink. Either one will do just fine.
"Then prove it!" She screamed at me, "fight for him, Yami! Fight for him or you will lose him for good!" A tense awkward silence filled the hotel room. We glared at each other for several long agonizing minutes.
"What are you waiting for?! Go! Fight for him!" she shoved me towards the door. I stumble backwards and wince when my back meets the wall. She approaches me, the intensity of her eyes electric and horrifying.
"Mai…" I comment quietly.
"Do you love him?" she asks, a challenge lacing her words.
"Yes," I nod, "I love him."
"Then go, Yami. Go!" she points to the door, "It's time to stop running. Go and talk to him." Her voice lowering to a more gentle tone. "Go."
I nod and walk past her to gather my bag. I really don't want to do this. I really don't. The pit in my stomach grows; threatening to consume me as I open the door.
"Call me and let me know how it goes?" she asks; her voice once again calm. I glance over my shoulder and nod.
"I'll call," and with that I take my leave of her hotel room and make my way back to the airport.
\/\/\/
I remove my contacts and wig; shoving them into my bag when I arrive at the hotel in Domino. My boots echo on the marble floors with each step I take. I run my fingers through my hair and approach the elevator. I feel nauseous. My body shakes with the overwhelming fear that is eating me alive. The urge to run in the opposite direction proves more difficult to fight than I had originally thought.
I approach the conference room where the band was scheduled to rehears for a few hours this afternoon. I swallow; attempting to dislodge the lump in my throat. I hear the music blasting on the other side of the door. I push the it open and walk in; holding my head high and masking the tremendous fear which makes each movement painful.
The music ceases instantly. Each of the band members greeting me with wide eyes. Malik runs out from behind his keyboard and crashes into me.
"Atemu! Where have you been? We've been so worried about you. Seto sent security out looking for you but they couldn't find you!" he wraps his arms tightly around my shoulders.
"I'm okay, Malik. Really," I whisper to him and return his hug.
"It's good to see you," Marik picks me up and gives me what must have been the largest hug I've ever had.
"Can't…breathe.." I gasp.
The psycho chuckles and puts me back on my feet, "Sorry."
"Well this is going to be awkward enough. Why don't we all take a lunch break," Joey claps and motions to the door.
"Sounds good. I'm starving," Yugi comments; his once warm amethyst eyes pinning me with a glare that may as well have stopped my heart.
"Not you, Yugi. You stay and talk!" Joey spun and snapped at the petite guitarist.
The amethyst orbs narrow, "There's nothing to talk about. Everything that had to be said has already been verbalized."
"Fuck that, Yug! You stay and talk to Yami!" Joey snarled. I blinked surprised at the blonde. I never thought I would see the day Joey would yell at Yugi.
I feel a gentle squeeze on my shoulder. I turn to see Seto's concerned features staring back at me. He didn't have to say anything. His eyes said it all. Good luck. Just talk to him. It will be okay…etcetera. I wish I could believe him.
The group exits the room; leaving one pissed off looking guitarist and one terrified headliner alone together.
"What is there to talk about? I thought I made myself clear. How else can I say it? I don't love you so you are wasting your time," Yugi's small hands rest on his hips.
"Why are you doing this?" I ask him.
He shrugs nonchalantly, "Why not? It's how I feel."
A tear slides down my cheek. I wipe the moisture away with the back of my hand. I can't do this. He doesn't want me. Doesn't care. Mai was wrong. I turn and throw the door open only to run into a firm chest.
"Nope! You are not getting away that easily! You are NOT running man!" Joey holds me in place.
"I tried okay?! What the fuck more do you want from me?" I cry out, "I can't do this!"
Joey pinned my back against the door and leaned in close, "Listen to me, Atemu and listen well. Yugi does love you. He is my best friend and I know him."
"He has a very strange way of showing it," I glare at the blonde hovering over me.
"Don't you get it? He's scared! He loves you so much he is beyond terrified. He's never loved anyone this much so he is pushing you away. Ryou could have told you that before you ran off the last time had you given him the chance," Joey hissed. "I'm not saying that what Yugi pulled was right. I'm not defending him. I am just trying to help you understand where he is coming from. In his messed up sense of reality, he believes you would be better off without him."
"That's nonsense," I snapped at him, raising my chin higher.
"I know that. Now get back in there and remind him of that," Joey shifts me to the side, opens the door, and shoves me back into the room with Yugi.
The petite guitarist was perched on a speaker, his fingers tracing the strings of his guitar. I see his cold demeanor falter for a microsecond, but that is enough for me. That brief hesitation was enough to confirm to me what the others have been saying all along. Yugi is putting on a performance. What must have been the best and possibly the hardest performance of his life.
I quietly and slowly approach him, "Why are you scared?" The shocked expression on his face reveals the truth. He is a deer caught in the headlights.
He adverts his eyes, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Before he could react I grab him and crush our lips together in a desperate and loving kiss. He initially melts into me before he shoves me away.
"Why can't you understand this?! I don't love you!" he pounds his small fists into my chest; the tears flowing freely down his angelic face.
"I love you, Yugi. More than anything including my own life. Joey told me you are scared. What are you scared of and why?" I raise his chin and force him to look me in the eye.
He shakes his head, "I don't want you to die. Everyone that gets close to me dies. My mother, my father, my grandfather… everyone. I made the mistake of loving you and now I'm afraid I'm going to lose you. I'm afraid you are going to either leave me or die!"
I place a kiss on his moist and trembling lips, "Yugi, I thought we talked about this before. I'm not leaving you. Your love for me will not kill me. If anything, it makes me stronger."
There it is! A hint of love and hope flashes within the deep amethyst pools, "St…tronger?'
"Yes. I probably would have been dead if it had not been for you and the others. You all have saved me. And you have given me a purpose and a reason to live. I love you, Yugi," I pull him close to me in a tight embrace. I feel his body quivering in my arms.
"I make you stronger?" he repeats in a whisper; his breath ghosting on the side of my neck.
"You do," I confirm; nuzzling my face in his tri-colored hair. Yugi doesn't hold back his sobs any longer. He released the flood gate; crying uncontrollably against my chest.
"I love you, Yugi," I state again hoping it will sink in this time. "I love you."
"I…lll…lll….lllllloovvveee you toooo," he gasps out in between his sobs, "Ssssss…..ssso mmmm mmmm… much. P p p please doooooan't leave me."
"I wouldn't dream of it little one," I guide him to the floor and pull him into my lap, "I love you," I repeat. I am really starting to sound like a broken record, but it seems to be working.
"And I love you," he whispers.
A/N: *Sniffs* awwwwwwww!
Thank you all for reading and please leave reviews. I love them so much. I really hope you liked the chapter.
