On Friday Yugi waited, waited, and…waited. He wanted to see Yami again, maybe even ask him if he was alright as he seemed so disturbed on Wednesday, but he didn't come to Cumby's on Thursday, and he didn't come on Friday, either. At this, Yugi felt slightly depressed. He knew that he had a bad case of puppy love for the crimson eyed guitarist, but could it have been something more?

"Yugi-chan," A voice that most surely wasn't Yami's came through the doors of the convenience store. It was Anzu, and judging by her attire, she was just stopping by on her way to work; she had afternoon classes that day. She smiled sweetly at Yugi before walking over and leaning on the counter to talk.

"Hi Anzu," Yugi said, glancing at her behavior with varied suspicion and worry. She was biting her lip slightly, and was smiling just a little too broadly, "Is something wrong?"

"No," Anzu said quickly, reassuring Yugi, "You just…didn't come to see me this morning, so I got a little worried…"

Yugi bit the inside of his cheek lightly, unable to think of something to say to that. He would've felt bad about all but ignoring her that morning, but lately she'd been a little irritable in the mornings. Plus, his alarm clock had failed to wake him up, so he was running a little late, "Sorry, Anzu, my alarm clock went off late. I didn't even have time for a shower."

Anzu rolled her eyes and smiled, "It's alright; I just wanted to ask you something…"

Yugi blinked, wondering what the hell she was talking about, "Uhh…sure. Shoot." What could this be all about? Yugi hoped that it wasn't expensive; dinner on Sunday cost quite a bit; his wallet was running on low.

"Well, I was thinking, seeing how our date went so well on Sunday," Yugi was reminded forcefully of awkward silences and conversations that were completely one sided; both of them at fault, "That…maybe we could try going to The Curse again?"

Yugi…well, he wasn't expecting that. Weighing the perspectives, he knew that he was going to go to said nightclub, but if he said no to Anzu, who was to say that she wouldn't do the same as him and go anyway? Yugi opened his mouth slowly, carefully choosing his words, "Well, if you really want to…"

"Thanks, Yugi-chan!" She said happily, "I can't wait. There's someone that I want you to-"

Yugi held up his palm to stop her, "But you have to promise that you won't drink."

Anzu looked at Yugi like he had an extra eye; while her own were slightly frustrated, "Yugi, why do have such a problem with me drinking? That's what college students do."

Yugi crossed his arms, trying not to get upset. Couldn't she do this one thing for him? "Anzu, I don't want to talk about it, " He looked at the clock over her shoulder, and started to speak again before she could, knowing that it wouldn't be anything positive, "You'd better go, you'll be late for work."

Anzu apparently cleared her head of all tainted thoughts because she smiled, her blue eyes glistening once more, leaned over, and kissed Yugi softly on the cheek, "I'll see you tonight, Yugi-chan."

As the door closed behind her, Yugi finally allowed himself to sigh deeply and roll his eyes. How he wished that Anzu would just take the things that he asked for without complaint, it wasn't like he asked her for much, just an abstinence for alcohol.

He wasn't demanding the world…


Saturday night came and Yugi and Anzu were standing outside of The Curse in a semi-long line, much like it was two weeks or so ago when they went to the club for the first time. Yugi seriously hoped that it wouldn't contain the same ending. Anzu was wearing what was apparently her clubbing outfit, while Yugi was wearing what he was last week: jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Yugi-chan," Anzu, who was in high spirits about something, asked, "Why are you wearing jeans and a sweatshirt? Don't you think that you should've dressed up a little?"

Yugi frowned, "Why?" Seriously, he didn't know. He really wasn't a typical club-going person and he didn't feel like dancing that night, anyways, so there was no reason for him to look flashy. He'd probably sit in the dark all night, waiting to either to go see Yami or to go home.

"Jeremy, over here!" Yugi heard Anzu shout, and he swerved his head to look at a guy about his age walking over to them, wearing what was supposed to be 'proper club going attire,' which consisted of tight leather pants and a thin tan-colored shirt. He was good looking, with short spiked blond and red hair, and he had blue eyes that shone even in the dark. He reached the two of them, and Anzu lowered her voice, "Looking good."

"Hey, thanks. You too," He said smoothly, looking Anzu up and down. Yugi raised an eyebrow, wondering whether or not he should say something. He wondered who the guy was, and how long Anzu had known him. Yugi didn't feel any jealousy or anything towards the man, but he hoped that he wouldn't metaphorically sweep Anzu off of her feet and carry her away, because he really would be socially lost without her. She was still his only real friend.

"Oh," Anzu said, looking down at Yugi as if she only just remembered that he was there, "Yugi, this is Jeremy, the guy I wanted to introduce you to. We go to the same college, but we didn't know each other until he saw me here two weeks ago." She stepped back and allowed the two boys to step forward, "Jeremy, this is Yugi. We're dating."

"Oh," Jeremy said, looking a little crestfallen, though he shook Yugi's hand goodheartedly all the same, "You didn't mention that you were dating anyone, but it's still nice to meet you, Yugi." Yugi sighed silently before pulling his hand back to his body. He opened his mouth to reply, but Anzu interrupted him.

"Oh, well, Yugi doesn't mind, right? He's glad to meet you as well, I'm sure." She glanced at Yugi before pulling her ID and money out of her jacket pocket and flashing it at the bus-boy while leaving the money on the table in front of the building. Yugi and Jeremy did the same. Once inside, he immediately saw Yami at the bar, stirring a soda absentmindedly. He broke away from Anzu and Jeremy, who were already deep in conversation about some dance or another, and made his way over to the stools and beverages.

"Hi Yami," Yugi said, sitting down next to him. The singer looked at him immediately, changing what was obviously a sad look to a more or less content one, "You ran off so quickly on Wednesday…" Yugi berated himself angrily for jumping to what was most likely a touchy subject. He quickly changed the it, "You weren't late for rehearsal, were you?"

Yami shook his head, and his hair that was hanging down to his shoulders was disturbed slightly. A lock of crimson and black fell into his face, and Yugi had to resist the urge to brush it away. "No, I wasn't. But I'm glad that I left when I did, because I was cutting it close. I didn't mean to be so rude."

Yugi shook his head, "No problem. We all have stupid little things to do in life…not that your job is stupid. Anything but." He noticed that Yami's gaze went back to his drink; it was as if he was having a hard time keeping his crimson orbs locked on to any other's. "Are you alright?" Yami's face looked very pale, as if he was recently sick.

Yami nodded, taking a sip of soda, but Yugi saw that none of the liquid actually entered his mouth, "Yeah. I just got a little stomach virus the other day…but I'm fine now." He nodded and smiled into his drink as a feeble way to prove his point.

"Oh, well…I'm glad," Yugi said, getting a feeling that Yami was at least partially lying to him. He ignored it, though, and mentally searched his memory for something that they could talk about; they were entering a period of awkward silence, and Yugi really didn't want to go downstairs to talk to Jeremy and Anzu. They were having a good enough time without them as it was. But if he wasn't going to talk with Yami, he didn't want to be his shadow, "Oh, umm, you said something before about a record deal. How's that going for you?"

Yami smiled broadly, and Yugi knew that the little compliment traveled miles, "We're about halfway there; the talent agent came last week and apparently he really liked the performance. Next week a recording agent is coming in. If that goes well," He stopped, apparently realizing that he was bragging, but Yugi didn't mind, and drunk in every detail of his silky baritone voice. "Well, you know…"

Yugi thought that he understood, and smiled back at Yami, who still wasn't making eye contact with him. He was going to congratulate the band, and, more importantly, him, but was interrupted.

"Yugi-chan, I was looking for you! I never thought that you'd be at the bar of all places…" Yugi and Yami both swerved around at the pet name, and Yugi found himself blushing at Anzu standing in front of them, looking at Yami with a subtly disgusted expression on her face, "Yami Atemu, am I right?" She said, and Yugi hoped that Yami didn't notice her icy tone.

"Yes," Neither of them bothered to shake hands, but Yugi knew that Yami's reasoning was different than Anzu's. "It's nice to meet you."

Anzu nodded, and sat down by Yugi, "What are you doing up here? Don't you want to come downstairs and dance?"

"Uh, no, Anzu," Yugi said, "I'm just going to sit up here with Yami for a little…I be down in, like, ten minutes, and I'll dance with you then, okay?" He looked at her hopefully, just wanting her to go away and to stop glancing at Yami.

"Okay, but I'm just going to get some drinks for Jeremy and I."

Yugi bit his lip; it wasn't like she agreed to his request…right? "Anzu, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't drink here…it's just-"

"Yugi, don't give me that, we'll be fine." Anzu turned to the bartender and ordered, then paid and grabbed the two odd colored liquids off of the counter and walked back downstairs, "See you in a bit, Yugi-chan."

Yugi sighed; that really was embarrassing, "Yami, I'm-"

"Girlfriend?" Yami asked, looking at his left ear.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about the looks…it's just…" Yugi started, but Yami interrupted him, going back to his drink and stirring the coke with a straw.

"She thinks that I'm a perverted bastard, right?" Yami said sarcastically, then fell silent again, not even bothering to stir his drink. Yugi didn't answer, either. He couldn't bring himself to do that. After a minute or so, Yami said so quietly, that Yugi almost didn't catch it, "You…Yugi, you don't believe those rumors, do you? I swear, I don't do anything like that-"

"Yami, it's alright," Yugi said, noticing Yami's feverish tone, "I don't believe in any of that. You're a really nice guy." Yugi tried to hold back a blush…he really didn't mean to say that, even though he knew that it was true.

He bit the corner of his mouth, he had to get back to Anzu before she came back up; he didn't want Yami to feel any less comfortable than he undoubtedly already did. "Good luck in your performance tonight, I'll be watching." He said, and Yami finally met eyes with his; they stared for a fair few seconds before Yugi broke the contact and smiled, then turned around and walked down the stairs, his smile turning into a frown as an empty table with Anzu's jacket on it loomed into view.


Yami resumed his previous brooding, though now he some other things to think about. Yugi had a girlfriend, and not a very nice one, either, by the looks of it. Yugi seemed so kind, how could he be with someone so…

Yami didn't even have a word for it. Just the way that she looked at him, and snapped at Yugi when he asked her not to drink pushed his opinion. The smaller's resquest seemed reasonable enough, didn't it?

And Yugi didn't believe all of those lies about him; he had called him a nice guy. Yami really wanted to get closer to Yugi, and felt that they could be really good friends. Well, friends, anyway, Yami didn't want to get his hopes up. Things like that never work out.

Yet, the guitarist couldn't help but feel ashamed of himself; he wouldn't let himself make eye contact with Yugi, then he lied to him and couldn't look him in the eyes. Yugi did have beautiful eyes…what was the problem.

Ryan; just him. Always him.


Yugi sighed as he sat down at the table where Anzu's coat was thrown. He could see Jeremy and her dancing somewhere nearby; they were both extraordinary at it; their movements flowed into what seemed like a smooth and continuous beat. Romanticide by Nightwish was playing, and when the vocals started, they got really close and started to do a sort of swaying motion. Yugi sat and watched, but soon became bored.

Their glasses of alcohol were mostly filled, so at least they were pacing themselves; always counting ones blessings, right? The song ended, and Anzu must've noticed that Yugi was sitting by himself. She left Jeremy alone on the floor and came to sit next to him, "Hi, Yugi-chan."

"Hey Anzu," Yugi said, smiling a little though he was suddenly feeling tired, and wished that he was sleeping in his apartment, on his nice, comfy couch. "You and Jeremy seem to be hitting it off. You guys dance well…"

"Hmm, yeah, I suppose that we do, but I think that me and you can dance even better," She leaned over and grabbed her drink before downing at least a quarter of it in one gulp. Yugi made a face, but quickly got rid of it and Anzu didn't even notice.

"Uh, Anzu, I don't think that I want to dance tonight…" He said, recalling the plan that he made for himself outside of the club. It didn't seem to work, though, and Anzu grabbed the smaller's hand before dragging him out to the floor, telling him that he would enjoy it.

…He did.


"Hey, Yami." Zach said, placing his hand on Yami's shoulder backstage. Yami couldn't repress a shiver, but it wasn't not like either of them cared, "Don't pull any of the shit that you did last week. You could've messed up the whole entire thing for us."

"Zach, I-"

"No, don't give me that," He said, looking angry, "That really pissed me off, and even if Goldman fell for it, I doubt that a record manger will. Don't mess this up for us, it's all that Jullian and I have, and just because you have something to fall back on…it doesn't mean that we do." With that he turned and walked to the edge of the stage, waiting for the DJ to introduce them.

Yami was horrorstruck at what the bass player had just told him. Yami didn't do that to show off…he did it to try to make himself comfortable playing. But no one would believe him, would they? No one ever did.

Sennen Rage was called out onto the stage, and Yami was brought back to earth by Jullian calling his name. He made his way out onto the platform, his guitar and pick in hand, and looked out across the vast crowd for a familiar face. He found it quickly, and Yugi smiled sweetly, then gave him a thumbs up, reassuring his shot and abused nerves.

Yami's heart also softened a little: Yugi didn't think that he was a show-off, and Yugi didn't believe those rumors. And it didn't matter if everyone else did, because he found the one person that didn't. And Yami would rather like one person that liked him back than a million that didn't.

Yugi, was the only one that Yami could see as the song started, and Yugi…other than himself and his parents, was the only one that he played for.

To Be Continued


Author's Notes: This chapter was revised on 7-5-06.

Thanks to all reviewers.

Please Review.