A/N: Thanks for the comments!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!


Yugi's ears perked as he heard his door open and close softly. Staying on his side facing the window where he lay on the bed, Yugi took a fleeting glance at the digital clock on the bedside table, seeing that it was quarter after three.

Yami was here.

Not bothering to roll over to greet the other, Yugi buried his face into the sheets and pillow, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment.

The heels of Yami's boots clicked across the room, and Yugi listened to the teen sit down on the window's ledge like he always did. The smaller hid his face even more into the pristine white sheets.

His parents had left early Tuesday morning because of work. Yugi had understood, a small part of him glad they left because he didn't know how much of his mother's love he could take.

Yet another downside to his illness. His mother always drove him crazy with her worries whenever he had a severe attack. He wished his father would calm her down sometimes, but he seemed to not want to get into the middle of it all. Yugi didn't blame him.

Yugi had no idea how many times his mother would bring up his episode, saying that he'd get better despite what happened. She assured him that it wouldn't spread, and unfortunately, that was an unintentional lie. It had spread like wildfire, and all Tuesday, he was given much company of different patients he had become friends with along with some doctors and various nurses.

In other words, Yugi hated the attention he had caused himself to get.

And yet, as Yugi peeked one of his eyes open to glance at Yami, a wave a relief washed over him. Yami never really seemed like the person to worry over him, and Yugi was sure the other wouldn't want to go into detail about the embarrassing incident.

Sighing softly into the sheets, Yugi's ears perked again when Yami asked an unexpected question of, "what causes your episodes anyway?"

Gulping silently, Yugi pushed down his embarrassment, sitting up in the bed so that his legs swung over the edge. Yami wasn't looking at him, but out the window.

"I don't know," he replied hesitantly. "No one knows what causes them."

"And how many years have you been here?" Yami asked again, still not looking at him as if he did, Yugi would attack him for asking such questions.

"Almost four years."

He heard Yami curse under his breath, and Yugi wondered why Yami was repeating questions from the second day. "What's wrong?" he tried, standing up cautiously.

Yami didn't respond, and Yugi was about to sit down, but Yami hopped off from the windowsill and stalked toward him. The patient backed up, but the back of his legs hit the edge of the messy bed.

Although they were close, Yugi could tell that the other wasn't looking directly at him. "And how long have you had this illness of yours?"

Yugi's gaze darted for the floor as he mindlessly shrugged. "Since I was little."

Yami swore openly again, and Yugi was confused. The taller teen must've finally looked at him, for he finally explained his cusses.

"So, you've had this disease since you were little. You've gone from doctor to doctor, getting worse and worse apparently. You've gotten so bad that you've been basically confined to living here because you're dangerous...?" Yami said aloud, and Yugi sat down on the bed, nodding silently.

"And so you're telling me that all of those fucked up doctors weren't able to figure out a firkin thing of what sets you off right?" the bully inquired rhetorically, continuing, "I think that's bullshit."

It appeared that Yami was done with his rant, and Yugi realized that the other teen really didn't have much of a point, and he guessed that his behavior had made Yami think over the past couple of days.

"Yeah, it really sucks," he offered after a minute or two, flushing when Yami looked down at him pointedly. Then came the much more unexpected...

...when Yami flopped down right next to him on the bed.

Yugi's brows furrowed. "Is everything okay?" he asked slowly, watching as the teen laid back, putting his arms behind his head for a headrest of sorts.

All of a sudden, as Yugi looked down at Yami, the smaller noticed that Yami looked really, overly exhausted. It seemed that the other teen hadn't slept for at least two days. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his hair seemed a little more wild than usual. His clothes looked frumpy, and Yugi wondered if the teen had been eating at all since Saturday night.

"...no."

Well, at least it was an honest answer.

Yugi felt like a fish out of water, trying to figure out what to ask next. "Do you want to talk about anything?" he asked cautiously, suddenly feeling much older, and like some sort of counselor.

"Sort of," Yami gave him, closing his eyes. Silence consumed the room for a little while, with Yami resting, and Yugi trying to figure out how to answer back to the other's answer. "Do you promise not to tell anyone if I tell you anything I want to say?" Yami finally questioned, his eyes reopening, a scowl tugging at his face.

Was this really Yami? Where did the firmed confidence and cruelness go? Yugi felt a pang as a stray thought crossed his mind.

Yugi nodded quickly, as if he were a girl wanting to hear a super secret real badly. "I won't tell."

Despite the fact that Yami had told him that he would talk a little bit, Yami still seemed very reluctant to say whatever was on his mind...eating him up. This reassured Yugi a little, and the smaller hopped all the way onto the bed, crossing his legs in Indian style.

"I swear if you tell anyone, you won't live to see another day, understood?" Yami threatened again, as if to reassure himself that Yugi wouldn't let out a peep. Yugi nodded yes honestly.

The taller teen sighed dejectedly, closing his eyes for a moment before saying fairly quick, "you made me scared. Scared that you'd hurt yourself." He turned his head away from the smaller teen, the words on his tongue feeling like poison.

He wished that Yugi was like Ushio, and would interrupt him, but the patient remained silent, willing to let him take his time in what he wanted to say. Yami half appreciated that.

"I wasn't really thinking about that at the time, but after I got home from the hospital, that realization dawned on me. I couldn't help myself and rethought about all that occurred over and over again until I felt really scared. I have no idea what gave me idea that I was scared shitless, but I was," Yami continued, once again begging Yugi in the confides of his mind to interrupt him. He was met with silence from his one man audience.

"That's all I'm telling you," Yami said curtly after a few moments.

There obviously was much more to it all, but Yugi's silence must have gotten to him, or he just felt really uncomfortable spilling his guts. He gave out the hint that he really did care about the messed up kid, but he made sure to make it seem like it was really buried down deep.

Yet another thing he was contemplating. Did he really want to show that that feeling was buried deep, or did he want to let it show? Yami's mind was muddled. There was something about Yugi that made him feel very secure, despite his pirate episodes. Of course, he would keep that a secret from Yugi, and he wouldn't even dare talk to Ushio about any of his complicated feelings.

"I think I get what you're saying," Yugi mused him out of his thoughts, and Yami opened his eyes, glancing at the boy near the head of the bed. Sitting up carefully, Yami hunched himself over the side of the bed, using his hands to steady himself.

Yami shook his head. "No you don't."

"How do you know that?" Yugi quipped, and Yami could hear the small smile in that question. Maybe he felt secure knowing that Yugi was brave enough around him that he was unafraid to talk to him with a teasing tone.

"Forget it."

Feeling the weight shift on the bed, Yami could tell that Yugi had probably pulled himself down the bed so that they were closer. He could almost feel the playful air Yugi had created about himself so that it was easier to talk.

"No. You wanted me to listen, and I did. Don't you want my feedback?" Yugi inquired curiously, smiling a little even though Yami couldn't see it.

"I said forget it. I don't want to talk about this anymore. I shouldn't have opened my mouth."

Yami inwardly flinched when he felt Yugi's shoulder brush against his. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yugi's bare legs slide over the edge of the bed and hang there. "I think that what you're feeling is normal. There was once an incident where when I was younger, my mom passed out when my dad was at work. I was smart enough to call the paramedics, and when she woke up, I realized that I had been really scared that something would've happened to her."

"You do know you're still in a skimpy hospital gown, right?" Yami interrupted suddenly, and Yugi rolled his eyes, knowing that the other was just trying to distract him from the current subject. He didn't say anything on it, but continued.

"Don't feel bad that you felt scared for me; you're not the only one," Yugi finished curtly, inwardly blushing at the fact that he really was still in the backless hospital gown.

Silence ensued as predicted, and Yugi looked down at his socked feet, wondering what would happen next. Apparently today was the day of surprises.

"But what if my being scared for you really means something else?" Yami suddenly quipped, looking at him directly now.

Yugi was taken aback. In those eyes he saw confusion, thoughtfulness and concern. Not the usual cruel, badass, self absorbed emotions. He blinked his purple eyes a couple times, trying to find the answer to Yami's question.

"I think you're overanalyzing this whole situation. I mean, it's all over, and I'm fine. I thought you hated me."

"But that's what I'm not sure about. What if I don't hate you anymore? What if I've gone to just disliking you? Or even caring about you?" Yami sounded quite desperate for an answer, and yet, Yugi felt something touch his heart. What if something had really changed in Yami?

Yugi had to think. This reality wasn't like his books. People didn't change their attitudes just like that, within three days. It wasn't likely Yami had changed but still...the tone in his voice sounded like he was lost, wanting an answer to his unsupported questions.

After thinking this through for a little while, all he found himself retorting back with was, "I think you need a good night's sleep." And then he found himself smacking himself in the head for his uncaring answer.

But thank the heavens that Yami was persistent!

"I'm serious...Yugi."

Yugi suddenly felt really, really bad for his previous comment more than before. Yami had resorted to calling him by his name instead of 'runt', or 'kid'.

"I just know that there is something more to this whole 'I felt scared for you' shit. I just know it. I wouldn't dare tell this to Ushio, or even my dad. For whatever fucked up reason, I feel the need to tell you all this and I can't stop talking..." Yami continued with what sounded like a saddened tone in his voice, and Yugi bit his lip. "I can't stop thinking...about you."

What was that supposed to mean? Yami couldn't stop thinking about him? Was that good, or was that bad? Was Yami really meaning any of this, or was he just pulling his leg, proving to be a very good actor. Yugi really hoped it was the former questions.

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked timidly, suddenly feeling like this conversation had taken a drastic turn. He scooched away two inches, and Yami didn't seem to mind. He gripped the edge of the bed.

Yami licked his lips, taking Yugi's earlier dilemma up to try to find the right words. "I...this is what I'm talking about...Yugi. I think that being scared for you, and thinking of that event has made me start to feel caring toward you...maybe even..." he trailed off, and Yugi unconsciously leaned over, not wanting to miss what was hanging off of Yami's lips.

Yami scratched the side of his head out of nervousness, yet another side Yugi had yet to really see. He licked his already moistened lips again out of habit, and Yugi leaned back when he realized how much he had leaned sideways.

"Maybe even...protective...of...you," Yami finished, or that's what Yugi thought. "I don't know what happened after Saturday night when I got home and went over what happened over and over again, but...shit."

Yugi's guess was that Yami realized that he was rambling without much thought, which had caused him to gush up word vomit. But that wasn't the case.

"I don't know how to word this, I really don't. I've thought so much over..." Yami said frustrated, and Yugi felt sympathy for the other, all the while having a faint idea of what the other was trying to say, but he could never be sure with Yami.

"You're...you're not fearful of me, you could care less about what you say in front of me despite the fact I've threatened you for the past week and a half," Yami started again, but this time on a different plate. Yugi listened intently. "Nobody's ever been like that -- except Ushio, of course -- has ever acted that way around me and it's different, and it's...god, I can't say this shit."

Yugi couldn't help himself. "Appealing?"

To his small amusement, Yami sent him a small glare over to him, but nevertheless nodded with some embarrassment. Yugi tried his hardest not to smile...just yet. He was definitely on the right track.

"Yeah." Yami shifted in his spot uncomfortably, trying to make himself feel at ease, but Yugi pressed his lips together, knowing that Yami was way out of his comfort zone right about now.

Glancing at the digital clock real quick, Yugi realized that it was an hour after Yami had initially arrived. He stared dumbstruck for a moment or two, wondering how time had gone so fast. He turned his attention back onto Yami when he heard a small noise from the other's lips.

"But what I think I'm trying to say is that...that I think I like you...much more than I really should because of all those reasons," Yami said, rushing the last bit, and Yugi smiled softly, watching as red eyes darted down at the floor in unease.

"Do you mean 'like' as in just a friend, or how a boy likes a girl?" Yugi asked curiously, adding a small playful tone he usually liked to add when talking to Yami, wondering faintly how the other would react.

To his surprise -- yet again -- he saw a small smirk curve up on Yami's lips from what he could see at a sideways view. Yugi's smile faltered a little, and his brows lifted in slight misunderstanding.

"I forgot to mention that you have a lot of brains, including common sense and quirky wits," Yami said a little more upbeat than before, his smirk growing steadily. Suddenly, he turned toward Yugi so that they were face to face. "But I think that smart little question of yours was much too dumb of you to ask, Yugi. You know what I meant when I said 'like'." Yet again, the last bit was rushed, and without so much as a warning, Yugi was pulled forward by his head until their noses were just barely touching.

Yugi didn't know whether to feel excited or scared out of his mind. Yami's moods had changed so quickly, he didn't know what to make of them. Part of him was starting to stray back to the thought that Yami was only pulling his leg, yet the other half was being pulled to the 'I'm convinced you've changed' side.

"S-so what are you saying then?" Yugi asked with a small stutter, able to tell that Yami's smirk was still present despite the fact he couldn't see down past their noses.

That confidence had returned back in Yami's eyes, Yugi could see that much. Along with something he couldn't identify.

"Just in case you really weren't paying attention, minutes ago, I was a puddle of crap. I spilled my feelings – which I'll never do again – to your face, and amidst my own words, I figured out what I was feeling," Yami explained, a hint of sarcasm in his voice this time. Yugi was glad he wasn't hearing notes of cruelness thus far.

"And that feeling was...?" Sure, Yugi knew the answer, Yami had said it before that he liked him, but something about Yami's attitude made him want to keep teasing around like he was clueless.

Yami's eyes hardened, but Yugi could tell that there was some playful teasing now present, and Yugi felt his heart rate speed up yet again. He was waiting for Yami to say whatever he was going to say next, for he had heard the intake of breath...and then the unthinkable.

Their lips were connected in a kiss, and Yami's eyes had closed. Shocked for a couple fleeting seconds, Yugi found himself relaxing and his eyes slid close too. And then it was over.

They hadn't been connected long enough to make Yugi pant like he was out of breath, but the sudden and unexpectedness of it caused Yugi to take sharp intakes of air as Yami's hands came off his head to rest on his delicate shoulders.

He didn't know what came over him, but puzzlement overcame Yugi at that moment in time, and he interrupted, "but I'm-"

A finger went over his lips, and a hard look was shot at him with those red eyes. "I don't care...I've made up my mind."

It was like they hadn't had their long conversation. It was like Yami just came out of the blue to kiss him, without explanation. For the life of him, Yugi couldn't think of a thing they had talked about, and all he could do was stare in wonder and confusion at his limited caretaker.


A/N: Ah, such an intense chapter. I hope I didn't overdo this whole thing, I really didn't want to rush it like I sometimes do, and I wanted to make it as realistic as possible. I hope it worked. Anyway, thanks for reading, and please comment!!