Yuri: Hi everyone! I know, I know, I haven't updated in a few weeks! Sorry about that. I've been busy with college and whatnot. But I'm back! So here's chapter seven. Thank you for all who reviewed! It really means so much to me. There's only two chapters left in this story, I know, I'm sad too. But, enjoy, nonetheless.

By the way, there's this joke that I found online which inspired some of the parts in the chapter. Some of you may have seen it before, I don't know. Also, I apologize if this chapter isn't as enjoyable as the others. Let me know what you guys think.

If you have time, please vote in my new poll! Especially if you want faster updates for this story! Let's begin!


Chapter 7: Meant To Be


"And you and I are meant to be
So even if the world falls down today
You've still got me to hold you up
And I will never let you down."

Yami sat hunched over the small table, his elbows propped up and his hands dug deep within the soft tresses of his hair. His head throbbed relentlessly and his eyes were heavy with an overwhelming need for sleep. He completely ignored the impending gaze of the blonde teen beside him. He was already irritated as it was and it took every ounce of strength he had to drag himself to this damn place and spill to someone what exactly had been going on between him and Yugi. Especially when that someone was Jou.

"So, you love him?"

Yami bit back a groan and instead released an annoyed sigh. This was the third time Jou had asked this question and it was really starting to get on his nerves.

"Yes, Jou. Just in case you didn't hear me the first two times, I love Yu— I mean, Yami."

It felt so odd to say his own name but at least he was getting the point across. The blonde on the opposite side of the table nodded while leaning back into his chair, a look of shock etched into his features. "Wow…" he said after a moment or two of silence. "I never saw this coming."

Yami released a bitter chuckle. "Trust me, neither did I." Copying Jou's movements, Yami leaned back into his chair as well. He momentarily gazed out the window, noting the many teens hanging outside of the popular burger joint with minimal interest. "We sort of got in a disagreement last night," Yami said, his eyes never leaving the window.

Jou arched a slim brow. "About what?"

Yami bit his lip. "It's…complicated."

The blonde teen offered his friend a small nod and a comforting glance. "Its okay, Yug. It probably wasn't even your fault. Yami can be such a prick sometimes. I know you love him but you have to admit, he's not the smartest man alive, not to mention his ego is the size of—OW!"

"Oops, sorry Jou," Yami apologized as he reached over to take back his fork which had accidentally hit Jou's forehead. "It slipped."

"Oh," Jou replied. "Well, anyways, I think you two are going to have to talk it out if anything. And, trust me, if he loves you, then he'll come back."

The words had stung him at his core and Yami gazed at Jou as if noticing for the first time that the blonde really wasn't that bad after all. "You really think so?" Yami said, trying to stifle the hope that seemed to lace with his words.

A wide grin broke out on Jou's face. "Definitely!"

Yami nodded reluctantly before turning his attention back to the window. Though Jou's words were helpful, he was still extremely frustrated and angry, though mostly at himself. He needed something to take his mind off of Yugi. A distraction of some sort would certainly benefit him.

As though the gods decided to finally take pity upon him, a slender and familiar figure stalked up to their table. Yami only noticed this when he felt someone's breath hit the side of his face.

"Why, hello, Yugi."

Yami turned in surprise, his eyes instantly narrowing when he recognized the teen beside him as Otogi. He hated the black-haired youth. He was nothing but a stuck-up, self-centered prick.

Yami mentally chuckled. He was sure that Yugi had called him that before.

"What do you want Otogi?" Yami snapped, clearly annoyed with how close the other was.

The green-eyed teen smiled. "I was just wondering if you were interested in coming to the movies with me."

Yami clenched his fists at the thought of Yugi being anywhere near Otogi. "I'm afraid not," Yami answered politely since it would probably be suspicious if he told Otogi to fuck off which is what he really wanted to say.

"How about we play a game then?"

The question completely threw Yami off. "A game?" he inquired curiously only partly noticing Jou's suspicious gaze as well. "What kind of game? What for?"

"Simple." Otogi shrugged. "If I win, you go out with me. If you win, I'll just walk away. And the game…how about rock, paper, scissors?"

Yami arched an eyebrow before turning a questioning glance towards Jou. The blonde seemed to understand the silent question. "Rock, paper, scissors is a game they play in America," Jou explained. "Basically, you throw out your hand at the same time as your opponent in either the shape of a rock, a paper, or a pair of scissors." The blonde made sure to show his friend the different hand gestures. "Then, depending on what the other person throws out, you either win or lose. For example, scissors beats paper because it can cut it and rock beats scissors because it can smash it. You get it?"

Yami nodded. "Sounds easy enough." Sounds like a distraction. He turned towards Otogi. "Alright, you're on."

With a sly smile, Otogi stood to his feet followed by Yami. With a small nod, signaling his readiness, the black-haired teen extended his arm, Yami copying his movements.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"

Otogi gazed down to see that he had chosen paper while the other had bet his luck with rock. A satisfying grin tainted his lips until he looked up to see a victorious smirk on the tri-colored haired teen's face.

"I win," Otogi clarified cautiously. The smirk instantly faded.

"Wait, how do you win?" Yami asked incredulously. "Rock demolishes paper!"

Otogi shook his head. "No, paper wraps around rock leaving it immobile."

Yami twitched. "That makes no fucking sense!"

The green-eyed teen shrugged indifferently. "That's how the game goes."

Anger bubbling at the pit of his stomach at the thought --the mere conception!-- of being deceived, along with all of his previous distraught emotions blurring his judgement, Yami extended his arm back before punching Otogi square in the jaw with his already clenched fist, making the black-haired youth stumble backwards onto the floor. Green eyes widened in disbelief as the other stood over him, a look of complete shock.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I thought paper would protect you, asshole," Yami spat before walking out of the diner, disregarding the shocked faces of everyone around him. Jou watched his friend go, his eyes as wide as saucers, before glancing down at Otogi who had yet to get up from the floor. He offered the teen a sheepish smile before exiting the diner as well, tossing a comforting comment behind his back.

"I know he punched you but you have to admit, that was pretty funny."


Untouched...


Crimson eyes darkened profusely at the sight of the three dozen adults dressed in elegant ball gowns and tuxedos. He just had to accept Mrs. Atemu's invitation to this damn business dinner which was located in the ballroom of one of the fanciest hotels in the city. He couldn't just listen to Yami's warning. And now, here he was, dressed uncomfortably in a formal suit and tie in a room full of absolute strangers. He felt like he couldn't even move his arms on the account that Yami hadn't bought a new suit in years thus the only one he did have was small.

He felt a presence hovering beside him and looked up to see Yami's mother. "Come, I see your father over there," Mrs. Atemu said, a bright smile on her pretty face.

Yugi looked from the tall woman to a small, intimidating group of businessmen and women. "But why—"

"Hush now," she demanded gently. Mrs. Atemu shoved Yugi in the direction of her husband despite the small protests. When they had finally reached the group of adults, Mr. Atemu smiled. "This is my son!" he introduced, patting the teen so hard on the back that Yugi almost went flying towards the ground. Luckily, he was able to compose himself before embarrassing both himself and Yami's parents. "He's everything a parent could ask for. Respectful, clever, and intelligent! In fact, he's the top of his class in school!"

You wish. Yugi almost laughed.

Many of the adults surrounding him looked down with an approving nod, some of the women whispering about his unique looks. He tried to suppress a blush at all the unwanted attention. "Oh, doesn't he look absolutely stunning!" Mrs. Atemu chimed, reaching over and pinching her son's cheek.

Yugi looked horrified. "Please, mother, not here," he begged, ignoring the painful sting in his heart. He hadn't called anyone mother since…well, since the accident.

"Oh, I completely understand! You're going through that independent phase right now," Mrs. Atemu teased causing a few of the other women to giggle. "Well, you can go off then. If you decide to leave early, make sure to let us know."

Yugi nodded quickly before leaving Yami's parents to talk amongst themselves and the other adults, extremely happy at cutting what could have been a traumatizing event short. He walked over to the large buffet table, a small smile coming to his face at the extravagant sight. Jou would have fainted.

The thought sent a small giggle through his lips as the tri-colored haired teen poured himself a glass of water. The cold liquid slid down his throat, sending shivers throughout his body. Inhaling the drink in only a few seconds, he poured another cup full, noting how beautiful and untouchable the crystal liquid appeared.

Like Yami…

Yugi gazed at the glass of water, a saddened expression coming over his face. He hadn't seen Yami for only a few hours but yet he felt as if it had been weeks. It was hard to breathe when he thought about the other teen, the tie wrapped tightly around his neck like a noose not helping in the least. The suit jacket sticking to his torso like a second skin acted as a barrier so that none of his emotions concerning Yami surfaced. However, the harder he tried to control and hide his emotions, the harder it was to breathe.

"Ah, Yami. Always a pleasure."

Yugi turned from the buffet table to see a rather tall male no older than nineteen. Brown locks were brushed back into a ponytail, a few stray tresses falling around the sharp face that framed elusive gray eyes that glimmered in the light. "Why, you remember me, don't you?" the teen asked playfully at the other's questioning look. "Jason."

Yugi nodded slowly. "Oh yes…Jason. How could I ever forget?"

The response resulted in a wide smirk from the gray-eyed youth. "That's what I like to hear."

Yugi raised a slim eyebrow, confusion shifting uncomfortably in his eyes. Exactly, who was this Jason? And why did he immediately dislike the seemingly kind youth?

"So, have you finally decided to take up my offer and have the honor of being my boyfriend?"

Oh, that's why.

"No," Yugi replied, not entirely interested in dealing with Yami's many love interests. He turned to go before a hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him back.

"I see you are as stubborn as ever," Jason mused once he had regained the other's full attention.

Yugi mentally nodded. Yup, definitely sounded like Yami. Stubborn prick that he was.

"I'm not interested," Yugi mumbled, annoyance seeping into the otherwise harmless words.

"Oh, don't be coy," Jason admonished. "You know me; I won't take that as an answer."

Yugi took a sip out of his glass, his eyes gleaming with slight amusement. "Well, you didn't take 'no' either so I think I'm pretty much out of answers."

"You could say 'yes'," Jason suggested while slowly approaching the other teen.

Yugi noticed the other's movements, a small glare falling over his features. "I don't think so," he said curtly.

Jason chuckled in response. "There's just something about you, Yami. Something…alluring," he murmured somewhat seductively. Yugi had to refrain from rolling his eyes.

"And the looks and the money don't have anything to do with it?" Yugi inquired suspiciously.

Jason grinned. "Of course not." He took another step towards the shorter teen. "Though," Jason added with a low purr. "You are a true beauty, Yami." And with that, he reached over and took the other's hand in his before placing a soft kiss on the surface. Yugi recoiled, Jason's touch stinging his skin like acid. He immediately yanked his hand away, a dangerous glint of possessiveness flashing in his eyes.

Yami was his.

Despite Yugi's obvious disgust of the teen beside him, Jason did not stop in his advances. "Yami, let's not play games. You need someone to love and I need someone worthy to love me."

Yugi shook his head, the glare on his face never faltering. "I'm already in love."

The words bubbled from under his lips before he could swallow them. Yes, he had known that he had fallen victim to Yami's flawless beauty, alluring ruby orbs, and his strong, powerful personality—though a little rough around the edges— however, he had never admitted it out loud. And now that he had heard those words roll off his tongue almost naturally, he came to a sudden realization.

Placing his drink on the table beside him, Yugi turned from the other boy, loosening his tie in the process.

"Where are you going?" Jason's question halted his departure.

Looking down at the ground beneath his feet, Yugi exhaled a loud sigh. "I'm going home," he whispered, his tone tainted with devotion. "I'm going back to him."

Jason looked around quickly as if searching for a reason to make the other want to stay. When nothing came to him, he turned to the crimson-eyed teen, defeat lurking behind his eyes. Only one word made its way from his mouth.

"Why?"

Yugi tossed the brown-haired youth a fleeting glance, a small smile adorning the handsome features of his love's face. "Because I can't breathe without him."

It wasn't a second later that Yugi left the hotel, throwing his tie and suit jacket behind his back, leaving everything that symbolized restraint and control in the dirt so that he could finally express his love for Yami without any binds or confinements.


Untouched...


Yami shoved his hands in his pockets, protecting the sensitive digits from the unmerciful wind that whipped at the sides of his face, leaving his cheeks a bright color of pink. It had been a long day, and he knew it would be an even longer night. The sun had yet to take its departure, and had settled on spraying a wave of orange, pink, and purple throughout the sky making the clouds appear both ominous yet beautiful. The chill of the evening wind and the serene atmosphere of the oncoming night provided Yami with a perfect opportunity to think about the plagues of his mind. Namely Yugi.

Goddamn did he love that boy!

It almost ticked him off how positively stupid he had been. How could he have mistaken the raging emotions that turned in his stomach every time Yugi had looked at him for hate when it was so obviously love, adoration, and affection? Was he really that dumb? Was he really that blind?

Yes.

Yami almost laughed at the thought of that word coming from Yugi's own mouth.

But when he thought about it, was it really his fault? He had never properly learned how to love before, his parents both keen on teaching him to never make himself vulnerable to another, nor had he been exposed to the unfamiliar feeling of love. He never engaged in a romantic relationship lasting longer than two weeks, at one point or another finding himself unbearably bored. That's how things had always been. It was a cycle. It was how things were supposed to be. Never had he imagined himself falling for someone so hard.

But, of course, that was until stubborn, annoying little Yugi came and turned his world upside down.

No one had caught his interest like Yugi did. Looking back, he knew now that all the time that he spent fighting and bickering with the other teen was merely his way of spending with Yugi. All the effort he put into annoying the other just so Yugi would look his way. Just so the little one would give him the time of day.

He reprimanded himself over and over for his obliviousness. But regardless of everything that had happened in the past week, Yami still wanted Yugi to be his partner. And not just for now…

He wanted to keep Yugi. Forever.

To him, Yugi was an endless vessel of beauty, curiosity, intelligence, and kindness. He could never get bored with his little one. Especially since their equal stubbornness and short-tempered attitudes would certainly keep sparks flying.

This time he did laugh. God, he loved Yugi so much.

The small chuckles at his own stupidity quickly subsiding, Yami came to a complete stop and bent his neck so that he could stare up into the sun's glowing rays. He could only imagine how beautiful Yugi's eyes looked right about now with the sunset emphasizing the latent shimmers in the bright amethyst orbs. Shaking his head slowly, he turned his gaze towards the ground, a thoughtful look glazing over his soft features. There was only one way to make this right…

So, with his mind set and his heart determined, Yami turned sharply and headed towards the Domino museum with only one thought in his mind.

Yugi…

"And you and I are meant to be
So even if the world falls down today
You've still got me to hold you up
And I will never let you down."


To Be Continued...


Reviews/comments appreciated as always.